MACARTHUR'S FORCES

Grey River Argus, 20 March 1945, Page 5

MACARTHUR'S FORCES

CONTINUE PROGRESS In Several Fronts I (Received March 19, 8.40 P-mQ-WASHINGTON, March 18. General MacArthur, in his latest communique, said: Elements of our 158th Regimental combat team, who landed a; Talaga, on the Calumpan Peninsula, have pushed northward towards Mabini. They; easily have repulsed enemy counter-attacks. With our 43rd Division driving rapidly through difficult terrain into the enemy’s secondary defences of the Upper Bosoboso River valley, the Americans on the south flank at present are five n\jles eastward of Antipolo. The 25th Division from the south, and the 32nd Division from the west, have pushed within three miles of Balete Pass and the junction of the Villaverde trail. Our 41st Divis r ion continues pushing north above Pasadaca in the Zamboanga area, on Mindanao Island, in close contact with the enemy. Our aircraft bombed Sarangani Bay, on Mindanao Island, and they struck Zettlefleld, and installations on Jolicity and Salu Islands. They destroyed several small craft nearby, and hit targets near the Cebu ■and Visayas, and aerodromes on Negros Island. Our bombers, continuing the neutralisation of Formosa attacked’the town of Taihoku, to the northward, and important air bases at Heito and Okayama in the southwestern sector. They hit many buildings, repair and supply' facilities, and parked planes, and also hit an electric plant at Toko. Our aircraft attacked a convoy off S'watow, and set fire to a' destroyer and a destroyer-escort. They bombed bivouacs at Maggar, and aerodromes at Jesselton, Sandakan, and Lahaddatu. They also attacked Celebes, the Molucca Islands, and the Lesser Sundas. JAP GROUP ON LUZON. MAKES STOUT STAND IN JUNGLE. (Rec. 11.10). NEW YORK, March 19. A New York Times correspondent in Manila stated: One of th e most stubborn fights on Lu;<on Island has now been in progress for more than a month. This scene of battle is 50 miles north of Manila. There are several thousand by-passed Japanese dug in there in country that is as rugged as New Guinea. The terrain consists of a series of sharp, rocky ridges, covered by tall kunai grass, and intercepted by gorges, which are choked -with thick jungle. Much of ills unexplored. These Japanese are well armed, with ample rations. Many of them are using shotguns and buckshot, which are highly effective in the jungle. The Manila correspondent of the United Press stated: The 43rd Division has met a sizeable force of Japanese cavalry. It is the first time enemy cavalry has been seen on Luzon. The enemy fled after suffering casualties with American armoured cars in pursuit.