Only Limited Japanese Resistance on Leyte

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 257, 30 October 1944, Page 5

Only Limited Japanese Resistance on Leyte

WIDESPREAD AIR ATTACKS ON ENEMY-HELD ISLANDS Received Sunday, 7.30 p.m. WASHINGTON, Oct. 28. “Our ground patrols are ranging freely in all sectors of Leyte. Enemy resistance is limited to localised delaying actions in Leyte Valley,** said General MacArthur in a communique. “In the Fifth Corps sector the First Cavalry Division advanced three miles along the north coast and entered Caricara town. “Twenty-fourth Division units advancing four miles further in Leyte Valley are attacking the enemy delaying positions at Alangalang. An enemy counterattack at Santa Fe was repulsed. In the Twenty-fourth Corps sector elements of the Seventh Division have driven within a mile of Dagami on the Corps’ left flank. Patrols entered Santa Ana, San Andre and Pangdan on the Marabang River. Minor contacts have been made inland from Abuag where we captured six high calibre enemy coastal defence guns and a motor pool of 40 vehicles.

“Schools in the liberated areas are being reopened. An enemy air raid was light and ineffectual. We shot down 20 enemy planes, 18 in air combat and two by ackack. “On Thursday carrier-based planes sank an enemy destroyer .and severely damaged a light cruiser in Camotes Sea. Carrier fighters and ships’ ackack destroyed seven attacking enemy planes. One of our carriers sustained some damage and casualties. “Our fighters strafed and damaged a destroyer and a small freighter off Cebu. Patrol planes damaged a tanker near Palawan. We lost two planes. Medium units attacked Ilegan on the north coast of Mindanao.

“Air patrols sank a coastal vessel eastward of Sandakan (Borneo). Heavy units sank a small freighter in the Gulf of Bone and set fire to shore installations. Fighters and light naval craft attacked Halmahera. Attack planes bombed occupied areas on Ambiona. Medium units struck supply areas and

small shipping on the Flores Island. Patrol planes on Timor harassed the aerodromes at Dill! and Cape Chater. Attack and fighter planes bombed Utaron aerodrome and coastal installations on Vogelkop Peninsula. Bombers hit enemy concentrations on Wewak and supply dumps and defence positions on Rabaul and Southeast Kavieng. “Patrol planes over Palawan sank a 2000-ton cargo ship, damaged another, destroyed a floatplane and damaged six in a strafing attack on Puerta Princesa,” says General MacArthur’s communique. Reconnaissance planes off the north and cast coasts of Borneo sank a small freighter, damaged four air patrols and bombed barracks at Manado. Medium bombers, attack planes and fighters dropped 60 tons in attacks on aerodromes, supply dumps, defence positions and oil installations on Ceram and Boeroe.