SEVERE DEFEAT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24832, 4 February 1942, Page 5

SEVERE DEFEAT

JAPANESE FORCES

TWO DIVISIONS SMASHED REVERSE IN PHILIPPINES RUGBY, Feb. 2. Further highly successful resistance in the Batan area of the Philippines by the United States forces, and the infliction of heavy casualties on the attacking Japanese,' are announced in a communique issued to-day by the United States War Department, Washington. The communique states:— "In the Philippines theatre during the past 24 hours, the enemy attacked the right and left of our troops on Batan. They were repulsed with heavy Japanese losses. The action was a continuance of the fighting which has been in progress for the past few days. Simultaneous Attacks

"Attacks were launched in the east and west sectors by the 16th and 65th Japanese divisions under the , command of Lieutenant-general Nara. The assaults were co-ordinated and timed to take place simultaneously. Headlong thrusts made oh. the west •coast were aimed at what the eneniy mistakenly thought to be our flank and real-. Picked groups known as Tatori executed • simultaneous attacks on several points along the west coast line like the fingers of a clawing hand.

"Captured aerial maps showed the Japanese plan and the urgent character of the mission" there. There was savage fighting in the underbush, and those who attempted flight by sea were drowned, while the others were destroyed or captured, s "In the east sector the 65th Division attempted a frontal attack and envelopment in the Pilar area. The frontal attack was made by the 142nd Japanese Infantry Regiment, simultaneously with an attempt by envelopment by the 141st and 122nd Infantry Regiments. The frontal attack was stopped by artillery fire before taneously with an attempt at envelopment was repulsed with heavy losses to the Japanese." •

West Coast Threat. Removed Commenting on the fighting on the west coast, General MacArthur' said that all enemy threats on the west coast were now completely mastered. The troops employed in this desperate venture were the enemy's best shock troops, especially trained and selected. They were entirely destroyed. They resisted with the courage characteristic of Japanese troops, but at the end were glad to surrender.