PHILIPPINE OFFENSIVE

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 November 1944, Page 5

PHILIPPINE OFFENSIVE

JAP. LOSSES HEAVY

THOUSANDS OF MEN & PLANES NEW YORK, Oct. 31. The Philippines naval battle probably cost the Japanese 35,000 men, including some admirals and 200 pilots. The Pearl Harbour correspondent of the Associated Press says these figures are based on the estimated personnel of large carriers (2500), light carriers 2000), battleships (2000), heavy cruisers (1000), light cruisers (800), and large destroyers (300). All the Japanese ships that got away were apparently heavily damaged. Therefore, a 10 per cent, casualty would be a conservative estimate. General MacArthur declared that Vice-Admiral T. Kinkaid, commander of the Allied naval forces in the South-west Pacific, had shown himself to be one of the great naval leaders of the day. “I shall not relax until Bataan and Corregidor once more rise to life. Almighty God has blessed our arms,” he concluded. “In spite of casualties estimated at 24,000 the Japanese on Leyte are still resisting desperately in isolated pockets in the south-west and west of the island,” writes a correspondent. “The indications are that they will make a last stand at Ormoc Bay on the west coast. There are indications that the Japanese are now trying to bring in reinforcements at night from Cebu Island. Some appear to have run the blockade, smashing through to the coast.”

JAP. PLANE LOSSES.

AV ASHINGTON, November I

Carrier aircraft of the United States 3rd and 7th Fleets destroyed .2594 Japanese aeroplanes and probably destroyed oi- damaged 252 off the Philippines and Formosa from August 30 to October 31. American losses were about 300 aircraft. A Pacific Fleet communique says: “A conservative recapitulation of enemy aircraft losses in the last two months, reported by the 3rd and 7th Fleets, the latter’ operating under General MacArthur, shows that 1462 aeroplanes were shot down and 1132 destroyed on the ground, making a grand total of 2594. In addition, 252 were probably destroyed or damaged. Our losses were approximately 300 carrier planes, with pilot and air crew losses considerably less because rescue operations saved many lives. The enemy suffered the greatest losses during the following periods: from September 9 to 24, in the Philippines, the 3rd Fleet shot down 362 and destroyed 584 on the ground. From October 10 to 16, on Nansei and Shoto Islands, the Philippines and Formosa, the 3rd Fleet shot down 528, destroyed 304 on the ground, and damaged 59. On October 17 and 18, in the Philippines, the 3rd Fleet shot down 55, destroyed 31 on the ground, and damaged 55. From October 22 to 27, in the second battle of the Philippines Sea, the 3rd and 7th Fleets shot down 392, destroyed 31 on the ground, and damaged 20.” The Pearl Harbour correspondent of the “New York Times” says the figures in the communique indicate that for the first time in the Pacific war American planes are destroying Japanese fighters faster than the enemy can build them. The Japanese total aeroplane production is estimated at 1500 monthly, including trainers, transports, and other categories. A correspondent of the United Press of America aboard a carrier off the Philippines says: Commander David McCampbell, a Navy fighter pilot, shot down nine Japanese fighters and probably destroyed two others in one hour and thirty-five minutes’ aerial combat on October 24, during the early stages of the Philippines battle. This tremendous performance raised McCampbell’s individual score to thirty planes, placing him second only to Major Bong.

HALSEY’S ESTIMATE

PEARL HARBOUR, Oct. 31. “The Japanese catastrophic defeat in the second battle of the Philippines has reduced her to a ‘naval runt,’ incapable of seriously opposing America’s China-bound offensive for months to come,” declared Admiral Halsey interviewed by the Associated Press correspondent. Admiral Halsey pointed out that Japan’s naval repair facilities were taxed to their utmost before the Philippines disastrous beating and, therefore, even those cripples reaching the repair yards would have to wait their turn. The correspondent says that other naval officers agreed that the Japanese fleet is a “dead bird.” It will recover to some extent, but never again as a first class fleet. Admiral Halsey doubted if the Japanese would ever admit their losses. He said: “The Japanese are congenital liars from top to bottom. They will suppress all then can.” A correspondent of the Associated Press of America aboard the Third Fleet flagship, says: Although Admiral Halsey directed the battle against the Japanese off the Philippines, he did not see. much. The flagship was under periodic bombing for 48 hours off Formosa last week, but was far distant when the Philippines battle commenced. Halsey’s fastest ships travelled at full speed towards San Bernardino Straits in an attempt to intercept the Japanese, but located only one damaged cruiser, which destroyers and cruisers sank while the flagship was still 15 miles distant.

“AUSTRALIA” CASUALTIES SYDNEY, November 1. The damage and casualties on the cruiser “Australia” during the Philippines invasion were caused by a Japanese bomber, in which the pilot was already dead, stated a war correspondent who was on the warship. He said the enemy plane was out of control. and, with’ smoke pouring from it, it hit the forward funnel of the “Australia”, bounced on to her bridge, and skidded into the sea on the other side. The cruiser’s bridge went up in a sheet of flame, and it was a miracle any of the men on it remained alive. . LEYTE OPERATIONS. (Rec. 1.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, November 1. The 24th Division on Leyte advanced two miles against stubborn resistance, approaching within six miles of the northern coast, says General MacArthur’s communique. An enemy counter-attack was repulsed. The Ist Cavalry Division reports sharp clashes around Carigara, where the enemy is attempting to hold open the escape route. All remaining pockets of resistance at Catmon Hill have been wiped out. Elsewhere patrol activities resulted in minor contacts with the fleeing enemy.

Leyte-based fighters ’ attacked enemy installations .and shipping in Ormoc Bay, destroying ammunition dumps, causing large fires, sinking a small freighter and lugger. Our fighters downed six attacking planes. RAIDS ON JAPAN LONDON, Nov. 1. Tokio reports say that Allied bombers have been over Japan. According to a Japanese news agency, targets in Japan proper have been attacked by Allied four-engined bombers, and two of the aircraft have been over Tokio. If the Japanese reports are' true this will be the first raid on Tokio since the assault led by Major-

General Doolittle in April, 1942. There is no confirmation of the Tokio reports from Allied sources.

(Rec. 10.4) NEW YORK, Nov. 1. While the War Department at Washington said it had no information about any aerial operations over Japan, a series of vague broadcasts from Tokio relating to an air-raid on the Tokio-Yokohama section continue. One Tokio announcer issued fire precaution instructions warning the Japanese that their homes are firetraps. Japanese propagandists asserted the planes had been sent as a Roosevelt face-saving pre-election aerial stunt to cover the American debacle in Formosa and the Philippines. Another broadcast said the latest reports disclose that a single Superfortress appeared over lokio and did not attempt to attack. SUPERFORTRESS’S SCORE. NEW YORK, November 1. An Associated Press correspondent at a Superfortress base in Western China says: A lone Superfortress recently emerged without a ,,? cr -?P' from a four hours’ running battle with 79 Japanese fighters. The Superfortress gunners shot down seven attacking aircraft and damaged two. The battle began over Kyushu as the giant bomber was heading for home after a bombing mission, and it continued to the China coast. JAP. LANDING ON PELELIU. NEW YORK, November 1. Tokio official radio, quoting an Imperial communique says: Japanese assault troops landed on the north coast of Peleliu at dawn on Wednesday. Meanwhile a special torpedo assault unit attacked an American convoy eastwards of Peleliu and sank four United States transports and heavily damaged two. FURTHER JAP. CLAIMS.

(Rec. 10.30 a.m.) NEW YORK, November 1. Subsequent Tokio broadcasts said the landing at Peleliu was carried out on October 28 by the death defying corps from Babelthuap. it added that landing parties were steadily driving south, while the Japanese defence units in central Peleliu were strengthening their counter-at-tacks Tokio radio also quoted a Manila despatch claiming that Japanese planes effectively raided enemy vessels in Leyte Gulf early to-day and sank an Allied cruiser.