BATAAN LULL

Grey River Argus, 25 February 1942, Page 4

BATAAN LULL

FILIPINO FIGHTERS Annihilate Jap. Regiments 8.0.W. . RUGBY, February 23. “Fighting has died down on all fronts in Luzon,” states a United States War Department communk que. “There was practically no enemy air or ground activity on Batan during the past 24 hours. Firing from hostile shore batteries on our harbour defences, which has been intermittent for several days, has now ceased.” > '

A story of magnificent heroism jn th e Philippines has just been revealed by General Macarthur. who related the story to his officers. He said that a unit of Igoroti in Northern Luzon annihilated the whole of the Twentieth Japanese Infantry Regiment with desperate heroism. During a recent enemy offensive the Japanese regiment carried out an attack on a position held by the Igoroti and most of them died in their trenches without thought of retreat. In their stubborn resistance they created tremendous slaughter against the Japanese. Then the American High Command ordered a counter-attack. The Igoroti infantry, supported by American tanks, advanced eager to avenge the death of their comrades. The bamboo jungle made th e country almost impenetrable for infantry, but the Igoroti -took up positions on the tops of 1 the tanks and signalled directions to the drivers by tapping the tanks with sticks. The men on top of the tanks were armed with automatic pistols, which they used with great effect.

General Macarthur said that the Batan Peninsula had seen many fierce actions, but this action was the fiercest and bloodiest ot all. No quarter was asked and none was given. Nothing, short of death itself would have stooped the mad rush of the Igoroti, and 'of all the bloody spots on the Peninsula, that was the bloodiest. When the attack was over, the American tanks were still there, but the whole of the Twentieth Japanese Regiment had been annihilated. “I have seen many desperate acts of heroism in many parts of the world, but for sheer breath-tak-ing desperation, I have never seen the equal of these Igoroti riding their tanks into battle,” said General Macarthur.

A United States \War Department communique states: On the recommendation 'of General Macarthur, General Quezon has awarded the Distinguished Service Star, the highest military decoration in the Commonwealth, to. Major-General R. K. Sutherland, Chief of Staff, and Brigadier R. J, Marshall, deputy Chief of Staff. These two officers, who are occupying key positions in the epic defence of Batan, served as members of the American Military Mission, which devised the original plans and methods for the defence of the Philippines. According to th e cita? tions, “This success has earned for the Philippine Commonwealth the priceless right to be recognised on its own merits,, as equal in the brotherhood of arms, by the nations of the world.”

General Macarthur, in presenting the medals, said: “These are two °f the finest officers who have ever served under mv command —cool, resourceful, courageous, determined, and resolute. They are deserving of the immediate award of these wellearned decorations.”