Battle for Manila virtually ended
Only three buildings still held by Japs
MANILA, Philippines (UP) – The battle for Manila virtually ended today as U.S. troops captured all but three of the enemy-held buildings in the devastated ancient wall city.
U.S. troops were attacking the last Jap positions in a church and small sections on the west and south sides of the Intramuros area.
The final assault on the Japs in Manila followed a combined land and amphibious attack by the 37th Infantry Division which breached the ancient wall around Intramuros.
Cross Pasig River
Following in the wake of a thunderous artillery barrage, which virtually flattened the old Intramuros section, the American troops stormed through and over the medieval wall from the east and across the wide Pasig River on the north.
The double attack, which was joined inside the walled city, was expected to end organized Jap resistance in Manila quickly, although it may be several days before the last fanatical enemy is mopped up.
Seize another island
Gen. Douglas MacArthur also announced that U.S. forces had seized Biri Island at the eastern end of San Bernardino Strait to complete U.S. domination of the water passageway at the southeastern end of Luzon. The Americans first opened up the strait with the occupation of Capul Island at the western end of the waterway.
Reports of Jap brutality in Manila reached a new mark with the disclosure that more than 3,000 American civilian internees at Santo Tomas were subjected to several days of heavy artillery fire.
The enemy deliberately shelled the face of the main building at Santo Tomas and the front entrance.
Casualties light
Although the number of dead and wounded among the civilians was not announced, the communiqué said the casualties “fortunately were very light.” The shelling occurred several days after Santo Tomas was occupied by the 1st Cavalry Division.
Units of the 1st Cavalry and 6th Infantry Divisions further secured the eastern side of the capital with the capture of San Mateo and Taytay in the foothills of the Marikina watershed.
Entrance of the 6th Infantry Division into the Manila campaign brought to a total of five divisions now operating under Maj. Gen. O. W. Griswold’s XIV Corps.
Visits front lines
Gen. MacArthur visited the front lines again today and entered newly-captured Manila Hotel while the 1st Cavalry Division raised the Stars and Stripes over the high commissioner’s building.
Mopping-up of Corregidor continued steadily and it was announced the entire western part of the fortress had been cleared.
The Japs set off an ammunition dump inside big Malinta tunnel inside the rocky fort, blowing themselves to bits rather than fight it out with the Americans.