SOFTENING THE PHILIPPINES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 230, 26 September 1944, Page 5

SOFTENING THE PHILIPPINES

MANILA BOMBED AGAIN

• 29 MORE SHIPS SUNK NIMITZ S HEAVY BLOWS CHASE JAP FLEET Recd. R .m. Washington, Sept. 24. Admiral Nimitz has announced that carrier planes of Admiral Halsey’s Third Fleet have sunk 29 more ships in Manila Bay area, damaged 20 and sunk or damaged 16 small craft. They also destroyed or damaged 200 planes on .September 21. The Americans lost 11 planes. “Carrier-based aircraft, continuing the smashing attack against the northern Philippines, begun on Wednesday, took additional heavy toll of enemy planes and ships and ground installations on Thursday," says a Pacific Fleet communique. “The total destruction in their two-day strike was extensive. and the enemy suffered heavily. The foliowing damage, part of which was previously reported, was inflicted at and near Clark Nichols field, in the Manila harbour area and Cavite naval base, during the two-day operations in southern Luzon: Forty ships and six small craft sunk. Eleven ships probably sunk. Thirty-five ships, 11 small craft and two dry-docks damaged. 169 planes shot, down in combat. 188 planes destroyed on the ground. Forty-five planes probably damaged on the ground. Three pianes damaged by ships' gunfire. “Extensive and widespread damage was done to buildings, warehouses, railroad equipment, oil storage tanks, harbour installations, hangars, shops, stores, supplies and equipment. “Our own losses in a daring and highly-successful strike, were 11 planes in combat. There was no damage to our surface ships. “The total revised score for the Third Fleet, under Admiral Halsey’s command, now stands at: 122 ships and 16 small craft sunk. 137 ships and 109 small craft damaged. 380 planes shot down in the air and 598 destroyed on the ground. Crippling damage to airfields, and naval establishments. “In addition, Third Fleet ships and carrier-based aircraft supported the Palau assault. “Our own combat losses were 51 planes. “The operations of the Third Fleet forced the enemy to withdraw his forces from former anchorages in the Philippines and seek new refuges in the same general area. They also disrupted inter-island communications and also have broken his air force in the Philippines, just as operations of the Fifth Fleet broke the enemy carrier-based air force in the battle of the Philippine Sea." The communique also reports attacks against Chichi Jima, Haha Jima, Iwo Jima, Pagan Island, Nauru and enemy-held Marshall atolls. “An enemy attempt to reinforce his beleaguered troops at the northern end of Feleliu Island on Saturday was broken up," says a Pacific Fleet communique. “We sighted a convoy of 13 barges, and one motor sampan, carrying men and equipment, which was immediately brought under fire by United States warships, some of which pushed through mined waters to close range. A number of barges was seen to explode. Later 10 wrecked barges were counted on reefs north-eastwards of Peleliu and the remainder are thought to have been sunk. A few of the enemy probably were able to swim ashore without equipment. “A United States cruiser carried out a bombardment and scored at least one direct hit on Saturday on two camouflaged ships in Malaya harbour, previously damaged by our aircraft. Marines on Peleliu made small gains on the right and left flanks. Mopping up operations continue on Angaur. Allied light naval units patrolling the Halmahera coast have strafed enemy defences. In the main aerial strike reported by General MacArthur's communique to-day, Liberators dropped more than 100 tons of bombs on Celebes airfields. Japanese shipping in the Banda Sea has been harassed, five barges and several small craft being destroyed or seriously damaged.