ADVANCE INLAND

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

ADVANCE INLAND

RESISTANCE STIFFENING AMERICAN TANKS ASHORE (Rec. 8 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Oct 21. The Japanese on Leyte Island have stiffened their resistance to the invaders advancing after cracking the strategic beach defences, says a message from General MacArthur’s headquarters. The Japanese . are shelling with jmortars and artillery. The Americans, however, have pushed into open country, .one column closing on the city at Tacloban.

Reports are coming in of Filipino co-operation. One native, who was picked up by a destroyer, rode along the coast of Samar Island, pointing out Japanese gun positions. ..The:United Press says medium tanks are ashore, and 75 m.m. guns are blasting against Japanese veterans of Bataan and Corregidor. The battleships California and Pennsylvania, which were damaged in the Fearl Harbour attack, are throwing 14 and 16-irich shells overhead into the island defences. Japanese mortar fire scored four direct hits on landing ships, causing damage and casualties. General MacArthur went ashore at Leyte only a few hours after the assault waves; say a Combined Press cor- . respondent with General MacArthur. The voyage from the South Pacific in the cruiser Nashville might almost have been a peace-time cruise. Floating mines were reported at various times, but they were not near our ship. Two enemy planes were sighted. Aboard ship, General MacArthur completely relaxed. His plans had been made, and there were no further decisions required until the troops went ashore. Fifteen minutes before the scheduled landing time, 10 o’clock, the cruiser moved towards the beach. A report from the landing forces was received at 10.8 p.m., saying: “We are 500 yards inland and are advancing without opposition.” Our ships anchored at 11.10 a.m. About the same time the first reports of opposition were received. Heavy mortar fire hit the beaches. Our ships, got the range of the Japanese positions and the bombardment con tinued at intervals. MacArthur’s Confidence General MacArthur, who expressed confidence, said: “ We shall have losses, but they will not be large. The enemy has little more than one division on Leyte. Ojur naval and air power will make it impossible for the Japanese to reinforce the. island. I am particularly anxious to get one division on Leyte. It is the Fifteenth, the outfit that did the dirty work at Bataan. They have been living off the fat of the land for more than two years. I believe they will be a little softer now, but, soft or not, we will get them.” General MacArthur indicated that no time will be lost following up the advantages gained by the present move. Throughout the voyage General MacArthur scorned precautions for his persoricil ssfcty. • “ I am pleased with the programme.' We are moving according to schedule,’’ said General MacArthur, summing up the results of the first 12 hours of the battle for the Philippines. "The initial assault was held up temporarily in one sector of the, main front south of Tacloban by the highly-accurate fire of strongly entrenched enemy light artillery and mortars: Then dive-bombers and shelling by warships forced the enemy to withdraw.” Call to Filipinos The Associated Press correspondent at General MacArthur’s headquarters says President Osmena called on the Filipinos to rise up and fight against the. Japanese whenever the tide of tattle reached the towns and villages. General MacArthur’s communique states: “ Our ground forces are consolidating their beach-head positions and are driving inland in all sectors. Troops and supplies were landed on schedule against light opposition. The enemy’s air force, carefully struck by preliminary air attacks throughout Luzon and Visayan, was able to counter-attack with only a few scattered blows. One of our vessels was damaged by a torpedo hit and light damage to some of our landing craft was caused by shore fire. Our ground casualties in the preliminary stages of the operation were exceedingly light. Preceding our landing on Wednesday and Thursday carrier aircraft struck at enemy air installations and shipping in the Visayan area. Ranging over Panay, Negros, Cebu, and Leyte they destroyed 80 enemy planes on the ground and shot down four attempting interception: Numerous fuel and ammuniticn dumps were set on fire and aerodrome installations were heavily damaged. At least 12 coastal gun positions were wrecked and a truck convoy of 50 troop and supply vehicles was destroyed cn-Leyte Island. In the inland jvaters of the Central Philippines our planes sank a 5000-ton vessel, one freight transport, five light naval craft. U barges and coastal vessels.