War Department Communique No. 182

APRIL 8, 1942

The War Department issued the following communiqué, based on reports received until 4 p.m. today:

1. Philippine theater: Fresh Japanese troops are continuing their forward drive in Bataan with great vigor. A heavy attack on our new positions Is now in progress. Dive bombers and attack aircraft are bombing and machine-gunning our front lines. Heavy bombers are continuing their attacks on our rear areas near the southern extremity of the Bataan Peninsula.
The present Japanese attack is the longest sustained drive of the enemy since operations began in Bataan. Waves of shock troops have attacked almost continuously, without regard to casualties, which have been heavy on both sides. American and Filipino troops, including naval and marine contingents, have stubbornly resisted every advance. Repeated efforts of the enemy to land troops behind our lines have been frustrated by our beach defenses, manned largely by naval and marine personnel.
During the last 24 hours there were no air attacks on Corregidor. The guns of our harbor defenses broke up a concentration of enemy barges and small boats in the vicinity of Patungan on the southern shore of Manila Bay.
Gen. Wainwright has been advised of a successful raid by one of his patrols in Mindanao which captured a Japanese outpost in a surprise attack and forced the withdrawal of several hostile units.

2. There is nothing to report from other areas.