SERIOUS JAP. THREAT IN PHILIPPINES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 302, 22 December 1941, Page 5

SERIOUS JAP. THREAT IN PHILIPPINES

HEAVY FIGHTING

Foreign Settlement Used As Base For Landing

United Pres* Association.—Copyrig-ht.

Rec. 1.30 p.m. NEW YORK, Dec. 21

The United Press correspondent at Manila says the American defence forces on Saturday night were still holding the capital and port of Davao, on the large island of Mindanao' after heavy fighting against strong Japanese forces. Fragmentary reports from the Mindanao front, where Lieutenant : Colonel Hilsman is in command,,have indicated that the most serious battle of the war in the Philippines is In progress.

Four Japanese transports landed swarms of troops early on Saturday morning at Davao. Furious fighting raged throughout Saturday. The port was heavily bombed by the Japanese before their troops landed.

It is stated from Tokyo that Japanese army and navy units landed in considerable force on Mindanao, after breaking American resistance.

Army headquarters at Manila have been out of communication with Davao since late on Saturday. Therefore the situation there is described as obscure.

Although enemy activity' south of Vigan has increased, the action is still limited to skirmishes between patrols.

Very little news of operations in the Far East is contained in this evening's communiques from Washington and Singapore. The United States War Department communique states that no details are so far available concerning the reported Japanese landing operations at Davao. There is nothing to report concerning enemy operations in other areas.

The Japanese invaders holding the beach head established at Vigan have thrust cautiously southward towards Manila, while confused fighting has raged on the shores of the Gulf of Davao, at the opposite end of the archipelago, says the Associated Press correspondent at Manila. Davao is the major Japanese settlement in the Philippines, and the fear is expressed that many Japanese may be assisting the invaders. Significantly, however, the dread Moros, accounted the fiercest warriors in the world, took occasion to renew the oath of loyalty to the United States.

Refugees arriving at Manila from the south-eastern Luzon province have disclosed that the evacuation of the Paracale sector has resulted in the loss of one of the richest goldmine areas in the Far East, because the mines were flooded as soon as pumping operations ceased.

A United States Navy Department communique says Cavite sustained a heavy bombing raid at noon on Friday, wliich caused some damage but only slight casualties.

It is reported from Manila that 200 civilians were killed or wounded in a Japanese air raid on Iloilo on Thursday. Nichols Field was lightiy 1 tombed on Saturday, but most of the L »mbs fell wide.