LUZON CAMPAIGN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25802, 24 March 1945, Page 7

LUZON CAMPAIGN

NAGUILIAN RIVER REACHED GENERAL ADVANCE CONTINUES WASHINGTON, (Rec. 9.30 p.m.) Mar. 22 - “In the First Corps sector forward elements of the Thirty-third Division reached the Naguilian River, near Naguilian town and airfield,” says General MacArthur’s communique. “In the Eleventh Corps sector the Forty-third Division is pushing along the Bosoboso River Valley, near Mount Quitago and Mount Tanahuan, The Sixth Division is reducing the remaining enemy positions on the crest of Mount Baytangan. In the Fourteenth Corps sector the 158th Regimental Combat Team drove into the outskirts of Cuenca, south-east of Lake Taal, and cut the main road to the east of the town. We seized Guimaras Island, south-east of Panay. “ Heavies in attacks on three successive days dropped 214 tons of bombs against bivouac and supply areas in the vicinity of Cebu city. Fighters swept Negros aerodromes. A small enemy submarine anchored off Cebu city was destroyed by navy rocket planes. Air patrols in the China Sea destroyed or damaged 16 ships and a transport plane. Heavy reconnaissance planes bombed enemy installations on Moena Island, south of the Celebes. An air patrol bombed and strafed encampments and supply areas in the Halmaheras, destroyed a lugger off Ternate Island, and sank a schooner off the Sangihe Islands. “Australian ground forces made another over-water advance along the north-western coast of Bougainville, landing on Soraken Peninsula. Fighters continued the neutralisation of enemy bases on Rabaul, New Ireland and Bougainville.”