NO QUICK VICTORY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25674, 24 October 1944, Page 5

NO QUICK VICTORY

CAMPAIGN MAY TAKE A YEAR WASHINGTON, Oct. 22.^ Philippine sources in Washington said the reconquest of the Philippines might require a year or more if the Japanese chose determinedly to defend the archipelago. It was expected, under General MacArthur’s plan of splitting the defenders, that the clearing of the large Palawan Island might involve heavy fighting because the Japanese were reported some months ago to have con-i centrated considerable forces there. The former Filipino scouts have been reorganised by the Japanese, and may number 25,000 to 30,000. The commanding general, Paulino Santos, has been described as notoriously proJapanese, and thoroughly dangerous. The Philippine sources described reports that General MacArthur had already landed over 250,000 troops as probably over-optimistic It is considered that the number is probably not more , than 150,000, but the forces are believed to be enough to complete conquest of the central islands, where the Japanese probably do not have more than 75,000. Japan’s total Philippines forces, excluding labour and police units, are estimated at not more than 150,000. but it is emphasised that the Japanese will be able to send in reinforcements from Formosa if desired, despite American domination of the sea and air around the islands.