WW2 Chapter 45 - Contact is Resumed

After nine days, finally some news…

AP Report, Nov. 15: “The American Seventh Division at Damulaan on the west Leyte coast, near the mouth of Ormoc Bay, repulsed a small enemy force attempting to land from barges, Gen. MacArthur reported. This was the first news of the Seventh in more than a week.”

AP Report, Nov. 16: “Far to the south, the veteran Seventh Division, seldom mentioned in recent communications, was disclosed to have advanced four miles to the west coast town of Balogo, only 10 miles from Ormoc.”

AP Report, Nov. 16: “The U.S. Seventh Division ‘bloodily’ repulsed a Japanese counter-attack near Balogo, 10 miles south of Ormoc on the coastal road. This means the Seventh has advanced four miles northward in its drive to apply the southern lever of the American squeeze against Ormoc, Japan’s last port on the island. These Yank forces smashed a Japanese landing attempt Tuesday at Damulaan, 14 miles south of Ormoc."

AP Report, Nov. 18:  "The American Seventh division repulsed an enemy attack at Tabgas, 11 miles south of Ormoc, the final goal of the current Yank squeeze. This is the third assault smashed by the Seventh on the coastal road leading to Ormoc, including the repulsion of a landing attempt.”

AP Report, Nov. 22: “The Seventh division, on the south end of the American line, which draws a huge semi-circle around the town, repulsed another enemy counterattack, the fourth within about 10 days.”