ARTILLERY DUELS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 45, 23 February 1942, Page 5

ARTILLERY DUELS

PHILIPPINES FRONT Frequent Raids Over Batan Peninsula Rec. 12.30 p.m. RUGBY, Feb. 22. A Washington communique states that enemy action on Batan Peninsula was largely confined to frequent air raids over our lines. Intermittent artillery duelling continues between hostile batteries on the Cavite shore and American guns and harbour defences. A resolute defence continues to be made by General Mac Arthur's forces in the Philippines. A Washington communique says heavy artillery firing by both sides characterised the action on Batan Peninsula during the past 24 hours. Infantry patrols were active, resulting in numerous skirmishes. Enemy aircraft made frequent flights over the lines, dropping incendiary bombs.

Hostile artillery fire on all the Allied fortifications was resumed, with Fort Frank bearing the brunt of the attack. The harbour defence batteries returned the fire.

Reports from General Mac Arthur indicate that the resistance of Filipino civilians against the Japanese in the occupied areas is increasingly effective. A secret society has been formed called the Fighters for Freedom. It is organising underground activities against the Japanese.

The Filipinos openly show their contempt for the Japanese, and many informers recently have mysteriously disappeared. The Japanese authorities have plastered Manila city and suburbs with proclamations stating that 10 Filipinos will be shot for every Japanese killed, but the Fighters for Freedom every night alter the posters to read that 10 Japanese soldiers will be killed for every executed Filipino.

The United States Navy communique states: "In addition to a naval battalion composed of bluejackets and marines fighting with General Mac Arthur's command, considerable equipment, salvaged from Cavite and other sources of naval supply, has been used to good advantage in the defence of Batan. RearAdmiral Frank S. Rochwell, commandant of the 16th Naval District, the senior naval officer fighting with General Mac Arthur, reports that this equipment consists of 3-inch and 4-inch artillery, also boat guns (salvaged from ships) and machine-guns of several types with ammunition. A large number of hand grenades aircraft bombs and depth charges have been available."

JAPS. ANNIHILATED Ruthless Attack By Filipino Native Troops IGOROTTES TERROR WASHINGTON, Feb. 22. The story of how, with breathtaking desperation, Filipino troops annihilated a Japanese infantry regiment, is told in a War Department communique. The troops were Igorottes, of a war-like race, and in a previous engagement some of them, when outnumbered, had fought until all were killed.

Then a counter-attack was ordered, with tanks. As the jungle was almost impenetrable the Igorottes rode on the tanks, and on reaching the enemy they fought with amazing ruthlessness and determination. When the fight was over, they had suffered heavily, but of the Japanese none remained alive.