FALL OF BAGUIO

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 30 April 1945, Page 5

FALL OF BAGUIO

PHILIPPINES SUMMER CAPITAL AMAZINGLY LIGHT U.S. CASUALTIES Washington, April 29. American troops lia-ve captured Baguio, the summer capital of the Philippines. The United States casualties were amazingly light. This is announced in General communique. The enemy considered Baguio impregnable. Members of the Filipino collaborationist Government who took refuge here have surrendered or fled. The Twenty-fourth Division completed the crossing of Mindanao from Ihe west coast and reached Davao Gulf, near Digos. The speed of this advance following a surprise landing, preventing the enemy offering serious resistance. Heavy bombers attacked aerodromes on Formosa. Our long-range search-planes, fanned out over the China sea and destroyed shipping. The Australian ground forces in the south-west secured Bomm harbour and advanced eastward to capture Welbui. Advance on Okinawa. Admiral Ximitz’s communique says that the Twenty-fourth Army Corps moved slowly forward in southern Okinawa yesterday. Enemy aircraft attacked United States shipping off the Okinawa beaches yesterday and today, causing some damage and sinking one auxiliary surface unit. Twenty-five <*nemy aircraft were shot down and two probably destroyed. Enemy small craft activity increased during the night. We destroyed a number of small boats. Air patrols from the carriers shot down 32 enemy planes in the Ryukyus. Search aircraft sank three small cargo ships and damaged several others today. Bombers May Go East.

The London “Sunday Times.” pointing out that enemy targets available to heavy bombers in the European theatre are under a tenth of what they were before D-day. says that the Anglo-American High Command must soon decide the future of these bombing forces. The decision will almost inevitably mean the iliversion of much Allied strength to the Far East. Now that the Americans have island bases within a comparatively shqrt distance of the Japauese mainland, it is reasonable to assume that they will call on some of the superfluous squadrons of Lancasters and Halifaxes in Europe as reinforcements to intensify the attack against Japan. It is announced in Washington that Super-Fortresses on Saturday attacked six Japanese airfields from which suicide planes are launched. The flak was moderate. and fighter opposition weak. One Super-Fortress was lost.

ELEVEN CAPTURED GERMAN GENERALS London, April 29 Eleven German generals marched into a north-bound train from London to-day on their way to a prison camp. They were escorted by armed guards from a brigade of the Guards, 'they walked stiffly along the platform with set faces, apparently uninterested in ( their surroundings. SALE OF MERCHANT SHIPS AFTER WAR (Rec 10.40 a.m.) Rugby, April 29* The United States Government is preparing plans by which 58,000,000 tons of wartime shipping, valued at _ over £4,250,000.000 may be sold on an’ equitable basis to the nations of the world, when peace is declared, states : a Washington message. Legislation providing for the sales has been dis-1 cussed by the House. Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee.