RESISTANCE ENDS ON CORREGIDOR

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 106, 7 May 1942, Page 7

RESISTANCE ENDS ON CORREGIDOR

FORTS SURRENDER

Highest Praise For Gallant

Garrison

U.P.A. and British Wireless

Rec. 1.30 p.m. LONDON, May 6. The fall of Corregidor is confirmed in a Washington communique, which states that the War Department has received a message from Corregidor fortress, in the Philippines, that the resistance of the American troops has been overcome and fighting has ceased. Terms have been arranged covering the capitulation of the island forts in Manila Bay. The U.S. War Department has issued a special communique announcing that general orders have been published citing various elements of American and Philippine troops fighting in Luzon for their skill and courage in the magnificent defence of the island against overwhelming odds. The citations have been issued in the name of President Roosevelt, and are based on operations reports received from the Philippines, upon General MacArthur's recommendations. In announcing Corregidor's fall atter nearly five months' resistance, General Mac Arthur's headquarters ln Australia said it will, with the defence of Batan, certainly go down in history as one of the most brilliant and courageous defensive actions of the war.

"Faced Terrific Odds"

-The Australian Prime Minister, *-" ur ti n > i n Canberra, paid a tribute to the tenacity, courage and sacrifices of the defenders of Corregidor, and congratulated Lieuten-ant-General J. Wainwright, the commander, on holding out so well in the face of terrific odds. He likened the siege to that of Tobruk, where the Australians had distinguished themselves.

The Allied General Headquarters in the south-west Pacific at Melbourne has announced that at 4 p.m. Lieutenant-General Wainwright surrendered Corregidor and the other fortified islands in Manila Harbour. The British, Australian and American correspondents were all called together at a special Press conference to receive the communique, which it is understood was released within an hour of its receipt at headquarters. The announcement of the surrender was made three hours after the issue of the communique

stating that the enemy had launched a landing attack against the island. The U.S. Army spokesman said fighting was continuing on Cebu, Davao and II Ho, in north Luzon, and on Mindanao. The size of the garrison of Corregidor at the time of the surrender cannot be given. The enemy advance in Cagayan valley, in northern Luzon, is continuing. A light hostile attack on Ogoloan, on Mindanao Island, has been repulsed. Two enemy planes were shot down by ground machinegun fire.

It is believed that LieutenantGeneral Wainwright has remained on the island to treat with the Japanese. He succeeded General Mac Arthur as commander in the Philippines when the latter left for Australia to take up his position as Commander in the South-west Pacific,