Detroit evening times., 1945-01-25
THEWORLD
IN REVIEW
BY Mai. Gen.
D. P. Barrows
CEN. KRUGER's Sixth Army

Of Luzon toward Manila.
Obviously its full force can
not be devoted TO a drive on the
capital city oG the islands until
the enemy's strength and in
tentions are revealed in the
great mountain range which oc-
cupies nearly the W h ole of
northwestern Luzon.
This range was called by the
Spaniards the Cordillera Gen.
tral.
1t is over 200 miles in length
and fully 40 miles broad.
II extends from the northern
end of the island to the prov
ince of Lingayen.
At the middle of its length is
the highest summit on Luzon,
Mt. Data, which is the divide"
between swift rivers which
separate the Cordillera into
parallel ranges.
The northern of these rivers
is the Abra, which finally
breaks through the mountain
range into the China Sea at the
important native city of Bigan.
The other river, which flows
southwark from Mt. Data. is
the Agno.
It sweeps out of the noun
tains into its food plain, and
discharges westward into the
gulf of Lingayen.
A third stream, the Bontok,
drains the eastern side of this
range and unites with the River
Cagayan.
THIS Cordillera Central is the
Il most imposing mountain
mass of the Philippines. It's
heights are precipiteHs and
heavily eroded, yet il is the
home of perhaps a quarter mil
lion mountain Malayans, who
are the most interesting primi-
tive people of Indonesia.
These are the "IgorotS."
BY stupendous industry they
have built up the steep slopes
of their mountains into thou
sands of solid terraces, many
of them -Stone-wslled,--
BY primitive engineering
featS they have carried water
by canals and fumes 10 irrigate
these terraces, where they pFae-
tice a highly developed agri-
culture.
On unirrigated slopes they
raise "camotes," or sweet po-
tatoes, and on their terraces,
rice. taro and sugar cane.
They live in hundreds of COM
pact little towns, between
which, at the commencement of
the American period of govern
ment, there was perpetual feud
and warfare.
The trophies of their inces-
SAINT raids on one another were
human heads. These heads were
preserved and were supposed 10
give the possessor spiritual
power.
A LTHOUGH these Igorots
"A checked and baffled the
conquestS Of the Spaniards.
they became readily submissive
TO American authority.
Just why we had such re-
markable luck with these
naturally independent noun
taineers, 1 find it difficult to
explain, but in a few years time
they became cheerfully obedient
10 mere handful OF American
governors and teachers.
Headhunting raids ceased.
Good roads took the place of
almost impossible trails.
In all that made for their own
development, the Igorots were
cooperative, understanding and
clever.
Perhaps nothing accomplished
by Americans in the Philip
pines had more striking success
than the development Of these
mountain peoples.
The southern end Of this
great Cordillera is notable for
beautiful pine forests which be-
gin at an elevation of about
1000 feet.
Throughout the year the
atmosphere is cool and affords
grateful relief from the heat
of the coast and plains.
And here, within Is miles OF
the low plain of Lingayen, or
from the narrow 1locano coast,
which faces the China Sea,
there developed the beautiful
mountain city and summer
capital" of Baguio
IT SEEMS possible that the
L japanese army will choose 10
make its defense in these noun
tains rather than around Manila
Bay.
If their forces evacuate the
city Of Manila they may move
up the Pampanga River and
concentrate in this high region.
One reason for such a choice
for defense is the possibility OF
their receiving supplies, or OF
evacuating, through the wide
river plain Of the Cagayan, east
Of the Cordillera Central. and
by use of the minor port of
Aperri at the mouth of the
Cagayan.