PACIFIC CAMPAIGN

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 March 1945, Page 5

PACIFIC CAMPAIGN

PANAY ISLAND CLEARED

DAILY GAINS MAINTAINED

WASHINGTON, March 21. “The Japanese garrison at Iloilo, capital of Panay, has been routed and the town captured, and guerrilla elements are now clearing the coastal plain north-west of Iloilo,” says General MacArthur’s communique. “They seized Gaub and Tabucan, near the Santa Barbara airfield, and San Sebastian and Pavia to the south-east-ward. Before our landing guerrilla forces had practically cleared the interior, and by constant harassing restricted enemy forces to the immediate vicinity of Iloilo. Now, except for minor pockets, all organised resistance on Panay has b.een crushed. Approximately 70 per cent, of Oloilo was destroyed by the enemy before our entry, but the docks are 'safe and the harbour area is clear. “Light naval units patrolling at night on the north coast of Cebu destroyed a small freighter, six barges, four coastal craft, and patrol boats laden with personnel. “In the Ist Corps’ sector on Luzon the 33rd Division joined oui’ guerrilla forces at San Fernando, and is now advancing eastward from Bauang on the Naguilian trail towards Baguilo. In the 11th Corps’ sector, since the collapse of the An-tipolo-Wawa line, the 33rd Division has captured ridge lines north of Panay. The 6th Division has driven to within one mile of Mount Baytangan. We captured 256 vehicles, largely armoured, 35 field and -antiaircraft guns, 12 mortars, 34 rocketlaunchers, large, quantities of ma-chine-guns, small arms ammunition, good, clothing fuel, and miscellaneous supplies. The enemy’s losses of men along the Shimbu line were extraordinarily heavy. “Cavite province is now cleared except for scattered remnants fleeing.

“After _ enemy night counter-at-tocks•, which were easily repulsed, the list Division on Mindanao continued its general advance northward. Zamboanga harbour has been cleared and the airfield is operating unhindered. .Cur aeroplanes destroyed two midget submarines off Davao. Qur ground forces in New Guinea, moving eastward towards Wewak, occupied the But aerodrome and wharf area. Ground forces in the south at Bougainville are in close contact with the enemy in the Puriata River area. Several enemy positions have been cleared in the face of stiff opposition. Our troops in New Brimin T? r re .,P us^ n g back the enemy in •he Waitavalo plantation area. Air fions ,,are SU PP ol 'ting these opera-

JAP. CONVOY DESTROYED WASHINGTON, March 21. Medium bombers of the sth United States Army Air Force practically destroyed an enemy convoy of six ships off Amoy,” says General MacArthur s communique. ’ “They were attempting to run our blockade. We sank a 6000-ton freighter, a transport, and two destroyer escorts, set are to and probably sank two 7000mn freighter-transports, and damaged a destroyer. We lost two bombers.” Liberators from the Philippines and China theatres are co-operating in clamping a tight blockade on Japanese shipping along the China coast. Brigadier-General D. Hutchison told .he Associated Press correspondent an Leyte that this combined air offensive had forced the Japanese virtually to abandon the large, welldeveloped naval base of Cam Ranh Bay. JAPANESE RESOURCES . NEW~YORK, March 22. rT Tokio radio, admitting that the united States was gaining the upper hand in the Pacific war, because of its abundance of material resources asserted that soon the wonderful apacity of Japanese technology would enable Japanese science to smash this material strength. It added that Japan has ceased imitating British and American military iciencc, and has begun the development of her own war instruments The Japanese rocket artillery used m the Philippines and on Iwo Jima was only a preview of what would appear in the future. RELEASED INTERNEES.

RUGBY, March 21. Eleven hundred British internees released from Japanese prison camps at Manila will leave for England at the end of March, says a Manila message. Ninety British subjects and Australians have already left for Australia.