Yanks take stand south of Luzon
Move opens strait to U.S. shipping
MANILA, Philippines (UP) – U.S. forces strengthened their hold in the Philippines today, gaining control of strategic San Bernardino Strait with the seizure of Capul Island off Southeastern Luzon.
Occupation of the tiny but important island, lying midway between Luzon and Samar, opened the direct shipping lane from the United States to the great harbor in Manila Bay.
Veteran jungle fighters of the Americal Division, which fought on Guadalcanal and Bougainville, swarmed over Capul Island Wednesday against light opposition, a communiqué said.
Still battle in Manila
The island is at the western end of San Bernardino Strait, where the Jap Fleet units were routed by U.S. warships supporting the landings on Leyte last October.
U.S. forces engaged the Japs in Southern Manila in vicious battles that raged from building to building around the besieged Intramuros section.
At the same time, units of the 11th Airborne Division swept southward along the west coast of Laguna de Bay Lake, southeast of the capital, and surprised a Jap garrison of 500 men at Mabato Point.
Blast Jap barges
The enemy forces attempted to flee across the bay in barges but were caught off shore by a murderous crossfire of American artillery. A number of barges were sunk and the shattered remnants of the garrison returned to land farther south along the coast.
The swift advance carried the Americans seven miles along the coast of the lake, through the road junction of Alabang to Nuntinglupa.
In Manila, the heaviest fighting centered around the City Hall, the General Post Office, the Manila Hotel and university buildings.
Breaks into hotel
Elements of the 1st Cavalry Division, which now is attached to the 37th Infantry Division, broke into Manila Hotel Wednesday and seized the first floor of the building. Jap naval and marine personnel held the rest of the hotel.
Japs carrying demolitions, shotguns and spears attempted to infiltrate U.S. positions at the Army-Navy Club, but were routed with the loss of 137 men.
Heavy American guns continued pounding the ancient wall around the Intramuros sector. One shell set off a Jap ammunition dump at the northeast corner of the wall, causing a terrific blast which ripped a 30-foot hole in the masonry.
Blast Japs in mountains
Nearly 100 Liberator bombers joined the 40th Infantry Division troops in an assault on the Jap forces holding out in the Zambales Mountains behind Fort Stotsenburg and the Clark Field area.
Heavy bombers, fighters and patrol planes carried out extensive attacks on Formosa. Fighters destroyed 13 grounded enemy planes. Ten coastal vessels were destroyed or damaged.