January, 8, 1945; PRE-INVASION PREPARATION IN PHILIPPINES:

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, JANUARY 8, 1945:

RACINE, WIS., MONDAY AFTERNOON, JANUARY 8, 1945.

Nimitz Shifts

Carriers to

Aid Macarthur

(By The Associated Press)

Excited Japanese broadcasts today reported more than 450 U. S. transports "streaming: n o r t h " in the Philippines headed for an invasion

of Manila bay or Lingayen Gulf.

(By The Associated Press)

Tokyo reports of an incessant two - day pre-invasion bombardment by powerful U. S. naval and air units of Lingayen gulf, 150 miles north of Manila, were ignored

today by American commanders who reported other devastating  strikes and two secondary invasions along a 3.000-mile arc of enemy held islands.

Japanese front-line dispatches said an armada of 70 U. S. aircraft, led by battleships, shelled Nipponese forts Saturday and Sunday while carrier planes from

Vice Adm. John S. McCain's fast carrier force "incessantly blast our positions."

"Land batteries retaliated with heavy fire," the correspondent reported, "and the whole gulf roars with the blasts of gunfire."

 Nipponese reports agreed Yank assault waves might strike the heavily fortified shore "at any time . " They boasted the invaders would "have to sacrifice a heavy

foil of men" and talked of  "a great enemy annihilation battle."

Convoys "Head for Manila."

An imperial communique reported three "powerful convoys," including 150 transports and a task  force of 25 warships, were headed toward Manila from central Philippines waters. The enemy high command claimed that since "Wednesday Japanese planes attacking these and other convoys sank seven first line warships and 16 transports, and damaged nine other ships.

Japanese Land

More Men on

China Coast f

CHUNGKING.—(AP) —

Japaneseforces have landed fresh troops on the  coast of northeastern Fukien province in an obvious preparation  to counter any American attempt to establish beach-heads on the Asiatic mainland, the Chinese high command announced tonight.

The Japanese landed Dec. 26 and advanced inland, occupying  the town of Siapu about 70 miles northeast of Japanese-held Foochow.

A Chinese counter attack k rewon  Siapu Jan. 3, and the enemy retreated to the east, the high command said.

The landing was considered as one in a series of enemy measures to grid (guard) against American landings on the China coast. Although the J a p a n e s e have bisected China with a corridor to Indo- China, much of the territory east

of their line between Hankow and Indo-China remains in Chinese hands. The Chinese held most of t h e stretch from Hangchow bay southward. The Japanese apparently want to be in position to rush troops to any point where American forces might secure lodgment