Evening star., 1945-04-21
Central Philippines
Campaign Liberates
100000 Natives
By the Associated Press.


By the Associated Press.
MANILA, April 81. With the
death Of 5000 Japanese on Cebu
Island, Gen. Macarthur today an
.nounced the virtual conclusion" of
the Central Philippines campaign.
Liberated In this 33.00O-square-
mile visayan Islands area are more
than 6.4o0, 900 Filipinos. "a.
This leaves the only remaining
enemy organized resistance in. Min
danao on the south and upper Luzon
on the NORTH" the communique said
Our losses in this campaign were
extraordinarily light, due largely to
the enemy's continued inability to
diagnose our point of attack and to
understand our local tactics of COM
bat" Gen. Macarthur declared.
"' - He has seemed bewildered
and confused and although one of
the most tenacious of fighters, has
permitted himself to be constantly
surprised. divided and destroyed in
detail without being able to inf1ict
more than a minor fraction of COM
pensating losses"
Beachheads WidenAd.
Twenty fourth Division troops
which landed on Mindanao Tuesday
widened their beachheads at Mala-
bang and Parang and by Thursday
had thrust 16 miles inland along
the Cotabato-Davao road to the
town OF Manuangan, north OF the
immense Libungan marsh.
No serious opposition has devel-
oped so far although strong Jap
anese force is believed entrenched
near Davao.
From Malabang, American troops
pushed Is miles northeast to the
shores of Lake Lanao, former
Moro stronghold, TOO feet above sea
level.
The southern force below Cotobato
turned back light japanese coun-
terattack and pushed up Mindanao
River from Lomopog All actions
were supported by 18th Air Force
planes.
Cola borationists Taken.
From Cebu came reports OF a
dramatic end to the sharp cleanup
battle Thursday. with Japanese
forces dispensing under the impact
of heavy blows on flank and rear
by American division troops. Five
thousand dead were left on the bat
tlefield and considerable equipment
was captured.
In North Luzon Yanks approach
ing Baguio from the northwest down
Highway Q reached the village of
Calot, taking considerable high
ground from entrenched Nipponese.
In the central Luzon sector. the
AID Division took hill positions
4,500 yards northeast of Bosoboso
against organized resistance.
Three additional members of the
Philippine cabinet and a number
Of other prominent members of the
collaborationist government were
captured near Baguio.
East Indies, Ships Hit.
A prize collaborationist, Jose P.
Laurel, who headed the Philippine
puppet government, and two other
prominent members escaped to For
mosa in a plane by night. Pre-
vious reports from Baguio refugees
said Laurel had gone to Japan.
Bombers Of the 5th Air Force and
the 7th Fleet continued their pun
ishing raids on Formosa and the
China coast. sinking or damaging
II fighters, a schooner and smaller
craft.
Thirteenth Air Force and the
Royal Australian Air Force walloped
East Indies airdromes, oil installa-
tions and destroyed two fighters
and three coastal vessels.
In special announcement. Gen.
MacArthur's headquarters disclosed
the hanging, April 10. of Maj. Sakae
Narioka. of the japanese Army, con-
yicted of spying. He penetrated
American lines in civilian clothes.