EXTENSIVE GAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 101, 26 October 1944, Page 7

EXTENSIVE GAIN

MADE IN WAR ON LAND

JAP AIR FORCE NEUTRALISED (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) Rec. 11 a.m. WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 "Our ground forces on Leyte made extensive gains in all sectors," says General Mac Arthur's communique. "The Seventh Division, after seizing San Pablo aerodrome, fanned out northwards. The Ninety-sixth Division enveloped Catmon Hill and approached TatMmtabon. The Tank Corps made substantial gains westward of Palo and Tacloban, advancing from the hills dominating the coast between Palo and .Tacloban.

"Intermittent small-scale enemy air attacks on our positions caused small damage. Five enemy planes were shot down. Our carrier aircraft attacked ground installations, supply dumps, communication lines, and enemy aerodromes in western. Visayas. North of Mindanao they shot down one divebomber and destroyed or severely damaged 62 grounded aircraft. Intense ack-ack shot down six of our planes. "Our successive raids on the enemy's air installations are neutralising his attempts at staging-in aircraft from Luzon and Borneo and have greatly restricted the scale of his counteroffensive at Leyte.

PLACES LIBERATED. "The Philippine towns and villages freed include Nalibunan, Calbasag, Luwan, Labira, Nan, Kugod, Gitabla, Rawis, Calipayan, Utap, Libas, Malacanding, Cabaracan, Julita, and Tangnan. ' "Medium and light bombers, attacking shipping south-west "of Zamboanga, damaged five medium freighters, coastal vessels, and several barges and destroyed two float-planes. Fighter-

bombers attacked enemy installations at Halmahera. Shipping, runways, and installations in the Amboina-Ceram area were attacked, and several coastal vessels destroyed. We lost three planes.

"Attack bombers strafed enemy positions in New Guinea, the Bismarcks, and the Solomons."