FINAL MOPPING UP

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21634, 10 February 1945, Page 3

FINAL MOPPING UP

SOUTHERN MANILA AMERICAN" SQUEEZE ENEMY TANK LOSSES (10 a.m.) NEW YORK, Feb. 9. The American 37th Division crossed the Pasig River, which bisects Manila, in amphibious vehicles and have now cleared out a substantial portion of the smouldering southern part of the city in the face of scattering and disorganised Japanese resistance, says the United Press correspondent at General MacArthur’s headquarters. The 37th Division has joined the 11th Airborne Division sweeping up from the south to put the final squeeze on the enemy remnants in the capital. Meanwhile, Japanese artillery fire against northern Manila has ceased. American troops and supplies arc pouring over Pasig River bridges, which have now been partially repaired, says the Associated Press’ correspondent in Manila. Some fires are still burning but the worst have apparently burned themselves out. There is hope that the propertydestroying phase of the battle may be nearing its close. Several hundred Filipinos and Chinese in Manila are daily dying of starvation. The retreating Japanese ransacked even private homes for hidden food.

The Tokio radio says that the bulk of the Japanese in Manila have withdrawn after destroying all munitions and stores. The destruction of the city was necessary to prevent the Americans inflicting undue suffering on the Filipinos. An earlier bi’oadcast claimed that Manila suffered great damage due to the wanton American bombings and ruthless activities of the guerrillas. North Manila Cleared

“North Manila having been cleared, elements of the 37th Division crossed the Pasig River in the vicinity of the Malacanan Palace and are now assisting the 11th Airborne Division in clearing south Manila,” says General MacArthur’s communique . “In the First Corps sector, the Sixth and 25th Divisions captured Munoz, Rizal and Lupai after sharp fighting. Enemy losses in recent fighting in this general area were very heavy in personnel, guns and armour. At Munoz alone the Sixth Division counted 1242 enemy dead. It captured or destroyed 42 tanks. 02 armoured cars or artillery vehicles, and 22 guns. Thus far over 200 tanks of the Japanese Second Armoured Division have been destroyed, representing over two-thirds of its striking power, ancl the remaining elements are so scattered that the division is no longer an effective fighting unit. Corregidor Hammered

"Heavy bombers attacked enemy coast defences on Corregidor, damaging gun positions and starting large fires. Patrol planes damaged buildings and hit supply dumps on the northeast coast and bombed installations at Hondagua, in Bicol Peninsula. Strong formations of attack planes strafed and bombed Frabriera aerodrome on Negros Island and adjacent installations from a minimum altitude. The destruction was widespread. Patrol torpedo boats sank a coastal vessel laden with enemy troops off Cebu Island. Another coaster and also a barge were sunk northward of Mindoro. The enemy’s personnel losses were considerable. Other aircraft attacked Libby aerodrome on Mindanao, and destroyed two small freighters off the Nansei Islands, in Ihe China Sea. They attacked the Tawao aei'odrome and the Miri oil refineries in Borneo, struck at scattered installations on I-lalmahera, and continued to neutralise the enemy in the Wcwak sector of New Guinea and bombed living areas near Kavieng, New Ireland, barge hide-outs in the Duke of York Islands, barges near Buka, and enemy supplies south of Bougainville.’’