1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

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In Br Eighth Army’s 5 Corps area, Ind 10th Div
reaches crest of M. Cavallo ridge, which extends
northward to Bertinoro, commanding Highway 9;
enemy begins to pull back. Savio R is subsiding and
reinforcements are crossed into 4th Div’s bridgehead.
In Cdn 1 Corps area, Cdn 1st Div maintains
bridgehead across the Savio but is unable to
strengthen it. 11th Brig, Cdn 5th Armd Div, reaches
the Savio to R.
BATTLE OF LEYTE GULF—Major 3-day naval
battle opens as submarines discover and attack elements
of Japanese Combined Fleet steaming toward
the Philippines to eliminate U.S. threat to Leyte.
Surface vessels and carrier aircraft of Third and
Seventh Fleets and Japanese land-based planes later
join in the action.
LEYTE—U.S. Sixth Army: At ceremony in Tacloban,
Gen MacArthur restores Philippine Civil Government
under President Sergio Osmena. In
X Corps area, 8th Cav of 2d Brig, 1st Cav Div,
charged with task of securing control of San Juanico
Strait between Leyte and Samar and cutting off
Japanese movement, begins operations toward this
end. Rcn party moves by LCI from Tacloban
through San Juanico Strait to Babatngon, on N
coast, and on return reconnoiters ferry termini that
connect Leyte and Samar, the Leyte terminus being
at Guintiguian and the Samar terminus at La Paz,
without incident. Other elements of the regiment
move to Diit R and secure bridge in preparation for
drive on Santa Cruz, on Carigara Bay. Japanese
party raids Palo at night, using Filipinos to deceive
Americans, but is dispersed and leave behind 60
dead. 1st Bn, 34th Inf, begins attack on Hill C,
blocking passage into Leyte Valley on N side of
Highway 2 at W edge of Palo, a strongly defended
feature. 2d Bn, 19th Inf, reaches what it believes to
be crest of Hill B, which also blocks entrance into
Leyte Valley. 2d Sq of 12th Cav, 1st Cav Div,
relieves 1st Bn, 19th Inf, on Hill 522; 1st Bn of 19th
Inf is ordered to attack Hill 85, S of Palo. XXIV
Corps area, 96th Div is facing acute supply shortage,
which limits forward movement. 383d Inf, less
1st Bn, attacking at noon, crosses Guinarona R and
reaches positions W of Pikas. 382d is largely engaged
in patrolling. Tanks of 767th Tank Bn act as spearhead
for 7th Div as it continues drive on Burauen
in effort to take San Pablo airfield. 17th Inf ( — ),
reinf by 2d Bn of 184th, leads troops, attacking
through 32d and 184th Regts, which then follow.
Tanks arrive at Burauen and scatter enemy forces.
Infantrymen drive through Julita and San Pablo and
seize San Pablo airfield.
PALAUS—AT and Cannon Cos relieve infantry
of responsibility for eliminating the few remaining
enemy on Angaur.
[ 24 OCTOBER 1944 ]
24 October
WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: In Cdn
First Army’s 2 Corps area, methodical reduction of
Breskens Pocket continues. Cdn 2d Div begins drive
along Beveland Isthmus, leaving containing forces
at its neck.
12th Army Group: Front remains generally static.
6th Army Group: In U.S. Seventh Army’s XV
Corps area, 44th Div, committing 324th Inf, completes
relief of 79th Div. In VI Corps area, 3d Div
commits its full strength to drive on St Dié as 30th
Inf, having moved N, joins in attack to right of
7th. 179th Inf, 45th Div, takes town of Mortagne,
on enemy side of Mortagne R.
In Fr 1st Army area, Gen de Lattre issues secret
instructions to 1st Corps for offensive toward Belfort,
INDEPENDENCE. 1st Corps is to be strongly reinf for
the operation. Extensive deceptive measures are
taken to conceal place of projected attack and take
enemy by surprise.
ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army area, M.
Termine falls to S African 6th Armd Div. In II
Corps area, Germans regain Vedriano and capture
most of Co G, 351st Inf, 88th Div, there. 88th and
85th Divs continue attack on right flank of corps
during night 24–25 but make little headway. In Br
13 Corps area, 78th Div consolidates positions on
M. Spadura. 61st Brig, 6th Armd Div, pushes toward
M. Taverna, reaching Orsara.
In Br Eighth Army’s 5 Corps area, Ind 10th Div
drives quickly toward Ronco R on S flank of corps;
4th Div advances its left flank to road junction of
Madonna di Cerbiano and its right, along Highway
9, to Castellaccio. Cdn 1 Corps pursues retreating
enemy toward Ronco R.
CBI—Theater is split in two theaters, India-
Burma Theater (IBT) and China Theater (CT), to
be headed respectively by Lt Gen Daniel I. Sultan
and Maj Gen Albert C. Wedemeyer. Gen Chennault
is temporarily in charge of China Theater, pending
assumption of command by Gen Wedemeyer.
BATTLE OF LEYTE GULF—Seventh Fleet units
engage and destroy Japanese naval force moving
against Leyte via Surigao Strait, night 24–25. Third
Fleet elements, after crippling another Japanese
naval force, moving toward San Bernardino Strait,
sails northward to attack enemy decoy force that has
been sighted, thus leaving San Bernardino Strait
unguarded.
LEYTE—U.S. Sixth Army: In X Corps area,
1st Sq of 7th Cav, 1st Cav Div, moves by water to
Babatngon and sets up defense perimeter, from
which patrols move along N coast. Tr C, reinf, of
8th Cav, after delay because of Japanese air attack
on shipping in Tacloban harbor, which causes minor
damage, sails to La Paz, Samar; establishes beach-