FURTHER REVERSES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24833, 5 February 1942, Page 5

FURTHER REVERSES

ENEMY IN PHILIPPINES LANDING ATTEMPTS FOILED HEAVY CASUALTIES INFLICTED WASHINGTON, Feb. 3. A communique issued by the United States Army Department states:

"In the Philippine theatre two Japanese attempts to land troops on the west coast of Batan were broken up during the night of February 2. The first raid by special shock troops was made early in the evening, but was frustrated by our artillery fire. The second, a more serious attempt, was made at midnight. A large number of barges under naval escort approached the coast. The raid was discovered by a few of our nightflying pursuit planes, which immediately attacked the convoy with light bombs and machine-gun fire. As the enemy approached the shore our beach defence force attacked with artillery and machine guns. The Japanese suffered heavy casualties to men and boats> The following morning a number of disabled barges were found along the beaches, some burning and others adrift. None of the invaders reached the shore.

"Ground operations on the left flank were of a minor nature. Some enemy pockets were found, and isolated groups of Japanese mopped up. On our .right, where General Hara's 65th Division previously . attempted a frontal attack to drive in a wedge, we made a successful counter-attack. Our troops over-ran three lines of enemy trenches, capturing considerable equipment. Brigadier-general Clinton Pierce was wounded in the recent fighting." Reinforcements Organised

A Washington Navy.. Department communique states that United States bluejackets and marines have been organised and are now fighting under Genera] MacArthur's command on the Batan Peninsula. These contingents were landed on the peninsula from an undisclosed point. Clarifying, the naval communique, the Associated Press says that later information indicated that the naval men were not a new force sent to the Philippines from outside, but were made up from the forces already in the Philippines. The correspondent said that the first impression from the communique was that reinforcements had actually succeeded in reaching the Batan Peninsula from outside.

The United Press said that the Navy Department refused to enlarge upon the , communique, but it appeared likely that the men did not come from outside. Enemy Warship Torpedoed A motor torpedo boat of the forces under the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Navies* in the South-west Pacific, Admiral Thomas C. Hart, is believed to have torpedoed an enemy warship in a night action inside Manila Bay, says a Navy Department communiaue.