MANILA ABLAZE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 December 1941, Page 6

MANILA ABLAZE

BUT NO BOMBS DROPPED OPEN CITY DECLARATION. TOKIO DENIES RECEIVING REQUEST. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 1 p.m.) NEW YORK, December 29. Manila is still ablaze at many points following on yesterday’s air raids. The city alarm sounded twice today, but no bombs were dropped. The Japanese, however, raided Corregidor Island for two hours today. It is disclosed that during yesterday’s air raid, 1,500 prisoners, mostly fifth columnists, attempted to break out of the Muntinlup Penitentiary while Manila was ablaze. Guards and police, with rifles, fought and defeated the prisoners, several of whom were killed or wounded. The United Press Manila correspondent says German and Italian citizens interned after the outbreak of war have been released, but the Japanese are still interned. The Japanese Imperial High Command. in a statement says: “Japan has not received an official request to consider Manila an open city, and hence will bomb Manila as long as is necessary for military purposes.” President Quezon has cancelled the opening of the Philippines Congress, scheduled for December 30. A Manila communique states: “The enemy continues to build up his forces and is maintaining steady pressure on the southern front. There is no material change in the situation in the north.” The “Manila Herald” reports that German officers are directing the Japanese forces on the northern fron t. TOKIO REPORT CAPTURE OF KUCHING & IPOH. (Receved This Day, 12.15 p.m.) TOKIO, December 29.

The capture of Ipoh (in Malaya) and Kuching (in Borneo) are officially reported.