ISLAND’S CAPITAL TAKEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25673, 23 October 1944, Page 5

ISLAND’S CAPITAL TAKEN

SKILFUL ENVELOPMENT CASUALTIES LIGHT (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Rec. 0.10 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Oct. 22. American forces in the Central Philippines have captured Tacloban, the capital of Leyte Island, and Tacloban airfield. This is announced in General MacArthur’s latest communique, which says that the ground forces on Leyte have advanced in all sectors an average depth of four miles. Strong enemy defences, prepared with concrete pillboxes and artillery positions, were skilfully enveloped by infiltration, and the enemy was forced to withdraw. Direct assaults were thereby avoided. American casualties consequently remained Tight The enemy is already showing signs of lack of manoeuvrable cohesion in the face of the skilful attacks of the local com- ' manders. To the northwards the Americans have taken Tacloban and secured Tacloban airfield. The 24th Corps in the southern sector seized Dulag and its aerodrome, and is pushing towards San Pablo. In the Leyte Valley two strong enemy counter-attacks were repulsed. Enemy air activity against the beach-head and shipping was limited to dawn to dusk raids by small groups of aircraft. Ship flak destroyed three enemy bombers. General MacArthur,, after 9 an inspection of the American positions on Leyte Island, said that progress in the Central Philippines could not be better. ' J Dismounted cavalrymen captured Tacloban airfield five hours after swarming ashore, reports the United Press correspondent, Mr William Dickinson. Vast booty, including machine-guns, rifles, and bicycles was abandoned in the supply dumps already captured near Dulag. Heavy artillery tanks blasted a path while flame-throwers burned out pillboxes and dive-bombers attacked enemy gun emplacements. American troops encountered tough opposition on Red Beach, which was part of the northern beach-head, but they took their primary objective by late afternoon and continued their advance.