LEYTE BATTLE

Grey River Argus, 27 November 1944, Page 5

LEYTE BATTLE

ARTILLERY DUEL Enemy Batteries Knocked Out FURTHER REINFORCEMENT CONVOY WIPED OUT. (Rec. 7.30). WASHINGTON, Nov. 25. General MacArthur, in a communique on Saturday, stated: Our 32nd Division cleared enemy forces from high ground near Hill 1525. Our artillery has continued a deadly fire, destroying many enemy batteries. The volume of the enemy fire against our lines has been sharply reduced. Elements of our 24th Division cleared Capoocan and Pinamopogan of enemy troops. Units of our 7th Division broke up an enemy night attack at Palanas, 11 miles southward of Ormoc. Our fighters at dusk caught an enemy convoy of four transports oft the north tip of Cebu Island. They were making for Leyte.' They were heavily loaded with troops arid supplies. In mast-height bombing and strafing attacks, our planes sank three of the vessels and set fire to the fourth. It is estimated that 2000 enemy troops and all. of the cargo were lost. This was the fourth enemy reinforcement convoy destroyed by our land and carrier-based aircraft. A total of sixteen enemy transports, aggregating 65,000 tons, has been sunk with 17,000 troops aboard, together with fourteen escorting warships. Outheavy units bombed enemy supply installations at Ormoc. Our fighters dive-bombed Valencia and its airfield. The enemy air activity has been light. Six enemy planes have been shot down. Manila Official Radio said that 60 American carrier-based ’planes raided Manila and Clark Airfield on Saturday. Two of the raiders were shot down.

U.S. SUBMARINES SINK 27 SHIPS. NAVY PLANES BOMB WEST PACIFIC ISLES. (Rec. 5.5). WASHINGTON, Nov. 25. A United States communique says: United States submarines report sinking the following 27 vessels in Pacific waters: —One destroyer, one converted gunboat, one large transport, one large tanker, one large cargo transport, two medium tankers, two medium cargo transports, eleven medium cargo vessels, one small tanker, six small cargo vessels. These actions have not been announced previouly. A Netherlands submarine, operating under American control, sank 4500 tons of enemy shipping in the Netherlands East Iridian waters. A Pacific Fleet communique says: “We bombed shipping and dock installations on Chichijima and Hahajimal Islands on Wed&csflay, scoring hits on docking facilities on Hahajima. We hit Chichijima again on Friday. Corsairs on Wednesday destroyed a number of barges, and hit installations in the Palau Islands, and also hit Yap airfield. Fighters sank three barges, and set fire to enemyheld bases in the north Palau Islands. On Friday we bombed Arakabesan, and left large fires.” FURTHER JAP. SHIPPING LOSSES. WASHINGTON, Nov 24 General MacArthur has announced the sinking of four J’apanese transports attempting to reinforce Leyte. The transports carried approximately 6,000 troops, of whom 4,500 were killed or drowned. In addition to the transports destro.yed, one vessel was sunk and one transport was set on (Rec. 9.30.) NEW YORK, Nov. 25. General MacArthur, in a communique said: Bombing assaults in the islands of Celebes and Borneo, sank one Japanese destroyer and one transport, damaged eleven freighters and one gunboat, and destroyed 26 grounded 'planes in Celebes.