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When the first land-based planes appeared from New Guinea, U.S. troops dived for foxholes, thinking they were Japs, then, seeing the U.S. markings, tossed their helmets and bellowed for joy.
Expansion. Immediately north of Leyte, on the larger island of Samar (5,040 square miles to Leyte's 2,713), U.S. troops landed without opposition; the Japs had evidently—and fruitlessly—withdrawn their troops from Samar to Leyte. In tanks and trucks the Americans raced 45 miles up the west coast road of Samar, captured the capital, Catbalogan, kept going. Samar was soon "completely in American hands." President Osmeña said he expected to have its civilian government functioning in two weeks.
From the northwestern tip of Samar, only 15 miles across San Bernardino Strait, lies Luzon, largest of the Philippine Islands, site of Manila, Bataan and Corregidor. When and if MacArthur chose to cross over to Luzon, he was not likely to find the Japanese the pushovers they were on Leyte. But the reconquest of the Philippines last week seemed much less of a problem than it had the day before his troops poured ashore at Leyte.