The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-01-10

CTS said MacArthur's forces prob ably are now meeting their frs serious opposition along the Asn river whcih cuts a wandering courS 10 to l9 miles inland from ou beachheads)
 From an l000-ship armada S0t of them transports. standing alont the curving Lingayen Gull coaS American troops, artillery, tanks transports and munitions poured ashore in a continuous stream.
 By this morning one thing wal apparent-we have come to Lpzor to stay.
 Protected by screen of heavy naval artillery fire which fingered inland as far as the line Of tho Agno river, roughly l9 mics inlanc and only 88 miles from Manila American troops were advancing rapidly.
 They had firm ground to advance across at the northern end of tho curving beachhead which is already IS miles long between SaE Fabiar and Lingayen.
 At the southern end of the beach head the initial obstacle was tht sluggish Calmay river, connecting the Agno and Dagupan rivers running parallel to the beachheac about two miles inland.
 But there were no appreciablt beach defenses and good roads anc paths thread the rice paddles.
 San Fabian was the only Lingay' en town named in initial reports as captured but others were seized too. Lingayen has three air strip' and one of the main beachhead: was established only a few hun yards from thhe main hngayer strip.
 Gen. Douglas MacArthuJ whC came ashore with his troops a few hours after their landing a 9:27 a m. yesterday said that the invasion was progressing better than coulc be expected"
 Full-Scale Battle
 Despite inconsequential initia Japanese opposition the campaign was expected to develop quickly int full-scae battle MacArthur spearheads were racing for tn broad terrain of the Luzon plains the best military area of maneuve MacArthur has encountered in hi long campaign since Bataan.
 The speed of the American ad vance on Manila, 1t was agreed will depend on the rapidity witl which the Japanese can move III thei. forces under the straffing at tackB of our airforces.
 Noval pilots reported that Jap aneSe troops already were on tn move to the north but the Japanes high command appeared to hav beer bewildered and confused b. the complicated maneuvers of Mac Arthur's invasion fleet and tn shattering air and naval attack which preceded the landing.
 The keynote of the whole Ameri can operation was aggressivenes and hard punching
 One American general told hi men as they went in:
 When we meet the enemy hi him fast and hit him hard. Keel him of balance and make him pla, to your lead"
 The preparatory bombardmen almost levelled the city of Lingayen provincial capital. H D. Quigg United Press War correspondent who watched the naval lombard knent of Lingayen said that afte one salvo from the big guns bi two-story public building disappear ed in single puff of smoke am dust.
 "A Japanese communique claimed Japanese troops were counter-at tacking American forces whicl landed in the vicinity of San Fabial and Lingayen. Other Tokyo broad casts claimed that a severe maya and air battle was under way il the Linygayen Gulf a hint tha Japanese fleet units may have gon into action.
 Especial surface attack corps sank 35 American transports in wa ters west of Luzon Monday and Jap anese planes accounted for fou others and a cruiser in Lingayel Bay. Tokyo said).
 Veteran American assault troop tlready were astride some of tn main concrete highways convergin on Manila from the north and som were deep inland under personal or ders from MacArthur to keep push ang ahead so that the enemy woul get no opportunity to dig in
 Swarms of carrier based plane from the Third and Seventh Fleet swarmed overhead, straIing an bombing enemy strong points an other installations ahead of the in vasion troops from tree-top neigh Army engineers. among the lirs ashore, were rushing the construc tion of aistrips for land-base planes.
 Despite the initial light resistanc, largely due to a terrific three-da bombardment of beach defenScs a the way from Lingayen to San Eel nando, 40 miles to the north, offici; sources warned that the toughes battle of the southwest Pacific cam paign probably must be fought be lore Manila can be taken.
 The Japanese were known to hay 100000 to 100000 of their best trooE pn Luzon, most of them between th Lingayen Gulf and Manila. and the appeared committed to literal last man fight. Japanese propagand broadcasts repeatedly have said u Pacific war may be largely decide In the Philippines.
 Swampy Terrain
 Lingayen, apparently the foe eoint Of the invasion, lies at u southern end of the Lingayen Gul while San Fabian, on the souti eastern rim of the Gulf, is 13 mil, to the northeast. Several rivers b sect the swampy terrain betwee Lingayen and Mahilo and it appea edthe Japanese might make the first stand along the Agno. abo 16 miles inland from the invasiC heacheg