Philippines Capital In Danger

Evening Star, Issue 24083, 2 January 1942, Page 5

Philippines Capital In Danger

HEAVY JAPANESE PRESSURE Evacuation Of Wounded

(British Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright (Rcc. 8 a.m.) ' RUGBY, Dec. 31. A United States war communique states: In the Philippines theatre the enemy is exerting heavy pressure on all fronts with an extensive use of dive bombing and armoured units. In spite of these difficulties further readjustments of our lines have been completed in an orderly manner. American and 1 hilippine troops continued to offer strong resistance, indicting heavy losses on the enemy. There is nothing to report from the other areas. The United States Navy Department announced that communication was still being maintained with Manila at 4 p.m., British standard time. A communique issued by the United States War Department states: “ In the Philippine theatre General Macarthur advises that the wounded of the American and Philippine army were evacuated from the Manila area in the steamship Mactan, which is converted into a hospital ship appropriately marked in accordance with the Geneva Convention. The wounded will be taken to Australia. American and Philippine troops are continuing their stubborn resistance in accordance with prearranged defence plans. There is nothing to report from other areas.” A navy communique states that the situation is unchanged in respect ,to Maui, Johnston, and Palmyra '-Islands. There have been no further attacks since December 24.

CITY'S FALL IMMINENT FIGHTING IN OUTSKIRTS NEW YORK, January 1. The Washington correspondent of the .' Herald-Tribune ' says Washington officials consider that the fall of Manila is imminent, and adds: "The latest unofficial reports indicate that troops are fighting in the outskirts of the city." DEFENDERS FALL BACK SITUATION REGARDED AS SERIOUS MANILA, Dec. 31. General Macarthur's headquarters in Manila announced at 11 a.m. on December 31: " The enemy is driving forward in great force from the north and the south. Japanese bombers practically control the roads from the air. Furthermore, the enemy uses great quantities of tanks and armoured units. The American lilies are being pushed back." The Associated Press stated that the fall of Manila appeared to be imminent. Latest advices showed that the Japanese were overwhelmingly advancing from the north and the south. It was stated later that communications with Manila had failed, at least temporarily. • The Chungking radio says that the Manila redio had not been heard for eight hours at 7 p.m., Chungking time, yesterday. The Manila correspondent of the Associated Press reports that the Japanese who landed last week south-east of Manila have now fought their way to Luisiana and Dolores, 45 miles'from the city. The invaders are apparently attempting to effect a j unction for a further advance at San Pablo. In the north the new shortened United States line is said to run from west to east through Zaragoza, 120 miles from Manila. United States forces have apparently been withdrawn completely from the area in the Lingayen Gulf. A later message says that the navy was still in communication with Manila this morning. The military authorities took over all radios,-which accounts for the silence.

AMERICAN FREIGHTER .SET ON FIRE BY JAPANESE PLANES (Rec. noon.) BATAVIA, January 1. An American freighter was attacked and set on fire by Japanese pianos in the northern part of the archipelago. Members of the crew were picked up and brought ashore by a flying boat of the Netherlands East Indies navy, which heard the distress signals. One member of the crew is missing.

FORGES CONSOLIDATED STIFF RESISTANCE TO JAPANESE MAJOR BATTLE IN PROGRESS (Rec. 12.40 p.m.) WASHINGTON, January 1. A communique at 9.30 a.m. says that in the Philippine theatre severe fighting continues north ef Manila, where tho American and Philippine forces have been consolidated and are continuing to resist the Japanese advance. Strong positions arc now occupiedby the defending troops, who are inflicting heavy losses on tho invaders. A major battle is now in progress. PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT JAPANESE REPORT REMOVAL TO DARWIN WASHINGTON, January 1. Tho Tokio ■ official radio claims that the Philippine Government has-moved to Darwin, Australia. The War Department hero, questioned about tho Tokio announcement, said that no comment was available at present. RUSSIAN CRITICISM AN OUTSPOKEN ARTICLE LONDON, Dec. 31. Tho Moscow paper ‘ Pravda,’ in a. leader, sharply criticises the conduct of the Philippines campaign, especially the tactics at Manila, saying: “ Petain tactics are being used to defend Manila. Failure to transform the city into a Tobruk, a Leningrad, or a Moscow constitutes an act of cowardice. Manila as an open city is comparable with a defenceless la'dy bug which rolls over on its back, sticking its legs into the air when an enemy appears. She cannot be blamed, because Nature did not give her horns, stings, or a brave heart; but what can be said of the armed man who lies down on his back ns soon ns an enemy appears? Such people are called cowards. This also applies to a nation imitating the lady bug or to an individual city dignifying the position of the lady bug with the high-sounding name of ‘ open city.’ Manila has been thus declared an open city. Manila is not defending itself. Manila is not the first city which lay on its back. When Hitler’s hordes approached Paris Petain took np the position of the Indy bug, but this did not save Paris from humiliation. Manila could have resisted the enemy like Leningrad. Sebastopol. Moscow, and Tula. It could have withstood a siege like Tobruk, and hardships and misery would have been abundantly compensated by glory to the people and exhaustion of the enemy’s forces.” Tho 1 Pravda ’ loader was written by the chief lender writer, 51. Zazlnvsky.

CENTRAL CHINA JAPANESE OFFENSIVE CHUNGKING, Dec. 30. The army spokesman declared that '40.000 Japanese troops engaged in the offensive against Changsha have now crossed the Milo River, 30 miles north of Changsha. The Japanese aim is either to divert the Chinese from the offensive against the Kwangtung front or to capture Changsha. The Chinese launched an attack on the enemy rear in Hnin-chiang Valley. Reinforcements are arriving to stem the Japanese. The offensive is believed to be the spearhead of a broad campaign in Central China. HUNAN FRONT CHINESE COUNTER-ATTACKS SUCCESSFUL (Rec. 8 a.m.) CHUNGKING, Dec. 31. Chinese counter-attacks have driven back tho Japanese forces on the Northern Hunan front to Moshanshen, 15 kilometres from Milo, which is -o miles north of Changsha. A military spokesman said that, judging from the number of troops thrown into the Ifunan campaign, the Japanese do not possess enough troops for a major orfonsive such as the capture of Changsha,

ASSAULTS ON CHANGSHA REPULSED

FIERCE FIGHTING REPORTED (Ree. 8 n.m.) CHUNGKING, Dec. 31. A communique says that eight Japanese attempts to cross the Mil River to Changsha were repulsed. Fierce fighting is raging all along tho front. The Chinese are still holding their positions south of the river, and on the north hank there is a stream of Japanese dead. In the west the Chinese are reported to ho increasing in intensity their counter-attacks in the Ivaoan area, about 35 miles south-west of Nancluing. OCEAN ISLAND BOMBED AGAIN BY JAPANESE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 31. The Prime Minister, Mr P. Fraser, announced to-day that Ocean Island was again bombed on Monday. No casualties • ore reported, and the damage was very slight. Bombers were also reported over Naum tho same day. but no bombs were dropped. Further Japanese air reconnaissance was reported over tho Gilbert Islands.