End in Sight

After nine months of bitter fighting, the end of the Philippine campaign was in sight. Even a few Japanese could see it. In three days 38th Division troops took 46 prisoners, probably a record for any equal period in General MacArthur's campaigns. But the rest of the Japs fought doggedly on.

Their best cave-and-pillbox defense lines were cut through. On Luzon last week they lost their grip on Manila's water supply system when 38th Division troops captured Wawa Dam intact. Santa Fe fell, though some 30,000 enemy troops stood ready to fight it out on the fertile floor of the Cagayan Valley. On Mindanao Jap units were being driven back into the unexplored mountain jungles east of the Sayre Highway.

U.S. officers, counting up recent gains, judged that the enemy's final stand could not be far off. Meanwhile the 281st Signal Platoon had discovered yet a new enemy. Armed with automatic shotguns, the signalmen were out hunting falcons. The falcons had been maliciously pouncing on U.S. carrier pigeons.

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