CAPITAL TAKEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25801, 23 March 1945, Page 5

CAPITAL TAKEN

OPERATIONS ON PANAY RESISTANCE CRUSHED (Rec. 9 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Mar. 21. “The Japanese garrison in Iloilo, the capital of Panay, nas been routed and the town captured. There was close air support lor this operation. Guerrilla elements are now clearing the coastal plain north-west of Iloilo,” says General MacArthur's communique. “ They seized Gaub and Tabucan, near Santa Barbara airfield, and also San Sebastion and Pavia to the south-east. Prior to our landing guerrilla forces practically cleared ihe interior and coastal sectors, and by constant harassing restricted enemy lorces to the immediate vicinity of Iloilo. "i\ow, except lor minor pockets, all organised resistance on Panay has been crushed. Approximately 70 per cent, ol iloilo was destroyed by the enemy before our entry, but the docks are sale and the harbour area is clear.

" Light naval units patrolling the north coast of Cebu at night destroyed a small freighter, six barges, four coastal craft and patrol boats laden with personnel. “ In the First Corps' sector on Luzon the Thirty-third Division joined our guerrilla forces at San Fernando, and is now advancing to the east from Bauang, on the Naguilian trail, towards Baguio. In the Eleventh Corps’ sector since the collapse of the AntipoloWawa Line, the Thirty-third Division has captured ridge lines to the north of Pantay. The Sixth Division has driven to within one mile of Mount Baytangan. We captured 266 vehicles (largely armoured), 33 fieid artillery and anti-aircraft guns, 12 mortars, 34 rocket launchers, and large quantities of machine-guns, small arms, ammunition, food, clothing, fuel, and miscellaneous supplies. The enemy’s losses of men along the Shimbu Line have been extraordinarily heavy. Cavite Province has now been cleared except for scattered remnants fleeing after enemy night counter-attacks which were easily repulsed. “ The Forty-first Division at Mindanao continued the general advance to the north. Zamboanga Harbour has been cleared and the airfield is operating unhindered. Our planes destroyed two midget submarines at Davao.

“ Fifth Air Force mediums practically destroyed an enemy convoy of six ships off Amoy. They were attempting to run our blockade. We sank a 6000-ton freighter-transport and two destroyer escorts, set fire and probably sank two 7000-ton freightertransports. and damaged a destroyer. We lost two bombers. “Our ground forces in New Guinea, moving to the east towards Wewak, occupied But aerodrome and the wharf area. Ground forces south of Bougainville are in close contact with the enemy in the Puriata River area. Several enemy positions were cleared in the face of stiff opposition. Our troops in New Britain are pushing back the enemy in the Waitavalo plantation area. Air units are supporting the operations.”