ISLAND STRUGGLE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25050, 14 November 1944, Page 5

ISLAND STRUGGLE

AMERICANS ON LEYTE ORMOC CORRIDOR DRIVE RAIN-DIiENCIIED JUNGLES (Reed. 9.15 p.m.) "WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 The American 24th Division has launched an offensive down the Ormoc corridor, killing more than 500 Japanese in the opening hours, says the United Pres's correspondent on Leyte Island, Philippines. The Ist Cavalry Division to the southeast, he adds, has smashed to within seven miles of the maih Japanese airfield, fighting through raindrenched jungles and mountains. Tlio Americans are closing in on Ormoc from four points along the twisting 46-mile front, steadily chopping down the pocket held by an estimated force of 45,000 Japanese. The fighting, involving perhaps 100,000 men on both sides, is as savage as that on Guadalcanar and Tarawa, but the Americans bold the initiative and are making steady gains, frequently at the point of the bayonet. Dominating Heights Taken "Troops of the 24th Division have advanced three miles and seized the heights of Mount Catabaran, dominating the Ormoc corridor from the north," says General Mac Arthur's communique.

"American heavy air units striking from rear bases hit Ormoc with 62 tons of bombs, causing extensive destruction. Third Fleet carrier-planes shot down 13 fighters during an enemy raid against shipping in Ormoc Bay. Enemy harassing attacks are increased slightly. Our patrols and anti-aircraft defences destroyed 11 enemy planes. Japanese fighters and dive-bombers made a spectacular raid yesterday afternoon against American shipping off Leyto Island,, obviously in retaliation for the heavy Japanese shipping losses at Ormoc, says the Associated Press correspondent in a despatch . from San Pedro Bay. Two American Ships Hit The Japanese, in groups of four and five, flew over the American ships and then dived through heavy flak. _ One American ship received a direct hit and burst into flames. A moment later a second ship was hit. American fighters circled high above their own flak to swoop on the Japanese as they retreated from the bombing area. "It is clear that the battle for Japan is now being fought in the Philippines," says Hanson Baldwin, writing in the New York Times. "The enemy, fully conscious of the threat to his supply lines to the Netherlands East Indies and Malaya, has chosen to make Leyte part of his main line of defence. "Troop reinforcements are being poured is not only to Leyte, but also to the strong Japanese flanking positions |on Luzon and Mindanao. The campaign in the Philippines is therefore likely to be protracted and bitter. The sea and air actions which have already waged around the Philippines have been cat and dog fights, rivalling in death and destruction for both sides the bitterest actions of this war. What is coming is likely to be still worse. We must be prepared for continued losses, perhaps even for heroic measures." NEAR TO RAVENNA PROGRESS IN ITALY FORLI SUCCESS EXPLOITED (Reed. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 13 Tanks and troops of the Eighth Army in Italy are within four miles of Ravenna, near the Adriatic coast. A correspondent says our forces have crossed a canal five miles south of the city and are closing in on Ravenna through the pine woods. Two other Eighth Army spearheads are heading for it at other points. The Germans are using bazookas against our tanks. There has been hard fighting 15 miles south-west of Ravenna on the main road to Bologna. _ The British Fifth Corps with the Eighth" Army is exploiting its success at Forli. The corps lias pushed_on north-west of the towns at a pace which a correspondent calls quite rapid in the circumstances. The Fifth Corps has been restricted on the left by the Montane River and on the right by a canal, but it is steadily pushing the enemy back and will soon have niore room to use tanks. Already the corps has a bridgehead across the canal. , . "The summer campaign in Italy is finished and the winter campaign is beginning. Cease for the time being your large-scale organised actionSj but continue to gather information about, enemy movements and intentions," said General Alexander in a provlamation addressed to Italian patriots. ROME DEMONSTRATION SOVIET ANNIVERSARY (Reed. 6.35 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 12 A crowd estimated to be at least 10,000 took part in a CommunistSocialist demonstration in Rome, celebrating the anniversary of the Russian Revolution, says Reuter's Rome correspondent. Catholic Communists carrying distinctive slogans were in evidence. One thousand Italian police were ordered to stand by, but, on Allied advice, they remained out of sight. The whole demonstration passed off without a disturbance. t The speakers were Signor Toghatti, secretary of the Communist Party, and Minister without portfolio, also Signor. Nennin, secretary of the Socialist Party. Hoots and whistles followed Signor Nennin's reference to the monarchy and Italian generals. Both speakers dwelt pn the Red Army's achievements. References to other Allies were extremely cursory and evoked no applause. The chanting of the Internationale ended the demonstration. INSURANCE FRAUD FAROE IN UNITED STATES (Reed. 6.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, Nov. 13 An instance of the attempts being made to defraud insurance companies was given by the United States Municipal News. A man smoked several boxes of cigars which he had insured and then put in a claim against an insurance company because they had been "destroyed by fire." The insurance company refused to pay and the man sued it. The Judge ruled that the company must pay. As soon "as the man had accepted payment the insurance company had him arrested for arson. This charge will be heard shortly. EXPLOSION IN SYDNEY DEPTH CHARGE ON LAUNCH SYDNEY. Nov. 13 Houses were damaged and windows and crockery smashed in near-by Sydney streets yesterday when a depth charge exploded on a blazing naval launch in the harbour. Shortly before the explosion the crew of five escaped on a raft and were picked up by other launches. The explosion caused scrub fires, requiring the attention of three fire brigades. Attempts were made to sink the burnins launch by gunfire, but these were unsuccessful. After the explosion pieces of wreckage were found in gardens half a mile from the waterfront. Crockery was smashed in houses up to two miles away. A backfire from the engine igniting petrol fumes is believed to Have j caused the fire on. the launch*.