Detroit evening times., 1945-01-15
|THEWORLD
IN REVIEW
Maj. Gen.
D. P. Barrows


CEN. MACARTHUR, in land
VI ing Kruger's Sixth Army in
Lingayen Gulf, is prepared un-
doubtedly TO meet all the
strength that the japanese can
concentrate.
We may expect our army to
push southwark for the de-
cisive battle.
Macarthur has perfect liberty
10 move on Manila rapidly, or,
as an alternative. TO gain air
fields south of Lingayen Gulf,
and deliberately wear down and
extinguish the japanese forces.
If the Japanese concentrate
and give battle, we may expect
a great fight, for Macarthur
will not let slip an opportunity
10 annihilate the enemy army,
which is always the true OBJ
jective.
On landing at Leyte, Mac
Arthur estimated enemy sol
diers in the Philippines at 225,-
900. He destroyed more than
half that number in the Leyte
campaign. But the japanese
have abundant army reserves,
and may have succeeded in
landing strong reinforcements
from FOrmOSa or japan.
WE CAN only conjecture as
w 10 what battles await our
Sixth Army, but we do know
the characteristics of the CEN
tral valley that lies between
Lingayen and Manila, through
which our army will advance.
The terrain is broad, fer
tile valley, 120 miles In length.
The only natural obstacles to
an advancing army are Its
rivers.
The first is the Agno, which
drains the south half of the
great northern Cordillera,
enters the plain from the north,
then curves in a fish hook
around the shores of Lingayen
Gulf.
During the rainy season enor-
nous floods come down the
Agno and inundate the plain
south of the gulf, / once rode
from the town of Mangaterem
to the Dagupan-Manila Railroad
at Bayambang, just after a ty-
phoon.
had two mounted soldiers
with me. For nearly 10 miles
the flood, Slowly flowing across
the road and through the cane,
was up 10 the bellies of our
horses. Repeatedly, where the
road crossed depression or a
stream. our horses swan for
hundreds of yards.
An inundation like this is an
obstacle for any army, but the
dry season is now on.
THE Tarlak River, farther
Il south, will be no particular
obstacle. 1t is small. rapid
stream that stays within its
rocky bed.
But the Rio Pampanga, in the
south, has a deltaic formation
as it streams into Manila Bay.
IT has numerous mouths and
water courses surrounded by
the characteristic swamps Of
the nipa palm.
Up to the Rio Pampanga the
field of approach is broad, and
1t will be dry.
But in the Pampanga Delta,
the lines of communication are
narrow and to a large degree
artificial.
There is, moreover, one per-
manent inundation in this area.
It is the Kandaba swamp. The
line from this swamp, stretch
ing TO the Zambales Mountains
on the west, is a natural de-
fense line, and the Japanese
may choose il for their defense
of Manila.
CTOTSENBURG is about 20
~ miles from Lingayen Gulf.
To this point think Kruger's
army will advance rapidly. The
routes follow the railroad all
the way. The last so miles to
Manila across the Pampanga
Delta mphatic ally is the
hardest.
Thus it seems to me that
whether Macarthur advances
to Manila, or lets the city and
it's surroundings deteriorate
under air attack and isolation,
may depend upon the Japanese
attitude and defensive strength,
when our army reaches this
area.
Manila. / would say, has
ceased to be an important mill
tary objective, for II ii should
be taken. the japanese posses
sion of Corregidor will still pre-
vent its use as port.
Political considerations, the
effect on the morale of the lib
Grafton of Manila, and the duty
of freeing American civilians and
war prisoners may influence
MacArthur's decision.
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KnowIedoe Test