PHILIPPINES BATTLE

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 October 1944, Page 5

PHILIPPINES BATTLE

U.S.A. NAVY’S TRIUMPH

JAPS. ON THE RUN

COSTLY AND DECISIVE DEFEAT

LONDON, October 26. A communique from the headquarters of the United States Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbour says that at least six large Japanese warships have been sunk in the Philippines battle, and many more ships have been severely damaged. There are indications that • the battle is still on. Details of enemy losses are not complete, but the communique says that Japanese ships definitely sunk include one large aircraft-carrier, one light aircraft-carrier, and four cruisers. In addition, two battleships and one large aircraft-carrier were probably sunk and six battleships and three heavy cruisers were severely damaged. The Japanese admit the loss of a battleship, and say that the battle is continuing. A correspondent says that it looks as it at least a third, or possibly half, of the main Japanese fleet will be out of action for several months. United States naval losses are said to be light, but details have not been announced, apart from the loss of the light aircraft-carfier, Princeton. “The pride of Japan is so badly wrecked that it may never make another long run,” says the United Press correspondent aboard ViceAdmiral Kinkaid’s flagship, giving the first eye-witness account of the naval battle of the Philippines. “It was the day our'Navy had dreamed about for over a year. It was 17 hours of concentrated hell. Our Pacific carrier force, which nobody thought could deliver such, a terrific punch, held oil the bulk of the Japanese fleet all day, and had it on the run all the afternoon.” A United States Navy spokesman said: “The enemy has been decisively defeated, with heavy losses. Our Fleet is without serious losses and is fit to fight to-morrow.”

JAPANESE LOSSES

PEARL HARBOUR, October 26.

Admiral Nimitz announced that the American Fleet in the Sibuyan Sea sank the following enemy ships: One large Japanese carrier. One light carrier. Four cruisers.

Probably sunk: One large carrier, two battleships. Severely damaged: Six battleships, three heavy cruisers and several destroyers.

American ships were undamaged. In a battle against a major enemy force, south-eastward of Formosa, Admiral Mitscher’s task force inflicted the following damage:—One large carrier exploded and sank. A large carrier was severely damaged by bombs and torpedoes. It is believed to be sunk. A light carrier was sunk. Two battleships were probably sunk. Two light cruisers were definitely sunk. Two battleships, three cruisers and a number of destroyers withdrew northwards, damaged. Admiral Nhnitz in his communique to the fleet said: “The Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet desires to express to all officers and men his pride and gratitude for the courageous, aggressive manner wherein they have done their utmost to destroy the enemy in the recent fighting.” LATEST ESTIMATE (Rec. 2.5) NEW YORK. Oct. 26. Japanese naval losses in the Philippines, compiled from official communiques and other reports are: — Sunk: Two carrier, two battleships, five cruisers, three destroyers. Probably sunk: One carrier, two battleships. Damaged: Six battleships, four cruisers, one destroyer, making a total of 26 warships. An unspecified number of other destroyers damaged brings the total to at least 30. The Japanese still have an estimated 175 warships in fighting condition, including six to eight battleships, seven to nine carriers, 25 to 30 cruisers; also a submarine fleet which totalled 78 at the beginning of the war. CORRESPONDENTS’ REPORTS.

U.S.A. ADMIRAL’S BRILLIANCE.

WASHINGTON, October 26. “Japan has lost the first, possibly the decisive, round in the all-out battle to halt the American advance to Japan,” reports the Associated Press correspondent (Yates McDaniel-), in a dispatch from 7th Fleet Headquarters. Planes from Vice-Ad-miral Kinkaid’s hurt but still fighting carrier force are now hitting the surviving enemy warships as they retire westward through the straits southward of Leyte Island. “The fate of the American Army on Leyte hung in precarious balance for an hour as Vice-Admiral Kinkaid executed the daring decision to take on the two attacking enemy forces immediately with his outnumbered Fleet. Vice-Admiral Kinkaid threw half his battleships and a strong flotilla of P.T. boats against the enemy force steaming into the Leyte Gulf from the south-west. The other American battleships went to support Vice-Admiral Kinkaid’s carrier force, which was already under heavy attack off Samar Island by a Japanese fleet, including at least four battleships, one heavy cruiser, and many destroyers.”

“After 25 minutes of broadside exchanges and closely pressed destroyer strikes, the Japanese forces which approached from the south-west began withdrawing, leaving a Yamashiro class battleship abandoned and sinking, and several cruisers and destroyers sunk. The Americans lost only a few P.T. boats and some larger vessels were damaged. Vice-Ad-miral Kinkaid’s other battleship force reached the critically threatened carriers just in time. Carrier aeroplanes heavily damaged three enemy battleships and three cruisers. The remnants of the enemy force retired to the north-west.”

Practically every major ship in the Japanese navy, except carriers, has been either sunk or damaged in the Philippines battle,” said Gordon Walker, New York correspondent of the Mutual Radiol quoting a naval spokesman in a broadcast from Leyte. “If the enemy fleet had been able to break through our naval blockade and enter Leyte Gulf they could have wiped out every ship in San Pedro Bav. The Japanese got within 70 miles of the Leyte beaches before being turned back. The battle is not over. The entire Pacific war hinges on this naval fight. The American small carriers, although outnumbered. beat off the thrust from the north off the east coast of Samar Island through sheer heroism and superior fighting ability. Many Japanese aeroplanes crashed in suicide dives, but only the Princeton was sunk.” GREATEST SEA BATTLE. The “New York Times” correspondent at Pearl Harbour (George Horne) says: “The Philippines actions may develop into the greatest sea battle of our time. Unquestionably more opposing warships are present than at the Battle of Jutland. The enemy fleet, it is believed, includes new 45,000-ton warships. Full accounts are awaited here with supreme confidence in Admiral Halsey’s

ability. The results will have the greatest effect on the Pacific war since Pearl Harbour. The actions against the two forces in the Leyte area are only of secondary importance, since the third division encountered in the Formosa area is the main enemy force, including carriers. The Participation of enemy land-planes in the battle emphasises the tremendous recovery capacity of the Japanese, whose aerodromes throughout the Philippines have been repeatedly blasted.” , . , “The past week’s naval victory in the Philippines has caused jubilation in the Navy Department and throughout official circles in Washington, says the “New York Times.” Naval experts refused to discuss the full impact of the disclosures without further details, but officers admitted privately that the potentialities were very great. They pointed out that if the Jaoanese fleet were actually dissipated or routed, landings on r ormosa or the China coast would now be feasible. In addition, the invasion of Japan itself might come far sooner than has been expected. The Washington correspondent of the Associated Press says: One result of the victory will be the complete and early occupation of the entire .island of Leyte, since its defenders are now completely cut utt from help. There is little doubt that a paralysing blow has been dealt to Japan, potentially shortening the war by months.”

’ BATTLE HAPPENINGS. PEARL HARBOUR AVENGED.

(Rec. 9.50 a.m.) NEW YORK, pct. 26. A stirring account of the Surigao Strait naval battle was cabled by the Associated Press correspondent. Spencer David. .. “The Japanese opened the fust phase of' the battle of Leyte Gulf with a bold strike through Surigao Strait. P.T. boats sighted the enemy shortly after midnight. They roared in for a brave but unsuccessful attack. Destroyers followed, with a closely pressed torpedo attack, which sent the Japanese battleships reeling under the impact of direct hits. Our battleships resurrected from the mud of Pearl Harbour, under the command of Rear-Admiral Oldendorf then, opened up with big guns. One Japanese battleship was set on fire and left dead in the water while a destroyer attempted to rescue the survivors. The remaining enemy ships broke off the action and retired with Avenger torpedo-bombers pressing home attacks. A second Japanese battleship was seen burning, steaming slowly into the buia Q ea “Meanwhile, Rear-Admiral Sprague had signalled that a baby earner force was under gunfire oft bamar. The Japanese attacking force comprised four battleships, nine cruisers and 12 destroyers. Only little flattops and a few small warships stood in the way of this powerful Jorce. Sprague’s Avengers took off mto a fortunate south-east wind, which enabled the carriers to run from the enemy and at the same time launch their aircraft.” The United Press correspondent says: The baby carriers, scored a most impressive victory m a day oi hectic fighting. Wildcats and Avengers from small carriers downed 4J Japanese twin-engined bombers from a force of 100 bombers and seven fighters. The Americans lost two planes. Not more than eight or nine enemy aircraft got through to Leyte Gulf.

ADVANCES ON. LEYTE. iiILLS AND ROAD TAKEN.

WASHINGTON, October 26. A communique detailing progress on Leyte states: “Our ground forces continue to advance on all fronts. Allied troops thrust forward north, ol Tacloban. Enemy forces are •disintegrating. We seized the hills west of Palo and captured Ponsuan, 10 miles to the southward. We have captured the main road centre ol Murauen, nine miles inland from TTulcid The’ Americans have advanced 20 'miles north of Tacloban, and fnmly hold the San Juanico Strait, which separates Samar Island from Leyte. Correspondents say that Japanese resistance on this sector is dismAn Associated Press war correspondent, Asahael Bush, aged 31, was killed during a Japanese bombing attack in Tacloban. He was the tenth civilian correspondent to be killed in the Pacific wav. LATEST PROGRESS REPORT (Recd. 1.45 Oct. 26. “The junction of the Tenth and Twenty-fourth Corps has been established on the coast south of Tanoan, and we now control the eastern coastal sector of Leyte from the northern end of San Junaico straight to Dulag, a distance of forty miles,”, says General MacArthur’s communique. Elements of the First Cavalry Division repulsed a small enemy counter-at-tack at Lapaz on the Samar Island. The Twenty-fourth Division is meeting increasing opposition in its advance west of Palo. Southward, in the Twenty-fourth . Corps sector, the Ninety-sixth Division captured Tabontabon west of Catmon Hill, and the Seventh Division, alter sharp fighting, the Burauen-Dagami road. Additional communities freed of the enemy include Anibung, Tigbae, Cannangui, Hindang, Bolongtohn, Kalbasog, Calampanon, Malabka, San Gabriel, Kannanhag, Telegrat'o, San Joaquin and Diit. “Air activity against shipping in San Pedro Bay and the Deanhead area was again limited to intermittent harassing raids, causing light damage and casualties. Thirty-nine planes were shot down by ack-ack, fourteen by fighter patrol, and. twenty-three by planes from escort carriers in the Leyte Gulf. Remnants of the enemy’s naval forces retreating from Leyte Gulf are being kept under continual aerial attack.”

H.M.A.S. AUSTRALIA HIT 19 KILLED—S 4 WOUNDED

SYDNEY, October 2G

H.M.A.S. Australia, flagship of the Royal Australian Navy, was damaged superficially by an air attack during the Allied invasion of the Philippines. Nineteen of the crew are dead and 54 are wounded. Commodore J. A. Collins, Officer Commanding the Australian Naval Squadron, was wounded, and the Australia’s commanding officer, Captain E. F. V. Dechaineux, died of wounds. This announcement was made today by the Prime Minister’ (Mr Curtin), who revealed that the action took place last Friday. Damage was confined to the upper deck near the flagship’s bridge. MR. STIMSON’S WARNING. (Rec. 10.35 a.m.) WASHINGTON, October 26. A warning that increasingly stub-

born resistance must be anticipated in the Philippines despite the brilliant American naval victory was issued by Mr. Stimson (Secretary for War) at his Press conference to-day. He pointed out that General MacArthur’s landing on Leyte was a challenge which the Japanese could not disregard, for the landing represented increasing suffocating pressure on the stolen Japanese empire. “The Philippines campaign is likely to be long and bitter. The enemy has a quarter of a million troops there. He may strive to reinforce them and restore land-based air power as well as challenge our sea power,” Mr. Stimson added. “We know enough from past experience not to discount Japanese soldiers.”

Mr. Stimson announced that United States Army casualties to October 14 totalled 403,074, comprising 78,522 killed, 220,529 wounded, 51,009 missing and 53,014 taken prisoner.

The Tokio official radio, commenting on the battle of Leyte Gulf, said: “It is impossible to reveal what further measures will be taken by the Japanese Fleet, but one thing is now clear—America has lost the"war.”

JAPANESE BRUTALITY LOS ANGELES, October 25. One hundred American seamen, with their hands tied, were left on the deck of a Japanese submarine to drown as it submerged. Twentythree survived. They were members of the crew of the steamer Jean Nicolet, sunk in the Indian Ocean last July. They were taken from a life boat, subjected to beatings and other indignities, fettered and then left on the deck to drown. This story was related in the Superior Court by Charles Pyle, one of the survivors, who gave evidence in support of an oral. will made by first officer Clement Carlin, one of the men drowned. Carlin, according said: “If you come out, and I don t, I want my brother to have all my property.” “They fettered everyone’s hands except mine,” said Pyle. “They thought I was dead.”