LEYTE ISLAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25085, 26 December 1944, Page 6

LEYTE ISLAND

AMEEICAN OPERATIONS

CLOSING IN ON PALOMPON (lined. 8.50 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Dec. '2l

Tho United States Philippines communique says that the 77th Division on Leyte Island is pressing westward and is rapidly closing in on Palompon. Fighters supported the advance. Enemy resistance is weak and sporadic.

Tho American forces are 'capturing great quantities of enemy material, ineluding hundreds of trucks and tanks, heavy and light artillery and thousands of tons of ammunition and construction equipment. A total of 2600 more Japanese dead has been counted. Enemy Air Attack Enemy planes ineffectively attacked ground positions on Mindoro. Seven wore shot down.

Heavy American bombers attacked Grace Park aerodrome, Manila, and destroyed '25 planes. Other bombers struck elsewhere in the Philippines. The reduction of Japanese airpower in the Philippines is one of the main reasons for tho acceleration of General MaeArthiir's campaign, says the Leyte correspondent of the United Press. It appears that the day of complete American air domination is not far off. Tt can now be stated that the Americans never had more than local air superiority during the first six weeks of the campaign and even_ that leit much to ho desired sometimes. The Japanese then had more than 100 aerodromes within striking distance of Leyte, while the Americans had only one useable in the then rainy season. Filipino Guerilla Activity

Thousands of Filipino guerillas are taking the offensive against tho Japanese throughout the 7000 islands in the Philippines, says a United Press correspondent in ' the Philippines. The guerillas are moving from their mountain retreats to the coastal areas, capturing airfields, ports and other positions which the enemy is no longer strong enough to defend. Some enemy garrisons liavo already collapsed due to the lack of food and ammunition. It now appears to be unnecessary for American troops to land on more than half-a-dozen islands. The guerillas aro capable of mopping up the thousands of smaller islands, although tho task will prove slow. Admiral Nimitz told a press conference that he did not want to give tho impression that the Japanese Navy was completely defeated, but it had not been able to stop the American advance. "We may expect bitter opposition from the air as we advance toward Japan and come within range of shore-based aircraft." The Tokyo radio announced that Japanese munitions workers have agreed to forgo all holidays in order to win victory in 19-15.