RESISTANCE IN PHILIPPINES

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23554, 4 February 1942, Page 5

RESISTANCE IN PHILIPPINES

JAPANESE REPULSED WITH BIG LOSSES ATTACKS ON BATAAN PENINSULA (8.0.W.1 RUGBY. February 2. Further highly successful resistance in the Bataan area of the Philippines by United States forces and the infliction of heavy casualties on the attacking Japanese are announced in today's communique from Washington, which says:— "In the Philippines theatre, during (he last 24 hours, the enemy attacked to the right and left of our troops an the Bataan Peninsula, They were repulsed with heavy Japanese losses. The action was a continuation of the fighting which has been in progress for the Inst few days. I “The attacks were launched in the cast and west sectors by the 16th and 65th Japanese Divisions under the command of Lieutenant-General Nara. The assaults were co-ordinated and timed to take place simultaneously. “Headlong thrusts were made on the west coast, aimed at what the enemy mistakenly thought to be our (lank‘and rear. Picked groups, known as Tatori, executed simultaneous attacks on several points along the west coastline like the lingers of a clawing hand, Savage Fighting "Captured aerial maps showed the Japanese plan and the urgent character of the mission. There was savage fighting in the underbrush. Our infantry was supported by artillery and moj'iar fire. Those who attempted flight by sea were drowned and the others were destroyed or captured. "In Ihe east sector the Japanese 65th Division attempted a frontal attack and an envelopment in the Pilar area. The frontal attack was made by the 142 nd Japanese Infantry Regiment, simultaneous with an attempt a! envelopment by the 141st .and 122 nd Infantry Regiments. The frontal attack was stopped by artillery fire before it was well under way, and the envelopment move was repulsed with heavy losses to the Japanese." Commenting on (he lighting on the west roast, General MacArlhur said: “Ail the enemy throats on the west coast have now been completely mastered. The enemy troops employed m this desperate venture wore his best. They wore shock troops, specially trained and selected. They have now been entirely destroyed. They resisted with the courage characteristic of the Japanese troops, but at the end they were glad to surrender. 1 ’ MACASSAR STRAIT BATTLE ACCOUNT BY DUTCH OFFICERS I Received February 3, 8.30 p.m.) BATAVIA, February 2., The Associated Press of America says that two Dutch officers, giving an eye-witness account of the Macassar Strait action, in which many vessels of a Japanese convoy wore sunk by Allied naval and air forces, said (hat the Japanese invasion fleet used an elaborate balloon barrage, which rose 0000 feet above their larger ships. “Japanese destroyers scuttled about their charges like frightened watcrbcctlcs. but we came so fast that they did not have a chance,” said one officer. “The Japanese fire was very poor at first, but improved later.” The Dutch aircraft first sighted their targets through a rift in the clouds. They attacked immediately with two flights of bombers and two of fighters. The attack was des.cribcd enthusiastically in Washington by the Netherlands Foreign Minister (Dr. van Kleffens) as an example of what could be done by co-operation by the Allies. Offensive action was what was wanted, he said.