MANILA UNDER HEAVY BOMBING

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 291, 9 December 1941, Page 7

MANILA UNDER HEAVY BOMBING

GRAVE DAMAGE DONE & - Attacks Pressed Despite Anti-Aircraft Fire Rec. 2 p.m. WASHINGTON, Dec. 8. The National Broadcasting Company's radio station at Manila says the Japanese are bombarding the town. According to the United Press correspondent at Manila, approximately 200 persons, of whom 60 w«re Americans, were killed to-day in a Japanese air raid on Iba, on the west coast of Luzon. The bombardment of Manila, according to the N.B.C. report, was made from the air. The points attacked include Fort William, McKin ley and the Nicholas airfield and also two radio stations. Despite a terrific curtain of American antiaircraft fire the attack was carried out with fiendish accuracy. A great fire was started when a gasolene dump was hit near the army airport, on the edge or the city. The N.B.C. announcer, broadcasting in the midst of the air attack, said terrific damage was being done. An Army spokesman in Manila said Japanese planes attacked Davao twice during the day. Parachute Troops The N.B.C. broadcast from Manila said Japanese parachute troops had landed m the Philippines, and that the A.B.C.D. fleets, under American command, appeared to be successful against the air and sea invasions.

The Japanese bombed Park Field, toe largest army and air base in the Philippines. .

The Paris radio says that the Japanese High Command claims that 40 American planes were shot down in combat, in addition to 50 destroyed PhiUpptaS during attacks on ***

In a broadcast from Manila the American journalist, Royal Arch Gunnison, reported that native Japanese had seized control of some communities where they were thickly 1 but in other sections tht fl lllpino Police were rounding up the Japanese and taking them toconcentration camps

Widespread Raids The Associated Press Manila correspondent says the bombed military bases and ports throughout the Philippines to-day including the big port of burg Parkfleld afr base, Baguio. the naval base at Davao, Aparri, and the Batan Island group. The attack on Davao was directed against American aircraft in the bay.

Two raids on the Philippines yesterday by high-flying Japanese bombers caused at least 290 casualties.

Japanese plane losses are reported to be high. The raiders dropped leaflets promising liberation for the Filipinos.