JAP. ARMADA FORCE BEING HELD AT BAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 303, 23 December 1941, Page 5

JAP. ARMADA FORCE BEING HELD AT BAY

PHILIPPINE COAST Intense Fighting Against Invaders U.P.A. and British Wireless. Rec. 1.30 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 22. The army spokesman at Manila says American and Filipino troops are more than holding their own against the swarms of Japanese landed at Lingayen, about 100 miles north-west of Manila. Tanks are being employed in heavy and bloody fighting along a stretch of sheltered coastline. The Japanese have established beach-heads at Vigan, Aparri and Legaspign. The Japanese attempted a landing at one point under the guns of their own destroyers, but were driven off by heavy American artillery. A United States war communique from Washington states that heavy fighting is in progress in Lingayen Gulf, where the Japanese are attempting to land in force. Under strong naval and air escort, a fleet of about 80 troopships appeared off the west coast of Luzon, and soon afterwards a large number of 150man barges entered Lingayen Gulf and attempted landings in the vicinity of Agno. Some of them succeeded in getting ashore. The Japanese force is estimated at between 80,000 and 100,000, that is, from six to eight divisions. The attempted invasion is being met with fierce resistance by American and Filipino troops. Fighting is continuing near Davao, on the island of Mindanao, in the southern part of the archipelago. In other sectors there has been renewed patrol activity. From Tokyo it is announced that large numbers of Japanese troops, supported by the navy, have been landing since early this morning on Luzon Island and carrying out attacks in co-operation with the troops advancing from the north and south. The Japanese Army has begun an offensive against the main Chinese forces in the provinces of Chekiang, Anhwei, Kiangsi and Fukien, adds the Tokyo report. Peace and order has been restored on the Island of Guam, captured from the United States. The Japanese began early this morning by attacking Njchols .airfield, near Manila. The ground defences put up a terrific barrage and the raiders were compelled to fly,very high.

General Douglas Macarthur's headquarters announces that Japanese aircraft bombed Baler, on the east coast of Luzon, yesterday morning. Baler is an open city and there are absolutely no military objectives in the vicinity. It was an inexcusable and unwarranted attack.