MANILA BAY RAID

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25054, 18 November 1944, Page 8

MANILA BAY RAID

LIST OF SHIPS SUNK PROGRESS ON LEYTE ISLAND (Reed. 8.15 p.m.) WASHINGTON. Nov. 16 Evidence gathered since the carrier attacks in the Manila Bay area on November 12 has raised the damage figures given previously, says a Pacific Fleet communique. It is now known that a light cruiser, which had been reported badly damaged, was sunk, also four destroyers, and 11 cargo ships and oil tankers. This number was previously reported sunk or blazing. The 24th Division nnd the First Cavalry Division arc tightening their grip on the enemy salient at Liroon, on Leyte Island, says General Mac-Arthur's communique. Our long-range artillery continues to create havoc throughout the corridor. We have also consolidated our positions on tho central range from Mount Minogro to Mount Mamban. C'omhnt and reconnaissance patrols nre combing the intricate network of trails and clearing scattered enemy parties from the mountains. Heavy tropical rains have restricted all operations. Our fighters and bombers strafed Ormoc area, sinking over 30 barges in the harbour and destroying a motor park with many dozen vehicles at Valencia. Enemy air activity was negligible. ISLAND LANDING AMERICANS INVADE MAPIAS WASHINGTON, Nov, 1(5 American amphibious troops on Wednesday invaded Mapia Islands. I l."> miles to the north-nest of Biak. Dutch New Guinea, according to an announcement by General Mac Arthur. A small force landed under cover of a heavy naval bombardment and encountered only slight resistance. The troops immediately began to push inland. The invasion was carried out to knock out Japanese coast watchers who had been operating stations and reporting flights of American planes to the north. The Mapias will be converted to a protective outpost warning station for the American forces at Biak The occupation of Pegun, one of the islands of the group, has been completed. A landing was also made on Bras Island, in the Mapin group, and American troops are now wiping out remnants of the Japanese garrison there. AUSTRALIAN SPEARHEAD DRIVE AGAINST JAPAN (Heed. 6.10 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 17 The new Australian Minister to the United States, Sir Frederic Eggleston, held his first press conference in Washington. He recalled tho long struggle of Commonwealth troops in New Guinea and said that Australian servicemen would be the spearhead of the northward drive against Japan. Sir Frederic explained that big-scale immigration would be impracticable directly after the war owing partly to the .danger of drought. Questioned about China, where ne formerly represented Australia. Sir Frederic said that it was in Australia's own interests to help rebuild China, but for the stability of the Pacific it was essentia] to defeat Japan totally, because she had such an industrial staff that she could stage a come-back far more quickly than could Germany in Europe EARLIER MARRIAGE LARGER FAMILIES AUSTRALIAN HEALTH PLAN (Reed. 0.30 p.m.) CANBERRA, Nov. 17 "Everything possible should be done to encourage people to marry earlier and have larger families," says a comprehensive report released today from the medical planning group of the Commonwealth Social Security Committee, Recommending improved housing and financial assistance for those prepared to undertake the responsibility of parenthood, as well as the provision of amenities to lessen the drudgery of family life, the report says: "Nothing could more surely enhance the security and prosperity of the Australian Commonwealth than a rapid and progressive increase in the indigenous population." The report says the practice of birth control must be decided as an individual responsibility, but deprecated any ready availability of contraceptives, The exposition in popular magazines and public lecture halls of sex biology is condemned." The question ot sex biology raised, perhaps, the most contentious question in popular health education, adds the report, which recommends biological education at an early age, but not specific sex education in primary schools. It also approves newspapers as a desirable medium for education, but states that radio broadcasting is open to the objection that all members of the family without discrimination could hear these broadcasts. Referring to public health schemes, tho report says the free choice of doctors and the preservation of the relationship between the family and its medical adviser were essential in any comprehensive health plan. The services of consultants, specialists and laboratories, as well as hospitals, should be available to every member of the community. The objective should be the achievement of positive health and the prevention of disease, no less than the relief of sickness An extension of the campaign against venereal disease is also recommended NORWEGIAN TROOPS FIGHT FOR OWN COUNTRY LONDON, Nov. 16 It is announced that tho first 250 men of the Norwegian Army to again fight on Norwegian soil 'sailed from Britain aboard a British cruiser. Where they will fight is not stated. Crown Prince Olaf inspected thorn before their departure and conveyed a message to thorn on behalf of King Haakon, who sent greetings to his people of Norway. The Norwegians filed aboard in silence with the air of ruthless determination. They are men with hitter wrongs to avenge, nearly all having personal scores to settle with tho Germans on behalf of their families still in Norway. They escaped from Norway by various routes and reached Britain in rags. They are returning well equipped, fully trained soldiors well able to hit hack. The Norwegian troops will join the Russian Arctic forces in Northern Norway, states the Times, in the caption to a picture of the troops leaving Britain. MR NELSON IN CHUNGKING (Reed. 8.10 p.m.) LONDON. Nov. 17 Mr Donald Nelson, former chief of the United States War Production Board and now President Roosevelt's personal representative, has arrived back in Chungking. With him was a party of experts, including five steel I technicians.

SIR E. FISK'S NEW POST LOXDON, Xov. If? The directors of Electric and Musical Industries announce that Sir Ernest Fiek has been appointed managing director of a company which shares the ownership with the Marconi Wireless and Telegraph Co. of a television company. Sir Ernest was formerly managing director of Amalgamated .Wireless .(Australasia), Ltd*