Evening star., 1945-02-04

listening post.
AS the underground and guerrilla move
ments grew and increased in importance,
Gen. Macarthur sent members Of his
staff to Camp Cook and Camp Beale
in California where two Filipino regi-
ments were being trained. A careful Sc
lection of commissioned and noncom-
missioned officers was made and these
men were landed by submarine to aid in
training the guerrillas for their attacks
and to co-ordiate the work of the un-
derground and the fighting forces.
They taught members of the under
ground who were impressed as laborers
to build airfields, for instance, how to
plant mines and grenades so that when
enemy planes landed they were wrecked
by the explosions and the landing strips
were temporarily put out of commits
sion. They were instructed in the tech
niques of mining and destroying bridges.
They expanded the system of mobile
radio equipment so that the enemy
found it difficult to locate the transmit
ters which kept Gen. Macarthur In
touch with the situation.
Fourth Of Population Aids.
The developments on the island Of
Luzon perhaps best illustrate the effec-
tiveness Of the combined underground
and guerrilla movements. Luzon has q
population of 5000 900. OF this popula-
ton at least 1000 900 are actively en-
gagged in one or the other of the resist
ance movements.
Gen. MacArthur's magnificent STRAIT
egy, which has followed by sea the Rus
sian system by land of striking where
the enemy is not prepared and circling
around behind strong points to isolate
them. has paid dividends in tremendous
accomplishment with minimum of loss.
The Filipinos will never forget what
has been done by the American Navy
and the American Army. They Will
never forget. also, what their own pa
triots have accomplished to make these
victories more easily obtained than II
there had not been that cooperation
from within.
After the securing Of Leyte and
Samar Islands Gen. Macarthur ordered
the landing on Mindoro and shortly
thereafter the invasion and securing
Of Martinique, small island between
Mindoro and Luzon.
The enemy had perhaps expected that
Cebu and Panay might have been next
objectives or Mindanao to the south,
and was therefore not ready to defend
Mindoro and Martinique. The under
ground knew of the conditions and
the guerrillas were ready to strike at
the appropriate moment, so the land
ings came on Mindoro and Marinduque
165,0oo Japs in Luzon.
Immediately 1t. Gen. Yamashita, the
Japanese commander in the Philippines,
faced a serious problem He had some
5000 troops on Luzon, by no means
an oversupply If the next thrust should
be from Martinique to Luzon. He did
not foresee the bold stroke by which
Gen. Macarthur was to take his huge
invasion convoy west of Luzon for q
landing in Lingayen Bay, where the
Japanese themselves found their best
point Of entry. Instead he moved the
greater part Of his troops southwark.
This movement was observed by the
underground and the information given
to Gen. Macarthur Acting upon the
advice, the American convoy struck at
Lingayen Bay and by the thousands
American troops with tremendous sup
plies and weapons moved ashore with
out the loss of a man. A foothold was
obtained, which was quickly expanded
into occupation Of important areas con-
trolling the path to Manila
The movement inland and southwark
was expedited by information to the
landing commanders as to which roads
were guarded, which were open to
quick advance.
Steadily the Americans moved for
ward to capture of important Clark
Field as wonder grew at the lack Of
resistance. But the underground knew
why there was so little opposition. The
Japs were out of position. Everything
which could be done to hamper the
efforts Of Yamashita to move north.
ward was done. Bridges were DESTROYED.
roads blocked, supply lines harassed by
the guerrillas, and, most important, in
formation was gathered concerning the
direction and strength Of Japanese
troop movements.
Further north, where the japanese
waited In vain for help, the enemy ned
to the hills as the Americans moved In
land. The exact date when they win
meet their fate Is not known, but the
nature Of that fate Is ia no doubt.
Where those who surround and outnum-
ber also have complete knowledge Of
every move taken and contemplated,
morale suffers. That Of the japanese
throughout the Philippines now says
badly.
When the history Of the war u finally
written bright page win be devoted to
the Filipino underground and guerrilla
movement. That page will be bright be-
cause Of all nations holding territory IN
the Pacific and in Asia the United States
stands out alone in the intelligent treat
ment Of native populations. Unex-
plotted. aided and guided to self-Eule BY
the United States. the Filipinos kept the
faith throughout the dark months which
followed Bataan. They knew their
friends would Be back and thsy never
wayefsd n their loyal Efforts = hasten
the rstsrn.