FIRST BLOWS STRUCK IN PHILIPPINES BATTLE

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 13558, 16 September 1944, Page 3

FIRST BLOWS STRUCK IN PHILIPPINES BATTLE

LANDINGS IN THE HALMAHERA AND PELEW ISLANDS

JAPANESE GARRISON FORCES ARE TAKEN BY SURPRISE

ASSAULTS COVERED BY HEAVY ATTACKS FROM SEA AND AIR

London, September 15. The first blows in the battle of the Philippines are now being struck by the forces of two Pacific commands, with landings in the Halmaheras and in the Pelew Islands. The assault on the Pelew group, the fortress outpost GOO miles east of the Philippines, was cover d by a heavy bombardment, from carrier-based planes and by the fire from some of America’s most powerful battleships. Admiral Nimitz’s infantry and Marines now hold beachheads on the island of Pelew. The landing of General Mae Arthur's forces on Morotai Island in the Halmaheras. 300 miles south of the Philippines, caught tin* Japanese garrison forces on the wrong foot. They had massed troops apparently to meet a landing at another point, and these forces have been by-passed. : 'The first American troops ashore landed early this morning. Their first objective was an abandoned airstrip some miles inland. Naval forces, including a strong force of aircraft-carriers, covered the landing and bombarded Japanese installations on the Ilalmahera mainland. As the task' force approached, a party of the Japanese tried to get away in a barge. They were swept up by an American destroyer. General Mae Arthur, who landed from a cruiser with the American troops, said, “We now dominate the last stronghold before the Philippines. We will establish an air base and a light naval base here, within 300 miles of the Philippines.” It is learned that several Australian warships took part in the landing operations. . , , js i-'