BOMBARDMENT OF MANILA

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23508, 10 December 1941, Page 7

BOMBARDMENT OF MANILA

Heavy Casualties In Philippines NAURU ISLAND BOMBED (Received December 9, 10 p.m.) (U.P.A.) WASHINGTON. Dec. 8. The National Broadcasting Company’s radio station at Manila says that the Japanese are bombarding the town. According to the Manila correspondent of the United Press of America, approximately 200 persons, of whom 60 were Americans, were killed to-day in a Japanese air raid on Iba, on the west coast of Luzon. The Manila correspondent of the Associated Press of America states that the Japanese ‘bombed military bases and ports throughout the Philippines to-day, including the big port of Stotensburg, the Park Field air base, Baguio, Davao, Aparri, and the Batan Island group. Other points of attack included the Fort William McKinley and the Nicholas airfield, and also two radio stations. In spite of a terrific curtain of American anti-aircraft fire, the attack was carried out with fiendish ac-' curacy. A great fire started when a gasoline dump was hit near the army airport at the edge of the city. A radio announcer who was broadcasting in the midst of the air attack, said terrific damage was done. An army spokesman at Manila said that Japanese aeroplanes attacked Davao twice during the day. Heavy Casualties The- attack on Davao was directed against American aircraft in the bay. Two raids on the Philippines yesterday by high-flying Japanese bombers caused at least 200 casualties. Japanese aeroplane losses are reported to be high. The raiders dropped leaflets promising liberation for the Filipinos. A message from Manila states that 200 persons were killed at the Park Field air base. The ABCD fleets under American command appear to have been successful against the air and sea invasions. Japanese aeroplanes also bombed Nauru and Ocean Islands. The National Broadcasting Company’s station at Los Angeles to-day heard the Tokyo radio announce that Japanese aeroplanes had bombed the Philippine island of Palawan. The Paris radio states that the Japa. nese High Command claims that 40 American aeroplanes were Shot down in combat, in addition to 50 destroyed on an airfield during attacks on the Philippines. In a broadcast report from Manila, Mr Royal Arch Gunnison, the wellknown American newspaper correspondent, reported that native Japanese have seized control of some communities where they are thickly concentrated, but in other sections Filipino police have rounded up the Japanese and are taking them to concentration camps. The President of the Philippines (Senor Quezon), in a telephone conversation with Washington, said that the Philippines were “fully prepared for the fight ahead.” Already 120,000 Filipinos have been mobilised.