LANDING SOUTH OF LUZON

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 139, 9 March 1942, Page 5

LANDING SOUTH OF LUZON

Japanese Shell Ports (British Official Wireless.) (Received March S. 7 p.m.) RUGBY, March 7. A new Japanese landing in the Philippine Islands theatre of war is recorded in a United States communique. It states: “Except for slight artillery tire and ineffective enemy air raids, there has been no activity on the Batan Peninsula. A comparatively small force of Japanese troops, accompanied by tanks, landed at Kalapan, on Bindoro Island, a few miles south of Luzon. Several ports on the east coast of the island were shelled by enemy naval craft. There was desultory lighting between patrols on the outskirts of Ainboanga, on Mindanao Island.” Yesterday’s communique stated: ’lt is believed that Japanese plans for an immediate renewal of their offensive on Batan have been dislocated by our successes in the Subig Bay air attack. “A copy of an order issued by the Japanese army in the Philippines which has reached General MacArthur’s headquarters directs the Filipinos in the occupied areas to surrender their guns and blade weapons of every description, including ornamental knives and trophies. This order will deprive the Filipino of his bolo, which, while sometimes used as a weapon, customarily servos as a tool If the Filipino surrenders his bolo he will find it difficult to earn a livelihood. “The order is interpreted by. General MacArthur as indicating the invaders’ fear of the increasing resentment of the natives, which may develop into a popular uprising against the Japanese.” Balan’s “One-man Army.” A correspondent on the Batan Peninsula reports that an officer known as the “one-man army” is back in action. He is trying to double his unofficial score of 116 Japanese killed in the first two months of the fighting. He is worried because he has not killed a Japanese since February 4. when he wiped out 15 while charging a machinegun nest. He is still swathed in bandages from a wound close to his heart, the third. His best day was January 11, when he mowed down 39 Japanese infantrymen with a concealed tommy-gun. He said it was as simple as shooting ducks. EXPECTED ALLIED AID Failed To Arrive In Java LONDON, March 6. A message from Bandoeng says it can now be revealed that the Pacific Council assured the Netherlands authorities that if a stand could be made as long as the second part of February reinforcements would literally pour in to such an extent that the Japanese would face an equal enemy. In view of this, the Dutch preparations during the last few weeks were mainly preparations of tile positions which.the Allies were going to occupy. But the reinforcements did not flow in; they trickled in, and did not consist of manpower. Thus, when the enemy landed on February 28. in numbers believed to exceed 109,000, they outnumbered the Dutch four to one in men, equalled or surpassed them in material, and had air superiority. GUERRILLA DEFENCE IN ISLANDS Japanese Limited Claim (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 6. It. is pointed out in authoritative circles in London that although the Japanese claim to be in control of the Indies islands of Sumatra, Borneo, 'Timor and Celebes, they only speak of the ports and aerodromes, lint the Dutch and the Allies have by . no means thrown in their hands. When troops take to this type of guerrilla lighting, news is difficult to obtain, as any wireless seis they possess would not have the range to give the details of what is happening.