SIGNIFICANT MOVE

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

SIGNIFICANT MOVE

FURTHER STEPS AHEAD HIGHLY-TRAINED FORCE (Rprd._9.4o p.m.) WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 Writing in the New York Times, Hanson Baldwin says the move against the Philippines is intended to neutralise and eventually conquer Japanese bases, thus enabling further steps to be made to Formosa, the Ryukyu Islands, the Asiatic mainland and Japan without threat to our flank or rear. It would also enable a progressive reduction in the volume of enemy traffic through the South China Sea from the conquered territories of the Netherlands East Indies, thus tightening the blockade of Japan. Restoring Prestige

The military significance of the operations is matched by political significance. The conquest of the Philippines by the Japanese constituted a severe blow to American political and economic power and prestige in the Far East. The American flag "flying again over the Philippines will be the first tangible physical evidence" in the East of Japanese defeat and the resurgence of United States power. The political and psychological repercussions may he widespread. The New York Times correspondent at General Mac Arthur's headquarters says when General Mac Arthur goes ashore in the next operation he will command one of the most elaborate and best-trained military precision machines in the world, one perhaps unique in the history of warfare. It is a flexible, hard-hitting force, meticulously developed from daring experiment. His force learned to streamline its own special type of amphibious operation—long jumps across tropicwaters preceded by heavy air blows and followed by landings in jungle country where every facility is lacking. The backbone of the force is the careful training and the long experience of men in the field, ranging from work in hydrography and meteorology to the operation of bulldozers and concrete raixera. Seven Landings This Year These men have already made seven landings this year and have learned to conduct operations with machine exactitude, setting a pattern which is sadly familiar to the enemy, who is completely unable to find an answer. The most important element in the advances has been co-operation between the Army, Navy and Air Force. At the same time, the successes could not have been achieved without special equipments like tank landing ships, transport planes, amphibious tanks or buffaloes and rocket-ships, which hare become one of our most terrible weapons to Japanese beach defenders. ENEMY FORCES ESTIMATED AT 225,000 STRATEGIC POSSIBILITIES (Reed. 11.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 General Mac Arthur's special communique estimates the enemy forces in the Philippines at 225,000, including the Fourteenth Army Group under the command of Field-Marshal Count Terauchi Seven enemy divisions have already been identified. , The strategic results of attacking the Philippines will be decisive. The socalled Greater East Asia co-prosperity sphere will be cut in two. The conquered empire, comprising the Netherland Fast Indies, Borneo, Malaya and Burma, will be severed from Japan proper. The great flow of supplies, on which Japan's vital war industry depends, will be cut. Half a million men will be cut off without hope of support, with their ultimate destruction at the leisure of the Allied forces.. In a broad strategical conception, the defensive Japanese line extending along the coast of Asia from Japan through Formosa the Philippines, the Fast [ndios Singapore and Burma will be pierced in the centre, permitting envelopment southward and northward. Either flank will be vulnerable and can be rolled up at will.

JAPANESE REPORTS BATTLESHIP AGROUND (Reed. 9.15 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 A Doroei (Japanese) despatch from Manila, dated today, reports that Japanese forces on Le.yte Island are launching fierce counter-attacks against the invaders who landed at two points on the island yesterday. Enemy infantry, under cover of a smoke screen, commenced landing operations at noon at Taclnhan, in the north-eastern part o the island. Other infantry forces started landing at 7 p.m. m the Cahal.aii area, at the southern tip of the island. A United States battleship, according to the report, rap aground at Bunga Point, Sarriar *Jf north-eastern coast of Leyte. The stem "s siSrged and the forward section high aground.