U.S.A. NAVAL VICTORY

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 October 1944, Page 5

U.S.A. NAVAL VICTORY

“MOST CRUSHING DEFEAT OF WAR”

JAPANESE FLEET ROUTED

U.S.A. CARRIER SUNK

(Recd. 12 Noon). WASHINGTON, October 25. Mr. Roosevelt has announced the defeat of the Japanese Navy in the Philippines area. He added that he had received a despatch from Admiral Halsey saying that the Japanese Navy had been defeated, seriously damaged and routed. General MacArthur, in a special statement transmitted by the Army Signal Corps from the Philippines, said that the Japanese Navy had received the most crushing defeat of the war and its future operations could only be on a dwindling scale.

ALL JAP. FLEET ENGAGED (Rec. 11.55) WASHINGTON, Oct. 25. “The naval battle now raging in the Philippines area includes practically all the Japanese Fleet,” said Admiral King at a Press conference today. He added that so far information was fragmentary, but it indicated confidence in the outcome. He said that at least one of the three divisions of the Japanese Fleet was so seriously damaged in the Sibuyan Sea, that it turned back, but this did . not mean that it was going to stay turned back. Presumably the Japanese disliked the Leyte landings, and they were going to try to interfere with them. Admiral King said he considered it “is remarkable that the Japanese should have brought their surface units through the narrow straits of the Central Philippines where the manoeuvring area is restricted. This implies that at least part of the force endeavouring to return close to the Japanese homeland came from the East Indies area, the route through the Philippines being the shortest. One of the three groups was first sighted by American submarines west of the Central Philippines. The inference is that they were en route to Singapore and they certainly came from the South China Sea.” He added that fighting was still under way. EARLIER MESSAGES WASHINGTON, October 25. A Pacific Fleet communique states: The United 3rd Fleet aircraft on Monday located two enemy forces headed eastwards through the Philippine Archipelago. The ■ first force comprised three or four battleships, 10 cruisers, and 13 destroyers. It was sighted southwards of Hindoro. Later it moved eastward through Sibyuan Sea. Our carrier aircraft attacked it repeatedly. Incomplete reports indicate all the battleships were damaged by bombs. At least one was hit by a torpedo. One cruiser was torpedoed. . A second enemy force was sighted in Sulu Sea. south-westwards of Negros Island. It comprised two battleships-, one cruiser, and four destroyers. Aircraft bombed and damaged both battleships and severely strafed the lighter ships. A third enemy force was located on Moni/iy afternoon. It was approaching from South-east Formosa. During action on Monday, a strong force of enemy shore-based aircraft attacked one of our tusk' groups., seriously damaging the United States light carrier Princeton, which was sunk. The captain, 133 officers and 1227 men were saved. Personnel casualties were light. -• ' One hundred and fifty enemy aircraft were shot down during this attack. Enemy forces were brought to action yesterday. Reports are incomplete, but indicate that the enemy was severely mauled. One large carrier was sunk. Two were severely damaged. A general action is continuing. “CRITICAL MOMENT.” The Deputy-Commander of the United States Pacific Fleet (ViceAdmiral Towers), in a speech at Honolulu, said: “We have every reason to believe that a major fleet engagement may be in progress right now and that the critical moment in our history is this moment.' , “The wording of the Pacific Fleet communique suggested that two Japanese forces are on the prowl, says the Pearl Harbour correspondent of the Associated Press. “One might be moving through the Sulu Sea from the south-west, planning to enter the Mindanao Sea towards Leyte, and the other might be traversing the Sibuyan Sea south-westward towards the Visayas Sea and Leyte. Shallow, narrow passages around Leyte prevent Admiral Halsey’s warships from closing in for a surface engagement. However, Vice-Ad-miral Mitscher’s carrier forces are within aerial striking distance, and the 3rd Fleet could logically meet the enemy forces without being subjected to attack from Imperial units, which, presumably, are wholly lacking vital aerial support. Admiral Nimitz’s failure to mention the presence of enemy carriers might indicate that the enemy is trying to slip heavily-gunned surface ships close to the western - side of Leyte to subject General MacArthur s ground forces to a severe bombardment. The enemy move is apparently one of desperation, and may well prove suicidal for the units involved.” , , „ The Princeton was converted from a 10,000-tons light cruiser into an escort-carrier after her construction had started. She was launched in October, 1942. Rated at 33 knots, she was equipped to carry divebomber, torpedo and fighter planes.

JAPANESE CLAIMS NEW YORK, October 25. “A heavy naval battle, with surface and air units participating, has been proceeding since early yesterday (Tuesday), eastward of Samar Island, in the Philippines,’’ says the Tokio official radio. The battle is now gaining in scope and intensity.” Tokio radio claims that Japanese aircraft early yesterday, trapped an enemy task force eastwards of the Philippines, severely damaging two aircraft carriers and one battleship, and two cruisers. The Japanese aircraft continuing the attacks throughout Tuesday night, were joined early on Wednesday by naval units; which sank four enemy aircraft carriers, also two large cruisers and one destroyer. Japanese submarines, it says, sank more than four enemy aircraft carriers, two large cruisers and one destroyer. Japanese submarines also sank more than four enemy transports. Tokio official radio also claims, that 39 enemy planes were shot down on Tuesday. Tokio radio states the Japanese losses were two cruisers, and one destroyer sunk.

JAP. SHIPS AND PLANES.

EXTENT OF HEAVY LOSSES. (Rec. 1.20 n.m.) WASHINGTON, October 25. The rout of the Japanese fleet attacking General MacArthur’s forces in the Leyte Gulf is reported in a special communioue issued by General MacArthur. “The Japanese fleet, force, during the early hours of yesterday approached Philippine waters at Suritao Bay. south of San Bernaeio Strait. 'They converged upon

our forces in the Leyte Gulf. The 7th Fleet, with the Australian Squadron and surface forces supported by escort carriers, intercepted both tacks. The enemy southern force, comprising two battleships, one heavy cruiser, one light cruiser and four destroyers was completely routed, losing early in the action at least one battleship of the Yamoshiro class, several cruisers and destroyers. The remnants retreated westwards through the Suritao Straits under repeated air attacks from our escort carriers, suffering losses and damage. Every ship was either sunk or heavily damaged in this engagement. We incurred extremely light losses. Several P.T. boats were sunk or damaged and one destroyer was damaged. “The enemy’s northern force, comprising four battleships, several cruisers and eight destroyers, made contact with one of our escort carrier groups off the east coast of Samar. Our planes from that group, supported by those of another group, drove off the attacking fleet, forcing it to retire northwards.” Detailed information is not yet available, but combat reports indicate the enemy lost several cruisers and destroyers, while three battleships, three cruisers and additional destroyers were badly damaged. Ship casualties sustained by our forces were one escort carrier sunk and several escort carriers and destroyers damaged. The enemy air force on October 24 attempted a large scale daylight attack against our shipping in the Leyte Gulf shortly after dawn. Our carrier fighters effectively intercepted and broke up one formation. Fifty-three enemy planes were shot down in air combat and three others were destroyed by ack-ack. The comunique detailing progress on Leyte says: Our ground forces continue to advance on all fronts. Allied troops thrust forward nortn ol Tacloban and the enemy forces are disintegrating. We seized the hills west of Palo and captured Ponauan, 10. miles southward. We have captured the main road in the centre of Murauen, nine miles inland from Tulau.

OCCUPATION OF LEYTE.

“EXTENSIVE GAINS.”

(Rec. 10.35 a.m.) WASHINGTON, October 25. “Our ground forces on Leyte havemade extensive gains in all sectors, says General MacArthur’s communique. “The 10th Division, after seizing San Pablo aerodrome, has fanned out northwards. The 96th Division has enveloped Catmon Hill and approached Tabontabon. The Tank Corps have 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 have caused small damage. Five enemy planes have been shot down. “Our carrier aircraft have attacked ground installations, supply and communication lines and enemy aerodromes in Western Visayas. north of Mindanao. They shot down one dive-bomber 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 bringing in aircraft from Luzon and Borneo, and have greatly restricted the scale of his counter-offensive at Leyte. , “The Philippine towns and villages freed include Nalibunan, Calbasag, Luwan, Labira, Nan Kugod, Gitable, Rawis, Calipayan, Utap, Libas Malacanding, Cabaracan, Juhta 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 on Halmahera. Shipping, runways, and installations in the Amboina-Ceram area were attacked, and several coastal vessels were destroyed. We lost three planes in the attack. Bombers strafed enemy positions in New Guinea, the Bismarck Group and the Solomons.’

JAP. RAID FAILURE.

RUGBY, October 25

Brilliant interception by Navy aircraft and accurate shooting by the ships’ anti-aircraft beat off a determined Japanese attack on an Allied convoy anchored off Leyte beachhead on Tuesday, cables a Philippines correspondent. Forty enemy bombers attempted to penetrate the cover provided by Allied fighters, but only seven succeeded and five were shot down. The correspondent states that one Japanese bomber, hit by fire from a Hellcat, was steered straight towards a small American ship. There was a terrific explosion and the vessel burst into flames. One bomber which escaped landed a bomb on another vessel which caught fire, but the flames were quickly extinguished. Another small-scale attack was made by the enemy at dusk, but no damage was done. Smokescreens are now 'laid quickly around our shipping when the alert is sounded and these are baffling the Japanese to a great extent. MORE LANDINGS. (Rec. 1.5) WASHINGTON, Oct. 25. General MacArthur has announced a landing at Samar. He stated: We seized the San Juanica Straits between Leyte and Samar. We landed at Uvam and Babatngon at the northern end of Leyte shore, and seized the southern coast of Samar to dominate the eastern shore of the Straits. Enemy forces are disintegrating in this sector.

MACARTHUR'S BROADCAST. INFORMATION ABOUT ENEMY. (Rec. 11 a.m.) WASHINGTON, October 20. The American forces drove the Japanese back into the foothills of the central mountain range, .deepening their foothold to a depth of 10 miles and bringing the total villages captured to at least 28, plus three airfields, says the United Press correspondent at General MacArthur s Headquarters. The American, forces now hold most of the coastal plain from Dulag northwards beyond Tacloban. General MacArthur, speaking on

the Voice of Freedom radio, called bn the Filipino patriots near the battlelines to harass the Japanese incessantly and cautioned those distant from the scene of the fighting to await instructions. He said that seldom had a military commander penetrated enemy-occupied shores with a greater potential of interior support. The hour of liberation had struck. The interior force would be guided to their maximum utilisation without exposing the people to undue and needless sacrifice. Instructions would be promulgated to guide their efforts while relying on their innate commonsense to gauge the limitations of their local action.

General MacArthur urged the Filipinos to destroy the enemy’s communications, munitions, fuel, goods, food, transport and other supplies. “Show him that no enemy soldier may escape death or surrender.” General MacArthur began his broadcast by saying: “Following the disaster which overtook our gallant forces, a deep and impenetrable silence engulfed the Philippines. No news concerning the Filipinos’ fate reached the outside world until the silence was broken by a weak signal from a radio set on Panay, picked up late in the Autumn of 1942 by a War Department listening post and flashto my Headquarters. “That signal, weak and spotty as it was, lifted the curtain of silence and uncertainty and disclosed the

START OF A HUMAN DRAMA with few parallels in military history. In it I recognised a spontaneous movement of the Filipino people to. resist the shackles with which the enemy sought to bind them, both physically and spiritually. I gave this movement all the spiritual and material support that my limited resources permitted. Through the understanding and assistance of our Navy I was able to send by submarine, at first in driblets, arms, ammunition, and medical supplies. News of the first shipment spread rapidly through the Philippines and electrified the people into a full-returning consciousness that America had. neither abandoned nor forgotten them.” General MacArthur told how, eventually, four submarines were committed to the exclusive task of taking supplies to the Philippines. He related how guerrillas obtained the secret defensive plans and instructions of the Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Japanese Fleet for use against American offensive action in the Pacific areas. In addition, the Americans gained possession of complete information on the strength and distribution of the enemy fleets. General MacArthur added: We are aided by the fact that for many months our campaign plans benefitted from the hazardous labours ol a vast network of agents, numbering hundreds of thousands, providing precise, accurate and detailed inlormation on the major enemy moves and installations throughout the Philippine Archipelago, some ot which is enabling the sinking of an enormous tonnage of enemy shipping. In addition,-' every major island has at least one weather observatory, which has flashed full data to my beadquarters, morning, afternoon and night, giving visual observation of the air over nearly every square foot of the Philippines.” LORD KEYES IMPRESSED.

NEW YORK, October 25. “Admiral of the Fleet Lord Keyes was an observer of the invasion of the Philippines from Rear-Admiral Connolly’s flagship,” says a correspondent on Leyte Island. Lord Keyes said he had been greatly impressed with the naval .bombardment, and he would report to the Admiralty on a new type of equipment not previously seen in amphibious operations.’'

FORTRESSES BOMB JAPAN

NEW YORK, October 25. Tokio official radio reports: One hundred China-based Superfortresses raided Kyushu and Saishu Islands between 10 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. today (Wednesday), causing some damage. FURTHER DETAILS. (Rec. 12.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, October 25. A medium force of Superfortresses attacked the Omura aircraft plant at Kyushu in daylight, say as 20th Air Force communique. Omura is the aircraft assembly, repair, training and installation centre on the east coast of Omura Bay, .12 miles northeastward of Nagaski. Adjacent to Omura is the naval air station, tne plant of which is of modern design and was built during the present war as one of the keystones of Japans air power. It comprises 75 builct‘iilgs a 2,500,000 square feet covered roof, which is large by any stand-, ard of comparison. Our Supeifoitresses met some fighter resistance and experienced moderate flak over the target. The weather was clear and bombing was accomplished in. complete visibility. The crews observed the results, which are chaiacterised as generally good. One Superfortress is missing. FILIPINO GUERRILLAS

NEW YORK, October 25. Four thousand Filipino guerrillas using captured Japanese weapons, deadly bolos, and ancient rifles, supplied detailed information of enemy troop depositions and paved the way for the American landing. The guerrillas are led by Colonel Ruparto Kangelon, a former member of the Filipino Constabulary. Colonel Kangelon said that, though frequently outnumbered bv eighty or ninety to one, they had in 304 engagements killed 3800 Japanese. A United Press correspondent says: The 24th U.S. Corps, now fighting at the southern end of the Leyte line, boarded a transport in Hawaii last month with a mission to capture Yap. Yap has since been by-passed. As a result of a switch in Pacific strategy, the 24th Corps joined General MacArthur’s forces. Lieutenant Tinnell returned recently after spending seven months behind Japanese lines in Mindanao Island fighting with guerrillas, and gathering information which played a key part in the invasion. Lieutenant Tinnell went to Mindanao by a submarine. He returned the same way. He radioed information which resulted in the sinking of more than fifty enemy ships. He said: “The guerrillas are conducting a highly effective war. They have the Japanese so scared that they will not leave their camps except in large parties. When I left the guerillas controlled a large section of one Philippine Island.” The thirty months since the Japanese arrived there have been miserable for the people of Leyte, particularly for those remaining Americans who, according to Mr. Robert Price, were suspected of collusion. Whenever guerrillas were active or planes flew over the island, then they and Filipinos were taken to prison and Questioned in a sort of trial. If the Japanese were dissatisfied, they were beaten, their legs tied, their hands tied behind their backs, and they were left hanging by the arms from a crossbeam. Mr. Price said he was once suspended for 90 minutes, spinning like a barbecue. FORMOSA RAIDS NEW’YORK, October 25. The Domei News Agency reports: During the Formosa raids of October 12 and 14. American bombers destroyed 1,949 buildings, killed 381 persons, and injured 348.