PHILIPPINES VICTORY

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 October 1944, Page 5

PHILIPPINES VICTORY

JAP. LOSSES 58 TO SIX

ADMIRAL NIMITZ’S REPORT

WASHINGTON, October 29. Admiral Nimitz announced that the Third and Seventh American Fleets sank or damaged 58 Japanese warships at a cost of only six American vessels lost in the second battle ot the Philippine Seas. A Pacific fUeet communique issued by Admiral Nimitz at Pearl Harbour says: . “Amplifying reports of me second battle of the Philippine Sea, although still subject to revision as more information is received, indicate an overwhelming victory io‘•the Third and Seventh Fleets. The Japanese fleet has been decisively defeated and routed. The second battle of" lhe Philippine Sea ranks as one of the major sea battles of the second World War. Movements of the major Japanese, fleet units north of tne Singapore area were detected on October 21-22. Submarine scouts sightea the enemy force and sank two Atago class heavy cruisers, and severely damaged a third. Ships of the Third Fleet moved into position east of tne Philippines off Surigao Strait, ban Bernadino Strait, and Poilla Island. Carrier-searchers on October 23 discovered two strong enemy naval forces moving eastwards, one thiough the Sibuyan Sea and the other through the Sulu Sea. Photographs by carrier aircraft showed that the force moving eastwards thiough the Siubuyan Sea included five battleships, thought to be the Yatmato, Masashi, Nagato, Kongo, and Harama; eight cruisers and thirteen destroyers. The force moving eastwards through the Sulu Sea consisted of two battleships of the Yamashiro class, two heavy cruisers, two light cruisers, and seven or eight destroyers. “As soon as the presence of two enemy fleet forces in the Philippines was discovered, Hellcats, Avenger torpedo-planes, and Hell-diver divebombers of the Third Fleet carriers were launched to attack both forces. One battleship and one cruiser in the Sibuyan Sea were severely damaged and set on fire, and may have sunk. Three other battleships and three heavy cruisers received bombs and torpedoes. One light cruiser was torpedoed, which capsized and sank. Bomb hits were made on both battleships in the Sulu Sea. Cruisers and destroyers were strafed with rockets and machine-guns. Meanwhile, east of the Philippines, enemy shore-based aircraft attacked our carriers. In the ensuing air battle we shot down over 150 aircraft. Our own losses, concerning which the exact figures are not yet available, were light The carrier Princeton was hit by a bomb which caused a bad fire. Later the Princeton magazine blew up and lhe ship was so badly damaged that she had to be sunk by our forces. Also during the afternoon on October 23 a land-based Navy search plane discovered the presence of an enemy crarier force, approximately 200 miles off Cap Engano, Northern Luzon heading southwards. This force consisted of 17 warships, including a large carrier believed to be of the Zuikaku class, three light cruisers, two battleships with flight decks aft, a heavy cruiser, light cruiser, three other cruisers, and six destroyers. JAPANESE SURPRISED

“To meet this serious threat, the Third Fleet commander concentrated several of his carrier task groups and started northwards at high speed for a dawn attack. These Third Fleet units steamed full-speed through the night and caught- the enemy so completely by surprise on the morning of Oct. 24, that there was no effective air opposition. Later in the forenoon, enemy carrier aircraft which had been refuelled ashore at the Philippines, flew out to join I heir ships, which had alread.y met disaster. The enemy planes arrived too late to get into the fight. We shot down twenty-one. The following destruction was inflicted on the enemy in this action. Sunk: One carrier of the Zuiaku class, one light cm rier ol the Zuiho class, two light carriers of the Chitose class, one light cruiser or largo destroyer, one deslroyer, and one cruiser. Damaged: Two battleships, throe cruisers and four destroyers. None of the 'Third Fleet ships', engaged with enemy carriers were damaged. We lost ten planes all shot down by flak. Before all the damaged enemy ships could be tracked down, the engagement was broken off, in order to proceed to the assistance ot the Seventh Fleet carrier escort groups, then under attack off Samar Island. An enemy force of battleships, cruisers, and destroyers which had been attacked in the Sibuymi Sea sortied through San Bernadino Strait, in spite of the damage inflicted. by our carrier aircraft, and attacked the Seventh Fleet off Samar Island, on the morning of October 24. In the ensuing battle most of the enemy’s heavy ships are badly damaged by Seventh Fleet units and Third Fleet carrier aircraft.- One cruiser was seen to sink, and one destroyer was left' dead in the water. The enemy force ran north-westwards, during the earlj r hours of darkness and passed westwards through San Bernadino Strait. We sank a straggling cruiser.

SUMMARY OF LOSSES

“Meanwhile the southern enemy force crossed Sulu Sea. and Mindanao Sea. It attempted to pass through the Surigao Strait. It met our Seventh Fleet, in a night action, on October 23-24. All the units of this enemy force were either sunk or decisively defeated. Third Fleet carrier aircraft were launched on October 24 against the crippled and damaged enemy, they fleeing westwards through the" Sibuyan Sea. Damage was inflicted on the enemy during his retirement through the San Bernadino Straits. It included: One cruiser sunk; one battleship possibly sunk; three battleships and three cruisers damaged. “The total damage inflicted in the period for October 22 to October 27 included:

Sunk: “Two battleships; four carriers; six heavy cruisers; three light cruisers; three small cruisers or large destroyers; six destroyers. Severely damaged—may have been sunk: “One battleship; three heavy cruisers: two light cruisers; seven destroyers. Escaped in a damaged condition: ‘•Six battleships; four heavy cruisers; one light cruiser; ten destroyers. American losses: “During the same action, we lost: One light carrier; two escort carriers; two destroyers, one. destroyer escort; a few lesser craft. The following battleships which were seriously damaged at Pearl Harbour participated:—-The West Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee, California, Pennsylvania. The new ’carriers, the Lexington, Wasp, and Hornet, also participated. United States submarines played a highly important part in all actions, and sank or damaged several warships.”

JAPANESE SALVAGE.

NEW YORK. October 30

The New York “Herald-Tribune’s'’ Pearl Harbour correspondent says:— Admiral Nimitz’s communique has confirmed earlier reports that the main enemy aircraft carrier force was completely destroyed. The Third Fleet's carrier task force, however, had to go to the assistance of the U.S. Seventh Fleet’s hard-pressed carrier ■scort groups. This enabled the

enemy's crippled warships to limp away. Long-range pursuit of them was impossible, because the American ships needed fuel and fresh supplies of bombs and ammunition. There are still some Japanese aircraft carriers in the repair yards, and there are also a few held for the defence of the home islands. But, as a striking force, the enemy’s naval air . strength is approaching vanishing point. Had the Americans been able to press the attacks in the final stage of the threeday engagement, the victory would have been even more decisive.

HALSEY’S REGRET

NEW YORK, October 30

“After the Philippines battle we cannot find anything to attack,” said Admiral Halsey, commander of the 3rd Fleet, in a broadcast interview. “The Japanese are able fighting men, but as. strategists they are good ping pong players.” . Asked what effect the victory would have on the 3rd Fleet, Admiral Halsey replied: “Business as usual. Find the enemy. Destroy him. Kill him.”

FURTHER JAP. LOSSES.

SHIPS AND MANY PLANES

(Rec. 11.30 a.m.) WASHINGTON, October 30. American Third Fleet carrier planes probably sank a heavy cruiser and damaged two others, also an oil tanker, and destroyed at least 90 Japanese aircraft in renewed raids over Luzon on October 28 and 29. These successes are announced by Admiral Nimitz. He said the Japanese made futile attempts to prevent the attacks and tried to hit one of Admiral Halsey’s carrier groups. Twelve enemy fighters and divebombers were shot down near the carriers on Saturday, and two more on Sunday. Forty-five Japanese fighters were shot down while trying to intercept General Mitscher’s carrier pilots raiding the Luzon and Manila area on Saturday; another 12 were destroyed on the ground on the Manila airfields, where large fires were started Search and patrol flights from carriers destroyed three coastal cargo vessels near Cebu and shot down 19 intercepting enemy fighters. The Associated Press correspondent at Leyte reports that P.T. boats patrolling Ormoc Bay, on the west coast of Leyte, are attacking the barges with which the Japanese are attempting to withdraw to Cebu. A considerable Japanese stronghold remains on the west side, therefore a stiff fight is in prospect if the F.l. boats are able to keep the bewildered Japanese on the beach until American troops reach them. The score of the American, ace, Major Richard Bong, in Japanese planes shot down has reached 33. The last three were destroyed in the first three days of the Philippines invasion. t . Air attacks on Japanese Central Pacific bases during the past week included three raids on Yap Island airstrip. Enemy barges off Babelthuao were strafed and the radio station on the island hit. Pagan Island installations were attacked, gun emplacements at Rota bombed, radio and weather station at Iwojima destroyed and shipping in Hahajima harbour bombed. Wake Island, Anuru and Ponape, were also subjected to bombing, and neutralisation raids on the Marshalls were continued.

PROGRESS ON LEYTE

ORGANISED RESISTANCE ENDED

WASHINGTON. October 29.

“Our ground forces on Leyte, in the Philippines, have continued to drive through Leyte Valley,” says General MacArthur’s latest communique. “The 24th Division, in a three-pronged attack, made gams ot up to four miles and captured Alangalang, Cavite, Santa Cruz, and Tn} - gib. Forward units of the 7th Diyisioii have entered Dagami and, with elements of the 96th Division, are advancing rapidly towards Pastranam to effect a junction with the 10th. Corps. Patrols are moving- town ids the west coast from Abuyog. “All organised resistance in Leyte Valley has ceased, and for all practical purposes it is ours. We control all the important road junctions and communication routes. We control two-thirds of Leyte, comprising approximately 1800 sq. miles. Coastal land now in our hands stretches 212 miles from Carigara in the north to the .Panaon Islands in the south. The combined efforts of our guerrillas and the 21st Infantry Regiment, which landed at Sogod Bay, on the south coast on October 20. resulted in- the conquest of the lower third of Leyte south and west of Abuyog. Enemy garrisons and outposts on the coast sectors have been liquidated. “The small garrisons on Samar are helpless .and can be destroyed at will. “The liberation of 1,500,000 Filipinos on Leyte and Samar is virtually accomplished, and churches throughout, the liberated area opened on Sunday. Intermittent enemy air raids continued throughout the daj 7 and night against shipping and shore installations. Fighters and flak brought down 13 enemy aeroplanes. We sustained light damage and casualties.”

COMPARATIVE CASUALTIES

(Rec. 1.40 p.m.) WASHINGTON, October 30. American ground forces advancing in the Leyte Valley are within 10 miles of the coast, says General MacArthur’s communique. Elements of the 24th Division has driven enemy rearguards from Jaro, the last important road junction below Carigara Bay, and are moving north to effect a junction with the first cavalry units operating along the enemy’s principal line of retreat to the west coast near Dagami. Seventh and 97th Division units easily repulsed several night counter-attacks by isolated enemy forces at Catmon Hill, breaking out of foxholes and caves, and they are being steadily destroyed. Our troops bold all the high ground in this locality. In both corps’ sectors, our forces control all the lateral roads, and internal communications lines. Enemy air activity in the Leyte-Samar area has decreased sharply. Our command shot down six enemy planes without loss. The enemy is reported to have ferried reinforcements during the darkness from Cebu to Ormoc on the west coast of Leyte. \ A raging typhoon, with winds, at 70 miles an hour, and drenching rains, seriously interfered with all movements during the first ten days’ operations at Leyte and Samar. Enemy casualties are estimated at 24.00.0. Our casualties are 706 dead, 270 missing and 2.345 wounded. AERIAL "ACTIVITIES.

WASHINGTON, October 29

General MacArthur, in a communique. states: On Palawan our heavy units in ‘adverse weather struck Puerta Princesa aerodrome with 72 tons of bombs. Thousand-pound bomb hits destroyed 33 planes, made craters in the runway, and caused large fires. Other planes strafed and destroyed three float planes in the harbour. Patrol planes bombed Sanroque aerodrome at Zamboanga, Borneo. Patrol planes set fire to a small freighter in the Celebes. Air patrols bombed Manado township and scored a direct hit on a 1000-ton freighter near Makassar. We destroyed a coastal vessel in the Moluccas. MANILA RAIDED. NEW YORK, October 30. The Manila radio says that about 100 American carrier aeroplanes raid-

ed Manila, capital of the Philippines, on Saturday. According to the Tokio radio Allied carrier-borne aircraft raided Manila and Clark field, on Luzon, on Sunday. The raids lasted five hours.

ANOTHER BATTLE?

LONDON, October 30. The Tokio radio this morning reported that a new naval battle was in progress off the Philippines. Earlier reports froin Tokio stated that five more American fleets were heading for the Philippines and that more fierce naval actions were expected at any moment. MR. CHURCHILL’S MESSAGE.

RUGBY, October 28. In a message to Mr. Roosevelt, Mr. Churchill says: “Pray accept my most sincere congratulations, which I tender on behalf of the British Government, on the brilliant and massive victory gained by the sea and air forces of the United States over the Japanese in the recent heavy battles We are very glad to know that one’of His Majesty’s Australian cruiser squadrons had the honour of sharing in this memorable event. GENERAL BLAMEY’S WARNING.

SYDNEY, October 30. “The rapid advance made by General MacArthur into the Philippines has encouraged in this country a complacent anticipation of the encl. Ox. the war,” said ■ General Blarney today. “This complacency has been all too apparent since the Australian troops stopped the Japanese advance in New Guinea, in September, 1942, and negatived the threat of invasion to this country. What Australians, and probably many others fail to realise is that this is a strategical actvance, and that it has been accomplished only by by-passing major centres of Japanese concentration and potential resistance. Whatever victory may be achieved by the Allied forces in the Philippines, or further north, it will be incomplete to the extent that, farther south, there are substantial Japanese forces, fit and well armed. These will have to be eliminated before we can claim to have completed the task assigned to the forces of the United Nations m the South-west Pacific area. The number of Japanese who exist as disciplined, organised forces between the Pnilippines and Australia is very great. For instance, in a comparatively short arc which extends from Wewak in British New Guinea to the Solomons, through New Britain ana New Ireland, there are estimated to be ninety thousand Japanese troops. On the western flank, there are probably eighteen thousand in Dutch New Guinea, and many more thousands in the Halmaheras, Celebes, and Borneo and other Indies. All our experience is that they will sell their lives dearly when the United Nations undertake the task of exterminating them. These Japanese have not relied exclusively on normal military supplies. In the Rabaul area they have some three thousand acres under cultivation. There is reason to believe that their supplies are stored in underground shelters so deep as to be invulnerable to aerial attack. In New Ireland they have attempted to breed livestock. On Bougainville they have extensive areas under cultivation. These are a few reasons why I suggest that we must accept the Japanese colonisation of these islands as an accomplished fact, if we mislead ourselves into believing that successes farther north are indicative of an early end of the Pacific war.”