ADVANCE ON LUZON

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23114, 31 January 1945, Page 5

ADVANCE ON LUZON

San Fernando Taken

(8 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Jan. 29. General MacArthur reports that American forces have captured San Fernando.

Several hundred Japanese have left San Fernando in daylight for Bataan after failing in hurried attempts to destroy the river bridge in the centre of the city with gasoline and small bombs, says the correspondent of sue Associated American Press. The Japanese burned, many wafehouses. The Americans entered San Fernando at noon and were welcomed by

hundreds of Filipinos, including naiades of guerrillas, W’ho announced: “We will go to Bataan and help to fight the Japanese.” San Fernando had a population of 20.000 and was Luzon's second largest city. It has been one of the main guerrilla strongholds. A correspondent with the 25th Division says that Japanese tanks, some ridden by Japanese infantry, overran one American machine-gun position at San Manuel before they were “rushed with grenades and bazookas. San Manuel was one of the few places on Luzon where the Japanese fougnt to the end. The final action was fought at a high pitch for five hours. Thte Americans at present are within 14 miles of Baguio.