PANAY INVADED

Grey River Argus, 21 March 1945, Page 5

PANAY INVADED

BY MACARTHUR Advances on Luzon And Mindanao (Received 7.45, March 20) WASHINGTON, March 19 General MacArthur in hi< latest communique stated: “We landed on Panay Island in the Philippines. Our Fortieth Division, with naval and air support, seized a beach-head at Tigbauan, on the south coast of Panav, fourteen miles west of the capita”!, Iloilo. Our troops accomplished a complete tactical and strategic surprise. They went ashore practically without loss. They immediately drove inland four miles towards Cordova, and eastward along the coast seven miles in the direction of Oton, which is midway between the beach-head and Iloilo. They are rapidly closing in on Iloilo city. Forward elements of our Forty-third Division entered Panay four miles south east of Maybancal, on Luzon. They broke up the Morong River valley against scattered resistance, and are at present within a mile of Panay, four miles north-east of Teresa. Our Sixth Division sharply repulsed counterattacks,, south-west of Mount Baytangan. The Thirty-eighth Division in recent mopping up operations in the Zambales range killed 2'654 of the enemy. “Our Twenty-fifth and Thirtysecond Divisions have continued converging drives on Balete Pass against increasing opposition. Our aircraft wrecked Cagayan Valley bridges, and gun positions, and sank several small craft in Laguande Bay. “We have landed on Malanaui Island, almost northward of Basilan Island, thereby further securing the southern approaches to Zamboagna, on Mindanao Island. Our forces on the Mindanao mainland, with tanks, have steadily expanded positions above San Roque and Pasonanca. The enemy abandoned 829 dead. “Strong formations of our bombers attacked air -bases in the western sector of Formosa, destroying at least eight parked planes. _ Our aircraft attacked enemy shipping off the China coast, and set fire to and forced the abandonment of three thousand ton. freighter transport, and also hit an unidentified class of ship east of Swatow. Other aircraft, struck Jesselton, Tanakan, Dandakan, and Sepiggan aerodromes and bivouacs, leaving runways unserviceable; damaged a refinery near Mini; sank a vessel in Macassar Strait and hit targets in Celebes and the Moluccas.

MacArthur to Command INVASION OF CHINA AND JAPAN (Received 11.40, March 20) WASHINGTON, March 19 The magazine, “United States News” says: General MacArthur, has been chosen as the Supreme Commander of the armies that will invade China and Japan to the end of the Pacific war. Admiral Nimitz will command the operations preceding the landings. Iwo Jima Mopping Up U.S. RAIDS ON ISLANDS AROUND JAPAN) (Received 7.45. March 20) WASHINGTON, March 19 Admiral Nimitz in a communique on Monday said: Marines on Iwojima continued to search out snipers and isolated remnants of the enemy garrison. Fighters from Iwojima. bombed an airfield and radio station- on Chichijima.’ Liberators attacked Chichijima and Hahajima. North of Japan search planes made foul rocket attacks on small craft and buildings on the Torishima group oi islands south-east of Paramushiro. Liberators bombed Matsuwa, in the Kurile Islands without opposition. A Navy plane sank four small craft at Truk. Fighters and bombers attacked Yap. Neutralisation raids were continued in the Marshalls. SPAIN AND JAPAN (Rec. 6.30) LONDON, March 20 A diplomatic correspondent _of "The Times” referred to a suggestion from Madrid by a press correspondent that Spain- might declare war on Japan on account of Japanese treatment of Spaniards and Consulates in the Philippines. He said: The policy of General Franco’s Government continues to be inspired by plain expediency. It is flying a new kite This report was put out mainly tot American consumption. There recently have been indications that Franco is trying to carry fa '°ur with Americans. Tt is scarcely to be expected that at Washington the State Department would be undu_y impressed by a twelfth hour decisi n to declare war on Japan, as she now facing defeat.