NEW LANDINGS

Grey River Argus, 16 March 1945, Page 5

NEW LANDINGS

MACARTHUR’S TROOPS Jap Line East of Manila Split (Received March 15, 9.5 p.m.). WASHINGTON, March 14. General MacArthur, in his latest communique, stated; Elements of our 24th Division landed and seized control of Romblon and Simar Islands m the Sibuyan Sea, eastward of Minduro. The landings were effected at night, and attained a complete tactical surprise. An enemy garrison on Romblon was destroyed. Our losses were minor. Our 157th Regimental combat team have advanced eastward and northward of' the town of Batangas. They have commenced clearing the Calumpan Peninsula, between Batangas Bay and Balayan Bay. . Our First Cavalry and elements of our 43rd Division have continued to advance eastward of Antipolo. Our 6th Division, on high < ground to northward, have repulsed a series of coun-ter-attacks, inflicting heavy losses. Our 25th and 32nd Divisions have continued a' converging drive towards the Balete Pass in the face of stubborn enemy resistance. Elements of our 41st Division at Zamboanga have expanded their positions northward of the aerodromes, capturing Masily, Harlmew, Tumaga, and Mercedes eastwards of the city; also Recodo, on Caldera Point, four ..miles westward of the San Roque airfield. Our air and navai units silenced eight enemy artillery batteries, and sank several small' craft off Basilan Island. Our heavy bombers attacked Takao and Tainan warehouses, also railway yards, oil stores and a hydro-electric plant in Formosa. Our air patrols off Nanseishoto sank five small craft, and destroyed an enemy bomber off the China Coast. Our aerial operations were continued against Borneo, Celebes, and Halmahera. Our medium bombers bombed enemy-occupied villages in the Wewak sector of , New Guinea', also troop concentrations, transportation, equipment and supply areas in New Britain and in Bougainville.

Major-General Patrick’s Sixth Infantry Division split the Japanese Shim’bu line in mountains eastward of Manila, after a 12-day struggle, in which they outflanked Mont Alban, the northern anchor of the Japanese line, says a United Press Manila correspondent. During their advance the Division sealed up 153 Japanese caves on the right flank.

REPORTED EXECUTION. (Rec. 9.5). NEW YORK, March 15. A press correspondent at Chungking stated: Unconfirmed report from Hong Kong say Major Charles Boxer, formerly Chief of the British Armv Intelligence, Hong Kong, was recently executed by Japanese, who alleged he operated a secret radio in a war prisoners’ camp. NEW IRELAND AIR RAID [R.N.Z.A.F. News Service] EMIRAU, March' 13. Although injured when his Ventura was hit by flak over Kavieng, WingCommander I. R. Salmond (Wellington) carried on and made his bombingrun, and then flew the- damaged aircraft back to the base. He commands a bomber squadron operating from a New Zealand air task force base at Emirau. He was participating in a strong attack by American and New Zealand bombers against heavy gun emplacements built up by Japanese in New Ireland. Nearing the target, the attacking force, which was made up of Mitchells and Venturas, ran into the fiercest concentration of ack ack yet encountered in the Kavieng region. Bursts from the enemy's guns filled the sky all round the raiders. Two New Zealand Venturas were damaged. Salmond's aircraft was hit by shrapnel. One large piece penetrated the pore windshield missing Salmond and the wireless operator, Pilot Officer L. W. Dornbusch, of Greatford, by inches. Salmond was wounded about the face and in the shoulder by splintered glass. 'These injuries were later found to be superficial. Despite t'ae fierce opposition put up by the enemy gunners. American and 'New eZaland aircraft pressed home an attack, plastering the target with bom os. The Japanese opened fire with ack ack guns immediately the leading] aircraft came within range. The enemy guns, were still blazing when the last Allied aircraft made its run.

MANILA HARBOUR CHOKED WITH SUNKEN SHIPS NEW YORK, March 14. Commodore William .Sullivan, who salvaged the Normandie and also directed war salvage operations m Europe, estimates that at least 300 sunken ships are clogging Manila’s harbour, which is thrice the number sunk at Cherbourg and more than in anv other port. The Associated Press Manila correspondent quotes Sullivan as saying that clearing the harbour will be a tremendous proble.m, but he expects within a few days' to raise one of the six ships the Japanese sank, blocking the main channel, allowing ships to enter the harbour.