Late War News TWO LANDINGS REPORTED

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 22, 20 October 1944, Page 6

Late War News TWO LANDINGS REPORTED

Philippine Islands further tokio DETAILS (By Telegraph.— Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Received October 20, 1.40 a.m.) LONDON, October 19. The radio listening post of the Associated Press of Great Britain says that a Japanese communique has announced an American landing at Leyte Bay, on the north coast of Leyte Inland. A Tokio broadcast in Italian stated: “It seems that part of the enemy force landed on Suluan Island.” Suluau is a tiny island CO miles east of Leyte, aiid on the extreme eastern fringe of the central Philippines. It lies north-east of Mindanao Island, which has been raided daily by General MacArthur’s planes, and is south-east of Luzon, which has been the target for Admiral Mitscher’s carrier force. No air attacks had been reported against Suluan. The island’s central location would make it an ideal spot for an air-strip from which to strike against almost any part,of the Philippines, says Reuter. It is one of the closest points to advanced bases of the Pacific Fleet south of the Palaus, about 500 miles to the east A landing on such a small, unfamiliar island is in keeping with General MacArthur’s successful conquest of New Guinea and the neighbouring islands; his troops hit; against unexpected spots, carved out airfields and then went on to the larger islands. Manila radio announced that 270 carrier-borne aircraft today attacked Manila also and Clark Airfield.