FORCES CONVERGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25853, 25 May 1945, Page 5

FORCES CONVERGE

INTERIOR OF MINDANAO ' ONLY EIGHT MILES APART (Rec. 9 p.m.) WASHINGTON. May 23. “On the high plateau in the interior of Mindanao onl.y eight miles now separates our forces converging ' from the north and tjie south,” says General MacArthur’s communique. “ Our southern column, brushing aside enemy resistance at Kalaysungay, drove 10 miles north of Malaybalay and seized Dalwangan. Our north • n spearhead advanced several miles beyond Maluko. The Twenty-fourth Division in the Davao sector pushed one mile north of Bunawan and ‘ fiecured Tanbungon,, and is closing in on Licanan aerodrome. “In the Santa Fe area of Luzon First Corps units continue the reduction -sf isolated enemy strongpoints. Naval patrols bombarded enemy positions. East coast patrols attacked Takao and Keelung. Long-range gatrols of the sea blockade attacked hanghai and Canton and' sank a 5000-ton freighter and other shipping. “ Mopping-up continues on Tarakan. Heavy bombers struck Brunei township and Melak aerodrome. Other planes, sweeping the Borneo and Celebes shore-lines, sank a 3000ton freighter and two luggers and damaged four' others. Australian troops crossed the Hongorai River in fores and captured strong positions in the vicinity of Tohu, two miles to the rear of the enemy’s defehces guarding . Buin road.”