MURDEROUS RAIDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 December 1941, Page 3

MURDEROUS RAIDS

MADE BY THE JAPANESE ON MANILA

REFUSAL TO RECOGNISE ' OPEN CITY.

FILIPINOS DEMAND FIGHT TO A FINISH.

LONDON, December 28. The Japanese answered an Arne-, riqan official proclamation that Manila was an open city by making a savage air attack on the city yesterday afternoon. The loss of life and widespread damage to the dock area and civilian property have resulted from the raid, which lasted for three and a half hours—the longest Manila has experienced. Late last night fires were

threatening the whole of the walled city, built by the Spaniards, which before the war had 100,000 residents.

Latei’ Tokio announced the rejection of the open-city proclamation and stated that the Japanese were strictly limiting their raids to military objectives.

This morning Manila was bombed again. Bombs were dropped in different parts of the city while rescue parties were still searching the ruins caused by yesterday’s bombing, and firemen still poured water on ■ the smouldering remains of shops and schools.

The population are enraged at the bombings. A correspondent says that everyone is calling for the open-city declaration to be revoked and demanding a fight to a finish. The American Secretary of State, Mr Hull, last night declared that Japan, in bombing the open city, was practising the same barbaric methods of cruelty and inhumanity as Hitler in Europe. Japan had taken to the Philippines the same practices of fiendishness as she had inflicted on China. Japanese troopships are pouring reinforcements ashore north and south of the capital, and American reinforcements are also moving up. There is heavy fighting at one point 45 miles south-east of Manila, and in the north the Japanese, advancing more than 30 miles, have driven down the corridor from Damortio, in the Lingayen Gulf area, toward Manila.

CASUALTIES HIGH. In yesterday’s raid on Manila two salvos of bombs were dropped a mile and a half from the port area, and these set on fire the historic Santo Domingo Catholic Church, gutted the College of Santa Rosa, and left a mass of debris the Treasury Building, in which a large number of people were sheltering and which sustained a direct hit. It is feared the casualties are high. A student’ was killed and a nun injured at Santa Catalina College. Eyewitnesses report that the raiders machine-gunned persons emerging from buildings and firemen who were battling with fires. The residents of the congested districts are hurriedly leaving, carrying only their most valur able belongings. The main attacks were concentrated on the wharves and shipping. -The piers were severely damaged, but most of the bombs missed the ships. On December 26 Manila suffered six air raids, resulting in 32 casualties. Three bombing attacks were made on ships in the bay but only one ship'was damaged. The official Tokio radio declared on that day: “It is almost unthinkable to consider Manila an open city, as it is well known that the American authorities considered Manila a typical base in the event of an American attack against the Japanese. If Manila is designated an open city, Singapore, Chungking and Hong Kong could be considered open cities.’!* Listeners in Manila yesterday heard a radio announcement from Tokio in three languages, English, Filipino, and Spanish: “Japan will consider Manila and the approaches to Manila open as soon as the Filipino army co-operates with the Japanese Army and ceases its resistance.” ’

The American Associated Press correspondent says listeners reacted with scorn and laughter.

An army spokesman in Manila on Decembei’ 26, said that the open city declaration aimed to protect civilian lives and property, but did not affect the conduct of the war, “which will continue vigorously and more vigorously.” Prior to the declaration many persons fired at Japanese planes with rifles and pistols, but without effect. The United States High Commissioner, Mr Sayre, is transferring his office from Manila by order of General Macarthur.

SAFE & WELL ■ I . BRITISH EMBASSY STAFF IN TOKIO. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, December 27. A message has been received in London from Sir Robert Craigie, British Ambassador to Japan, stating that he and all his Embassy staff are safe and well in the Embassy in Tokio. They sent Christmas greetings to relations and friends at home.