MANILA RAIDED

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 September 1944, Page 5

MANILA RAIDED

JAP. LOSSES HEAVY

205 PLANES—MANY SHIPS -

WASHINGTON, September 22. Manila, the capital and chief port . of the Philippines, has been raided by carrier-borne aircraft of the United States Pacific Fleet. The Japanese lost 110 aeroplanes in combat, and many others were destroyed on the ground. Eleven ships were sunk and 26 were damaged. Fifteen American aeroplanes were lost. Details of the damage caused at Manila have hot been revealed, but it is stated that after the raid the Japanese declared martial law throughout the PhihpFor several weeks Allied bombers of General MacArthur’s South-west Pacific Command have launched attacks on Mindanao, the southernmost island of the Philippines. Mindanao was heavily raided on Monday, and since then reconnaissance flights over the Southern Philippines have been reported. The raid, which took place on Wednesday, was the first attack bv American forces on the Manila area and was made in face of a big umbrella of Japanese interce A United States Pacific Fleet communique says: “Carrier aircraft swept Luzon, striking in great force M shipping in Manila Bay and Subig Bav and installations on Clai k field, Nichols field, and the Cavite naval base. The enemy lost 110 airciaft shot down and 95 destroyed on the ground. A large destroyer-leadei, four large oil tankers, a small oil tanker, two large cargo ships, a medium cargo ship, and two small cargo vessels were sunk. Moreover, one destroyer, two, large oil tankers, a targe transport, 10 large cargo ships, 12 medium cargo ships, and floating dock were probably sunk or damag“In addition to the- enemy s heavy shipping and aircraft losses much damage was done to- military objecfives on and adjacent to Claik field and Nichols field. This superlatively successful attack apparently caught, the enemy completely by surprise American surface ships sufteied no damage. ANOTHER ATTACK (Recd Noon). NEW YORK, Sept. 22. 1 The Manila radio says several waves of carrier-based haters and bombers have again attacked Manila. JAP. NA VWS" ABSENCE PEARL HARBOUR, Sept. 22 The latest powerful strike m the Philippines was carried out by aqmiral Halsey’s Third Fleet, including General Mitscher’s carrier group, reports the Associated Press. It is an indication that the Palau operations are proceeding so well that Admiral Halsey is to leave large forces there lightlv protected in order to renew the bold thrusts against the Philippines which began on August 30, and have now accounted for a grand tots of 258 ships sunk or damaged, and 908 • aircraft destroyed or damaged, against American losses of only 26 Manes It is almost unbelievable that, not a single American ship was lost or damaged, since all the laids ocurred within striking distance of land-based Japanese aircraft. " cantly, the Japanese offered no naval opposition whatever. The Japanese obviously do not have naval forces in the Philippines capable ol resisting the Americans, and presumbaly are still nursing wounds inflicted in the battle of the Philippines Sea at the end of June. Japanese’ claim. NEW YORK, September 22. The Tokio official radio says that all Manila is raging to-day with hatred against the Americans for the brutality' and viciousness displayed in attacking Manila. American pilots brutally strafed a Chinese general hospital roof, on which was carried, clearly visible, a red cross. Over 100 innocent civilians were killed or injured.

PELELIU GAINS.

WASHINGTON, September 22

A Pacific Fleet communique says: Marines, on Wednesday, made minor gains along the western ridge of Peleliu in the face of stiff opposition from enemy troops, well entrenched in the precipitous terrain. Marinas have occupied the entire eastern coast of Peleliu, including Ngabad Island. Army troops are continuing' mopping up operations on Angaur. Enemy dead on Peleliu is 6792 and on Angaur 850. The communique .adds: An airfield and installations in Babelthuap, and a seaplane base in Arakapessan were bombed on Wednesday. Thunderbolts strafed and bombed gun emplacements on Pagan Island on Tuesday. Marine aircraft bombed storage areas on Rota Island on Monday and attacked the island again the following day, causing several explosions and fires. Liberators bombed Truk atoll, dropping 69 tons of bombs on Moen airfield. All returned. Venturas bombed Paramushiro on Tuesday, scoring direct hits on communications and facilities. No planes were lost.

JAPS LEAVING HALMAHERAS

(N’.Z.P.A. .Special Australian Correspondent)

SYDNEY, September 22. . The Japanese may be evacuating the Halmaheras, which, have lost much of their defence value since the Americans invaded Morotai, at the north-eastern tip of the group and within 300 miles of the Philippines. The first official indication of this possibility is given to-day in General MacArthur’s communique which reports the sinking of a 1000-ton ship loaded with enemy troops and supplies in the waters north of Morotai. A strike against a small convoy, comprising a freighter and a number of barges, was made on Monday night by three Allied patrol torpedoboats. The ships were on a northerly course, which indicated that they could have come from Halmahera. They were the first enemy vessels sighted in the area since the invasion of Morotai a week ago. It is possible an attempt is being made to withdraw Japanese personnel from Halmahera to strengthen new bases along the Allied route to Tokio. On Morotai American troops • are meeting the first organised Japanese resistance. Pockets of small numbers of enemy soldiers are fighting stubbornly. The American beachhead now has a perimeter 12 miles long with ample space for airfield construction. Captured Japanese stores include clothing, food, and medical supplies. JAP. ADMIRALS KILLED

NEW YORK, Sept. 22. Five more Japanese Admirals, according to the Tokio official radio, have died in action —Vice Admiral Tei Monzen, Rear-Admiral Tei Seki, Rear-Admiral Kan More, Rear-Ad-miral Tsuneo Orita and Rear-Admir-al Shin Okubo. The circumstances of their deaths are not disclosed.