PHILIPPINES VICTORY

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 September 1944, Page 5

PHILIPPINES VICTORY

HEAVY TOLL FROM JAPS. IMPRESSIVE FIGURES WASHINGTON, September 25. The Commander-in-Chief of the United States Pacific Fleet (Admiral Nimitz), in announcing the second raid, said these carrier-borne attacks had disrupted Japanese communications and broken up the enemy air forces in the Philippines area. ’ oj „ . “Carrier-based aircraft, continuing the smashing attack against the Northern Philippines begun on Wednesday, took an additional heavy toll of. enemy aeroplanes, ships, and ground installations on Thursday,” says a United States Pacific Fleet communique. “The total destruction in their two-day strike was extensive and the enemy suffered heavily. The following damage, part of which was previously reported, was inflicted at and near Clark and Nichols fields in the Manila harbour area, and on the Cavite naval base. During the two-day operations on Southern Luzon, 40 ships and six small craft were sunk, 11 ships probably sunk, 35 ships, 11 small craft, and two dry docks were damaged, 169 aeroplanes were shot down in combat, 188 aeroplanes were destroyed on the ground, 45 aeroplanes were probably damaged on the ground, and three aeroplanes were damaged by ships’ gunfire. Extensive and widespread damage was done to buildings, warehouses, railway equipment, oil storage tanks, harbour installations, hangars, shops, stored supplies, and equipment. Our own losses in this daring and highly successful strike were 11 aeroplanes mcombat. There was no damage to our surface ships. The total revised score for the 3rd Fleet, under Admiral Halsey’s command, now stands at 122 ships and 16 small craft sunk, 137 ships and 109 small craft damaged, 380 aeroplanes shot down in the air, 598 destroyed on the ground, and crippling damage to airfields and naval establishments. In addition, 3rd Fleet ships and carrier-based aircraft supported the Palau assault. Our own combat losses were 51 aeroplanes. , „ , . “The operations of the 3rd Fleet have forced the enemy to withdraw his forces from former anchorages in the Philippines and seek new refuges in the same general area. The operations have disrupted inter-is-land communications and have also broken his air force in the Philippines just as the operations of the sth Fleet broke the enemy carrierbased air force in the battle of the Philippines Sea.” • The communique reports attacks against Chichi Jima, Haha Jima, Iwo Jima (in the Bonins), Pagan Island, Nauru Island, and enemy-held Marshalls atolls. PELELIU ISLAND. WASHINGTON, September 24. “An enemy attempt to reinforce the beleagured troops at the northern end of Peleliu Island in the Palau group has been broken up,” says a United States Pacific Fleet communique. “We sighted a convoy of 13 barges and one motor sampan carrying men and equipment, which was immediately brought under fire by United States warships, some oi which pushed through mined waters to close range. A number of barges were seen to explode. Later, 10 wrecked barges were counted on the reefs north-east of Peleliu, and the remainder are thought to have sunk. Some of the enemy were probably able to swim ashore without their equipment. “A United States cruiser on Saturday carried out a bombardment and scored at least one direct hit on two camouflaged ships .in Malaya harbour previously damaged by our aircraft. Marines on Peleliu have made small gains on the right and left flanks. Mopping up operations continue on Angaur Island.” HALMAHERA BLOCKADE. SYDNEY, September 25. The Japanese appear to be attempting to save what they can from their Uig Halmahera base, now isolated and rendered impotent by the American invasion of Morotai Island. Allied patrol boats in these waters on Friday night sank live Japanese barges loaded with oil and other supplies and headed northwest. The barges were evidently trying to reach the Philippines, or perhaps Talaud Islands, midway between Morotai and Mindanao. The nature of their cargo leads to the belief that, in spite of their possession of the rich oil-bearing areas of the Dutch East Indies, the Japanese at some bases are short of oil. Following last week’s ill-fated enemy attempts to evacuate men and stores from Halmahera the Allied blockade of the area has been tightened. On Saturday night, pur light naval vessels moved close inshore to strafe Japanese coastal defence positions on Halmahera. In the last three weeks targets m the Celebes, about 100 miles west oi Halmahera, have been hit with 2200 tons of bombs. Airfields and shipping concentrations have been the principal objectives. During the week-end General MacArthur’s bombers maintained this offensive. They destroyed or seriously damaged 14 barges and several small craft. ATTACK ON FORMOSA? CHUNGKING, September 25. The Japanese, fearing an Allied attack, have forced all native Formosans between the ages of 10 and 15 years into labour corps. Japanese nationals have been, evacuated from the four principal cities, Taikohu, Tainan, Kalung, and Takow. NAVAL STRENGTHS LONDON, September 25. Japan’s only notable new naval construction is believed to be two 45,000-ton battleships, according to the. new issue of Jane’s . Fighting Ships, which for the first time gives their names as Musasi and Yamoto. Jane’s says the United States Navy, in January, 1944, comprised 4170 warships, compared with which the Japanese fleet, showing signs of attrition, faces a lengthening list ol losses which her shipbuilding resources are unable to replace. America’s "two 45,000-ton battleships Missouri and Wisconsin are due for commissioning in 1944, and make the total 24. with more than 100 aircraftcarriers in service. The British Navy now has 40 aircraft-carriers.

PORTUGUESE AND TIMOR.

NEW YORK, Sept. 24.

The Columbia Broadcasting System in a broadcast from Madrid says that the Portuguese Division at present in the South-west Pacific is ready to move into Timor when the time comes.