Evening star., 1942-05-17

fighting by the loss Of the British
capital ships Prince Of Wales and
Repulse.
Japs Land Troops on Luzon.
Conveyed by a fleet which in
cluded capital ships and airplane
carriers, the Japanese dispatched
a powerful expeditionary force
to the Philippine Islands. After
several feints and abortive at
tempts at widely separated
points, they were able to land
troops in the northern and
southern extremities of Luzon.
These landings enabled them
to seize airfields from which their
bombardment and pursuit avia-
ton could operate against our
installations. Subsequently, dur
ing the dark Of the moon and in
the face Of determined resistance
by our defense forces and subma-
rines, the enemy landed in num-
bers at Lingayen Gulf, northwest
of Manila.
About two-thirds of the sub
marines of the Asiatic Fleet were
used to oppose these landing
operations and in spite Of strong
anti-submarine measures, they
succeeded in sinking a number OF
enemy vessels and troop-laden
landing barges. Heavy lombard
ment aircraft which had been
ferried to the Philippines prior
to the war also took a heavy toll.
It was only by sheer weight Of
numbers and in the face OF heavy
casualties that the Japanese
were able to land and push back
our beach defenses.
Long standing tactical studies
Of Luzon indicated the peninsula
Of Bataan. adjacent to the forti-
fled island of Corregidor. as the
terrain most suited for pro-
longed defense. Although this
plan involved evacuation of the
city of Manila, the retention OF
the fortified approaches to Ma
Mia Bay denied the use Of the
Philippines greatest port to an
invader as long as Corregidor
held. The operations then re-
solved themselves into the mat
ter of delaying the Japanese ad-
vance to the final defensive posi-
ton and making it as costly as
possible. This movement was
skillfully accomplished by the
American Filipino forces under
Gen. MacArthur's command.
Planes Ordered Out.
As the carefully timed with
drawal towards Bataan Penin-
sula progressed, landing fields for
heavy bombardment airplanes
became unavailable and these
airplanes were sent to Australia.
The Navy bombers were sent to
the Netherlands Indies. Although
beset with difficulties, these Army
and Navy aircraft were able, by
operating from the new bases,
to continue the support Of the
Philippines.
However, with the enemy In
local control of the air, Manila
Bay was rendered insecure for
ships of any type and submarines
could not be serviced, so Ad-
miral Hart withdrew the re-
mainder of the Asiatic Fleet to
the south, leaving behind a few
auxiliary vessels and several
small, but highly effective, motor
torpedo boats.
Covered by the guns of Cor
regidor and other harbor de-
fenses, the small craft controlled
the waters of Manila Bay and
the fast torpedo boats constituted
an important element in the
Philippine defense by exacting a
heavy toll on Japanese shipping.
Many of the vessels which were
withdrawn to the south we're
subsequently engaged in the
battle of the Java Sea. The few
pursuit aircraft which were able
to operate from Bataan gave a
remarkable account of them
selves and on one occasion made
a devastating bombing attack on
japanese shipping and installa-
tions in Subic Bay, though the
planes had not been constructed
for this purpose.
Efforts to Supply Bataan Fail.
Established in his defensive
position on Bataan Peninsula,
Gen. Macarthur was able to
stabilize his front and beat of
repeated and determined attacks
which the Japanese made in
strong numbers. However. the
tightly drawn naval and air
screen which the Japanese were
able to place around the island
of Luzon made delivery Of food
and ammunition to the Ameri-
can forces difficult.
With respect to food, the prob
lem was further complicated by
the presence on Bataan Of thou
sands of noncombatants who had
moved into the areas with the
American forces. In January the
effect of the blockade was felt
and the Bataan garrison was