INVADERS NEARER

Grey River Argus, 21 September 1944, Page 5

INVADERS NEARER

TO PHILIPPINES MacArthur’s New Airfield I (Rec. 8.30) SYDNEY, Sept. 20. American reports stress growing I belief in authoritative circles that I an invasion of the Philippines is near. The Japanese have not yet made any serious attempt to oppose the American occupation of Morotai Is- i land, 270 miles south of the Philip- | pines, or the construction of airfields there. Japanese bombers over the beach-head ineffectually attacked a convoy of landing craft when it was bringing the first R.A.A.F. per- , sonnel ashore. ' Anti-aircraft fire shot down one enemy plane. Forestalling any concerted raids on the beach-head, General MacArthur’s bombers are maintaining neutralis-. ing blows on enemy airfields in Ceram and Celebes. Land-based medium bombers started fires on Buayan airfield and the pier area on Mindanao Island, south Philip- i pines, which Tokio radio says have been attacked by 90 carrier-based planes.