VAST ARMADA

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25030, 21 October 1944, Page 7

VAST ARMADA

BATTLE STRENGTH THE SIXTH ARMY NAVAL PROTECTION A ___ AIR FOKCE'S PAET JEttd. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 20 Vast invasion fleets set sail from their bases on Dutch New Guinea on Friday, October 13. The battle line of these formations stretched ever more than 1300 miles of ocean. They ploughed north-wes toward the Philippines in the strictest of blackouts and under absolute radio lilence. General Mac Arthur was in personal command on board one of the warships. Ma of the American Sixth Army Jrere packed into transports and they me protected by the Seventh United ft'ates Fleet, an Australian naval iqaadron and supporting elements of the Third United States Fleet, all with «ir protection. Forces Striking Ahead Striking ahead of the invasion fleet irere task forces of aircraft-carriers, Far Eastern air forces and the R.A.A.F. Naval air forces under Admiral Nimitz's command from the Central Pacific had ten blasting Japanese targets in all parti of the Philippines for days before General Mac Arthur's armada set sail. Bey kept it up all the time as the irasion forces were approaching the island and while the landings were in progress. -

When General Mac-Arthur went 'shore four hours after the landings, he W mth him every ahle-bodied man *no escaped from Corregidor. where $> Allied stand was made more than •*« years ago. Also in his landing PWy were the President of the Philippins Commonwealth, President Osmera, Wo some members of his Government. . Very Light Casualties J.M Philippines invasion force is the ?f6«est ocean-going amphibious armada ? .frtory, savs a" front-line despatch "'we United Press. By nightfall more ™«a would have been landed than came «iiore on Normandy on D Day. Casual;?s are exceedingly light, partly because ™Mnemy was caught off balance. »*; ii, ac,vance inland is proceeding k B /- casts rrom ,he scone of the '"dings reported that so far not a " n |'e American ship has been lost. Mttwe days before the landings Amerin forces went ashore on Homonhon m. Dlna Kati Islands to secure the g a l ce }P L eyte Gulf. Two days before ■ landings minesweepers started eepmg the area. The actual landings Wv JP rec eded by a preliminary Spent on Thursday night from »w* T OUr is in the northmfik ■ te bosiflp the main port of I*"' The furthest, distance beWsa b ? ach heads is 18 miles. The Hr «heads are all near useful ports. DUALITY OF DEFENCES

fi'W WEAKER POSITIONS Tie W P u m,) NEW YORK - oct - 20 Kew V n ,i m®£ ton correspondent of the ''eliavpH t { lrnes sa ys Leyte Island is Jflese nric ;?. ° 0 one of the weaker Japi CflrtaiJi i S ln fc ' ie Philippines, and or AT'' I 9 stron « | y held than Ob L Mlnda nao. tecArtuf 3 suggested that General ]<W e nt Jr c ? u 'd seize a beachhead on fiefdj i n ? m i n, murn cost, establish airWtion« r ? ss . the enemy in near-bv thp » fnn out. ,85 3onahlft ? c ]ri^v < nnu it is therefore !?PfiCt 1a assume we may rCes . " Cent ly indicated that fe Mac Arthur entered' the to i,,a„ 8 . h f, "'puld be backed by a y S ° to ensure com "