October 20, 1944; PHILLIPENES INVADED/MAC.ARTHUR RETURNS:

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, OCTOBER 20, 1944:

MacArthur Forces Seize

East Coast of Leyte Island

More Men Landing Ashore Than Disembarked

In France During First 24 Hours of Invasion

By United Press

A Melbourne broadcast said today that Gen. Douglas Mac-

Arthur landed on Leyte in the Philippines with "every living

man who escaped from Corregidor with him in 1942."

The broadcast did not report how many men survived

By Richard M. Johnston .

ADVANCED ALLIED HEADQUARTERS IN PHILIPPINES,

Oct. 20. (UP)—

Gen. Douglas MacArthur and an army of at least 250,000 men stormed the central Philippines from the greatest ocean-going invasion armada in history today, quickly seized control of the 75-mile east coast of strategic Leyte island and were marching on Tacloban, its capital, 370 miles southeast of Manila.

Returning with MacArthur to the Philippines was every living member of the ill-fated, garrison who escaped with him from Corregidor two years and 10 months ago.

"I have returned," MacArthur proclaimed to the people of the Philippines in a radio broadcast. "By..the-, grace of Almighty God, our force stands again on Philippine-soil, soil consecrated in the blood of our two peoples."

By nightfall, more men were expected to be ashore on Leyte than the Allies landed in' Normandy on. D-day.-

Fully a quarter of a million soldiers landed in France on the first 24 hours of the western front campaign.

Covered by the greatest naval and air bombardment of the Pacific war, jungle veterans, of the American 6^th army under German-born Lt. Gen. Walter Krueger swarmed ashore from hundreds of assault craft and quickly seized beachheads against almost non-existent opposition and fanned out inland with tanks and mobile guns.

MacARTHUR SPEAKING

"I Have Returned by the Grace of God,

Our Force Stands on Philippine Soil"

By United Press

'I have returned. By the grace of Almighty God, our force stands again on Philippine soil, soil Consecrated in the blood of our two peoples."

With those words Gen. Douglas MacArthur proclaimed to the people of the Philippines by radio today that his armies had returned to liberate them and avenge Bataan and Corregidor.

The text of the MacArthur broadcast, as relayed by the Melbourne radio, follows:

"This is the voice, of freedom, General Mac Arthur speaking.

"I have returned. By the grace of Almighty God, our force stands again on Philippine soil, soil consecrated in the blood of our two peoples.

We have come, dedicated and committed to destroying every vestige of enemy control over your dally lives, and to restoring upon the foundation of indestructible strength the liberties of your people.

"At my side is your president, Sergio Osmena, worthy successor to that great patriot, Manuel Quezon, with members of his cabinet. The seat of your government is now, therefore, formally re-established on Philippine soil.

"The long due redemption is here. Your Patriots have started their unswerving and resolute devotion to the principles of freedom that challenge the list that is written on the pages of human history. And we now call upon your supreme effort that the enemy may know from the temper of an aroused and outraged people within that he has a force to contend with no less violent than is the force committed from without.

"Rally to me. Let the indomitable spirit of Bataan and Cnrregidor lead on. As his lines of battle roll forward to bring you within the zones of operation, rise and strike.

"Strike at every suitable opportunity for your homes and hearts, strike for future generations of your sons and daughters, strike, the. land of your sacred birth, strike.

"Let no heart he faint. Let every arm ho steeled. The guidance of divine God points to the way. Follow in His name

to the Holy Grail of righteous victory."

Box-Score of Jap and U. S. Losses

By United Press

The box score of Japanese and United States losses from Pearl Harbor to Gen. MacArthur's return to the Philippines:

Japanese ships sunk—2265, including 354 combat and 1911 non-combat. Also about 3000 barges and several hundred sampans, junks, river steamers, luggers and similar small craft.

United States naval losses in all theatres (mostly in Pacific)—195 ships including 155 combat and 40 non-combats Also 16

non-naval merchantmen, sunk in the Pacific.

Japanese plane losses—About 17,697.

United States plane losses—(Army, navy and marine)—About 3370.

.Japanese casualties (mostly killed)—Believed to be in. excess of 500,000.

United States casualties (all services, killed, wounded and missing)—About 115,000.

A WARNING

Long, Costly Fight Ahead

For Yanks in Philippines

By Sandor S. Klein

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 (UP)—

The exultation over the long awaited return of American forces to the Philippines was tempered today by sober warnings that a long, tough and perhaps exceedingly- costly campaign lies ahead. President Roosevelt, himself, sounded that theme -this morning in a message cautioning that invaded Leyte Island, in the east central Philippines, is only a "way station on the road to Japan."

"We are glad to be back in the Philippines, but we do not intend to stop there," Mr. Roosevelt declared in pledging that Japan will be made to pay for her treachery and deceit in a lesson that she "will never forget."

Military men said the struggle for the Philippines will be the toughest of the Pacific war. Yet; whatever the cost to the vengeance- bent forces under Gen. Douglas MacArthur, it will be even more costly to the enemy—strategically, psychologically and politically.

Most Americans, however, gave little thought to such things. They knew that MacArthur at last was on the road back—a road sodden with the blood of Americans and their Filipino comrades in arms who sought to stem the Japanese avalanche loosed that Sabbath morning of Dec. 7, 1941; rutted deep in disaster, defeat and torture.