GRIP ON BAGUIO

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21671, 24 March 1945, Page 5

GRIP ON BAGUIO

U.S. PINCERS MOVE FALL EXPECTED SOON ANOTHER .ISLE SEIZED (10.30 a.m.). NEW YORK. Mar. 23. In a pincers movement against Baguio, which is believed to be the seat oi' the Philippines puppet Government, troops of the. American 33rd Division reached the Naguilian River, 12 miles north-west of the city, says the United Press’ correspondent in Manila. Other troops are six miles from Baguio, which is outflanked and is expected to fall soon. Guimaras, the tweny-seventh island to be seized by the Americans, is 25 miles long and 12 miles wide and two miles across the strait from Iloilo, capital of Panay Island. In mopping up on Leyte Island, the American Eighth Army from December 2G to March 18 killed 21,744 Japa2le.se.

In the First Corps sector, forward elements of the 32nd Division reached the Naguilian River near Naguilian town and airfield, says General MacArthur’s communique. In the 11th Corps sector, the 43rd Division is pushing into Bosoboso River Valley, near Mount Quitago and Mount Tanauan. -The Sixth Division is reducing the remaining enemy positions on the crest of Mount Baytangan. In the 14th Corps sector, the 158th. regimental combat team drove into the outskirts of Cuenca, south-east of Lake Taal, and cut the main road eastward of the town. In a shoreward operation the Americans seized Guimaras Island, southeast of Panay. Cebu Heavily Bombed

Heavy bombers in attacks on three successive days dropped 214 tons of bombs against bivouac and supply area sin the vicinity of Cebu city. Fighters swept Negros Island aerodromes. A small enemy submarine anchored off Cebu city was destroyed by Navy rocket planes. Air patrol planes in the China Sea destroyed or damaged 16 ships and a transport plane. Heavy reconnaissance planes boinbed enemy installations on Moena Island, south of the Celebes. A patrol plane bcunbed and i strafed encampments and supply 'areas in the Halmaheras, destroyed a lugger off Ternate Island, and sank a schooner in the Sangihe Islands. Australian forces made another over-water advance along the northwestern coast of Bougainville Island, landing on Soraken Peninsula. Fighters continued the iieutralisation o£ enemy bases at Rabaul, and on New Ireland and Bougainville.