ISOLATING MOUNTAIN DEFENDERS

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 2, 27 September 1944, Page 7

ISOLATING MOUNTAIN DEFENDERS

Americans On Peleliu (Received September 26, 8.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, September 25. An American attack possibly aimed at cutting the rear and isolating the stubborn Japanese defenders on the Umorgrogol mountain, developed on Monday, says the Associated Press correspondent in, Peleliu. While a tank patrol on the west coast probed SOOO yards to the north from Gerekoru village to a large radio station only 1500 yards from Peleliu’s northern tip, infantry moved toward the east behind strong Japanese cave and ravine positions, while marines followed the tanks into position, to mop up the northern tip. A colonel said the Japanese sent out “human torpedoes” on infiltration missions. The Americans killed one Japanese near a gun-track with a Molotov cocktail strapped to one leg, a 'demolition charge tied to his back, and an armload of hand grenades. So far the Americans have counted 8288 enemy dead. Of them, 7313 were killed on Peleliu and 975 on Angaur.

SANK THREE SHIPS

Catalina’s Good Bombing’ (Received September 26, 10.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, September 26. In a single bombin" run an Allied patrol plane sank a Japanese seaplane tender and two destroyer escorts in Davao Gulf, in the southern Philippines. The escort vessels were fuelling, one on ( each side of the tender. A terrific explosion followed the bombing run made by the Catalina, of the South-west Pacific Command. The two smaller vessels sank almost immediately and the tender later caffeized and sank. General MacArthur's heavy and medium bombers continuing their relentless attack® against Japanese shipping in the Celebes area, sank a 10,000-ton tanker near Kendari and damaged a 3000-ton freighter—a transport near Manado. Airfields in .the Celebes were again left unserviceable. Allied fighters Hew through bad weather to dive-bomb enemy airfields nt Kaoe on the main Halmahera island in the Moluccas, while our light naval units bombarded Japanese positions north of Morotai Island in support of American land operations. The construction of an air and naval base at Morotai is progressing. MORE PROGRESS IN BURMA

KANDY", September 25. In its drive against Tiddim, the Fifth Indian Division has made more progress against light resistance from scattered parties of tlie enemy, states a South-east Asia communique. Heavy bombers of the Strategic Air Force made a successful concentrated attack in daylight yesterday on railway workshops and sidings south of Mandalay. Other heavy units bombed the same target last night with good results.

PREPARATIONS ON FORMOSA

CHUNGKING, September 24. The Japanese, fearing an Allied attack, have forced all native Formosans between the ages of 16 and 45 to join defence units, aud have organized those between 10 and 15 years into labour corps. Japanese nationals have been evacuated from four of the principal cities, Taihoku, Tainan, Kalung, and Takow. .