AMERICAN FEARS

Grey River Argus, 18 February 1942, Page 5

AMERICAN FEARS

FOR PHILIPPINES Final Enemy Attack May Prevail [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Rec. 12.35.) WASHINGTON, Feb. 17. With the fall of Singapore, concern is growing here over the fate of General MacArthur’s forces in the Philippines. It is assumed that the Japanese will now turn from Malaya and make a final effort to overwhelm the isolated United States forces on the Batan Peninsula, west of Manila (Bay, whose continued resistance immobilises large Japanese forces. It is believed that the Japanese are using a full army of over 250,000 men against the Filipino and American forces of General MacArthur, whereas he has a small and diminishing army of highly-sea-soned men. His army has not been reinforced or supplied since the war began. Observers here cannot recall another instance in modern warfare in which a single battle has been waged so long against such constant-ly-growing odds and at such a distance from supporting forces. No casualty figures have been published, but it is believed that the losses of General MacArthur’s army are considerable. ENEMY ARTILLERY ACTIVE. RUGBY, February 16. The Japanese have apparently not yet renewed their expected heavy offensive in the Philippines, where Gneral MacArthur’s gallant forces have been holding out both on Corregidor Island and on the Batan Peninsula. A United. States War Department communique says: There has been heavy enemy artillery fire on Batan in the past 24 hours. Intermittent infantry fighting is in progress on several sectors of the front. Enemy aviators have been active throughout the day. .