GETTING OUT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 262, 4 November 1944, Page 5

GETTING OUT

JAPS ON LEYTE

Protecting Planes Smashed In

U.S. Air Victory

Rec. 1.30. WASHINGTON, Nov. 3

With the end of the Leyte and Samar campaign in sight the Americans have exerted pressure from three directions, while planes and P.T. boats have attacked enemy evacuation craft, says the Associated Press Leyte correspondent.

'The Japanese Air Force called on its best flyers to protect the ships removing the ground forces. One group of 75 enemy planes covering a convoy off Ormoc refused to break formation. Although 27 were shot down during an eight-hour air battle not a single American plane was lost - . , , The Japanese pilots were skilful, experienced airmen and definitely above the average.

Among the fleeing Japanese were remnants of the arrogant Sixteenth Division, perpetrators of the infamous "march of death," to which the American heroes of Bataan and Corregidor were subjected early in the war. The Japanese Sixteenth Division was torn to shreds in the bloody fortnight's battle for Leyte Valley, which ended with Carigara's collapse yesterday. General Mac Arthur had a narrow escape during a recent Japanese attack on Leyte Island. An armourpiercing bullet from an enemy plane strafing his headquarters hit a wall of his room a foot from his head. When his aides rushed in, they found General Mac Arthur picking the bullet out of the wall.