GAINS SN PACIFIC

Evening Star, Issue 25471, 30 April 1945, Page 6

GAINS SN PACIFIC

PHILIPPINES AND OKINAWA BAGUIO CAPTURED WASHINGTON, April 28. Advancing 10 miles through the rugged Apo Mountain Range on Mindanao, tlie Twenty-fburtn Division is now within sight of Digos, on ■ the Davao Gulf, reports General MacArthur's communique. The Twenty-fifth Divisiou on Luzon, in a surprise night attack, advanced over rugged mountain ridges through intricate enemy defences and seized commanding positions overlooking Balete Pass. Medium and attack bombers struck industrial plants on Formosa, and air patrols sank five freighters. Escorted heavy bombers attacked the Saigou waterfront, destroying a freighter in dry dock and setting fire to a 3,000ton transport. Near misses were observed on a submarine. Heavy bombers bombed Miri, Tobanio, Borneo, and Makassar, in the Celebes. They severely cratered runways, destroyed barracks, and hit a power plant. Other planes destroyed four freighters and five coastal vessels and a number of small craft.

"American troops have captured Bagnio, and the casualties were amazingly iight," says General MacArthur,'s communique. " The enemy considered Baguio impregnable. Members of the Filipino Collaborationist Government, who took refuge here, surrendered or fled. The. Twentyfourth Division completed the crossing of Mindanao from the west coast, having reached Davao Gulf near Digos. The speed of this advance, following the surprise landing, prevented the enemy from offering seriuus resistance. Heavy bombers attacked aerodromes in Formosa, and our longrange search planes fanned out over the China Sea and destroyed shipping. Australian ground forces secured Bogum Harbour and advanced to the east to capture Welbui." Admiral Nimitz's communique says: " The Twenty-fourth Army Corps moved slowly forward in Southern Okinawa yesterday. Fnemy aircraftattacked United States shipping oil' Okinawa beaches yesterday and today, causing some damage and linking one auxiliary surface unit. Twentyfive enemy aircraft were shot down and two were probably destroyed. Fnemy small-craft activity increased during the night We destroyed a number of small boats Air patrols from laiviei.s shot down 32 enemy planes over the Ryukyus. Search aircraft sank three small cargo ships and damaged several others to-day."

The air force announces *hat Fortresses attacked six Japanese airfields from which suicide planes are launched. Flak was moderate and fighter . opposition weak. Oiip SuperFortress was lost.