JAPANESE MAKE PROGRESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24244, 9 April 1942, Page 7

JAPANESE MAKE PROGRESS

HEAVY LOSSES ON BOTH SIDES

FRESH ENEMY RESERVES IN ACTION

By Telegraph—Preiss Association—Copyright (Eeceived April 8, 10.25 p.m.) LONDON, April 8 The Japanese have thrown fresh reserves into the battle for • the Batan Peninsula, in the Philippines, and have made some additional progress, says a late communique issued by the United States War Department. The Japanese are supported by tanks, and their planes are assisting in the attack by dive-bombing and machine-gunning the defenders' front lines. The losses are heavy on both sides. " The enemy again bombed one ,of our field hospitals and heavy casualties among the wounded undergoing treatment," says the communique. " The same hospital was bombed only a few days ago, but the Japanese High Command broadcast an apology. The second attack on this plainly-marked hospital, following so closely on the first, tends to prove that both attacks were intentional." An earlier communique stated: "In the Philippines theatre the enemy continued his heavy attacks on the centre of our line on Batan Peninsula all day, with some success. Casualties were heavy on' both sides. Aerial bombing of our rear areas and the south coast of Batan was particularly severe. An enemy amphibian plane was destroyed on the water in Manila Bay by the horizontal fire of one of our anti-aircraft tbatteries. " Enemy artillery from the Cavite shore shelled Corregidor and Fort Hughes for two hours in the afternoon. No damage and no casualties were inflicted. The guns of our forts laid down counter battery fire on the enemy artillery emplacements on the 'mainland. ' I Admiral Thomas C. Hart, Commander-in-Chief of the Asiatic Fleet, stated yesterday that several United States gunboats were ! still operating in the waters round the Philippines. He added: "They are the weapons that have kept the Japanese out of the interior of Manila Bay."

i It was stated at General Mac Arthur's headquarters in Melbourne to-day that the Batan Peninsula is still part of General i Mac Arthur's supreme Allied command, and that he is in constant touch with the garrison there.