ORMOC PINCERS CLOSED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 22, 23 December 1944, Page 5

ORMOC PINCERS CLOSED

POCKETS BEING DESTROYED. WASHINGTON, Dec. 22

The pincers along the Ormoc corridor on Leyte from north to south are now closed, and two United States Army corps are in contact with the enemy. The destruction of Japanese pockets continues while enemy remnants are desperately but futilely trying to cut a way out westward. An additional 2032 enemy dead were counted during the day. Our fighters effectively supported the ground operations.

General MacArthur's communique also adds that no ground activity took place on Mindoro Island, but air activity increased sharply. American fighters intercepted 20 enemy planes attempting to attack ground installations. Eleven raiders were destroyed and three probably destroyed. One American fighter was lost. The Far East air forces are already operating from Mindoro bases. One heavy reconnaissance unit damaged and set on fire a 6000-ton freightertransport off the north-west coast. The Leyte correspondent of the Now York Times says the junction of the American forces on Leyte trapped thousands of Japanese east of the highway. The American lines were not tight and small parties of the enemy undoubtedly are sifting through to Palompon on the west coast, but the big mass of them are dying in the pockets under pounding artillery and small arms.

It is believed the Japanese commander, General Suzuki, escaped following the usual enemy custom of evacuating higher commanders and leaving the rest to cause what nuisance they can and then die in the bills. A National Broadcasting Company broadcaster said Mindoro airfields pose as a greater menace to the enemy than those on Leyte. The heavy rains which hampered the American fliers on Leyte are not so prevalent on the west side of the Philippines. The dryness also enabled the engineers to complete the Mindoro air bases ahead of schedule.