Detroit evening times., 1945-08-26
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The crack of exploding artillery shells-Japanese
plenty American carefully measured burstscame
the tWOme stretch of water with stinging sharpness
A gauze-lke fog to Philippine nights in IL
early weeks of March, all but hid fiery Baaan from tn
rugged strength of COrregidor.
A At the small boat landing near obombed Monkey
Point cocLy little peninsula the southeast tip of Cor
regdOr acayacade of l. 8 Army earsghts eNtihgaishd
slipped down the steep road to the pier.
From them, and into the two sleek, camouflaged
motor torpedo boats floating gently at their moor
ings, stepped be-starred party of American Off
the tactical brains behind Americas brilliant
delaying action in the Philippines
The go aboard tall officer wearing
the four stars general the gOdembazoned hat OF
marshal the Philippines Army, and the burden oi
leader of Americas first losing military campaign
CEN MACARTHUR by order of the President of the United
VI combined chiefs of staff Of the United
Nations was about leave island army and command
which will live forever the history of this country.
AS he turned to climb into his place in 1t John d. Bulk
leys gallant torpedo craft Macarthur swung back suddenly
10 speak once again to the porty assured man watching W
small bockaderunning fotia make sailing preparations
this the two stars of major general
His George Moore and he was commander OF the
island fortress of beseged Corregidor
Macarthur casped Moore's hand ferven embrace and
his pale but coselyshaven face he said
Don't give up the FORT George. I'll be back
History that Gen Moore 1t. Gen. Jonathan VAIN
wright and and of the Coregdor Bataan
did give up the fight until there no more
shells food, medical supplies not until
fallen and Corregdor hell in which bombs
Japanese guns touched off destruction
seconds of hour of day not until that
pocmarked Monkey Point to ovewhem the garrison OF Cor
regidor
Then and only then the fort given up.
HISTORY knows too that Macarthur did back and
that the American flag again flies the fort George
Moore and his fought to the last to defend.
pledge, 81 came through and shall return,
kept
The tortured and starved colony of Americans,
the thousands of folk of Cabanatuan, Bilibed Santo
Tomas and Los Banos were saved
great army, the imperial Japanese forces of Luzon
in
campaign of the entire Pacific
But MacArthurs Philippines strategy the strategy which
resulted redemption of the islands and their peoples,
the reesabshment of American prestige in the Far East and
major Japanese bases literally by the
was spectacular in scope:
1t was aimed at the annihation, through block
Ade and attrition, of the entire Japanese empire
TODAY with japan defeated nation less than six months
after the capiulaton Germany and than
before the armed might in the European theater was
completely shifted the Pacific the strategy
of Gen Macarthur has been overwhelmingly vndicaed.
bold strokes foreseen by Macarthur nearly
three have been eentesy executed by his com
mand.
The technique timing deception the concept of
mobile ast-movng small forces striking numerically superior
enemy garrsons the strategy of bypassng and of soang
the tactic of using power formidable combination OF
bombers artillery pieces and longrange annaval weapons
All those haUe been the Macarthur doctrines
of Oar, and Uictory for America and her allies has
been in small measure the reword Of such strategy
DUT of final victory of even local victory Macarthur
ID stygan black night March, 1912,
his torpedo boat sped south toward rendezvous with
American bombers at airdrome the island of
Mndanao
That the Philippines all he felt reasonably
certain.
radoed directive his pocket directive from
higher headquarters specified he to lead great Pacific
offensive from Australia.
There might yes. there might be time relieve the hard
pressed forces of the Far East their death stand Basan
and Corregidor
What he could do and when he could do il, Macarthur
knew only well depended entirely the strength of Allied
forces then presumably being marshaed in Australia.
Perhaps the salt his face and stained his
disheveed khaki he mentally reviewed the five grim months
Of delaying action Of defensive and Of holding of and
Of disappointment
II would not be hard for him to remember the
stark white sheet of paper with the army decoded
message which had arrived less than a week after
Pearl Harbor-the few words that had told much;
The Philippines could not and tOouid not be
reinforced.
Virtual destruction Of the United States fleet prevented
attempt at either reinforcement esuppy except through
relatively Intellectual submarine expeditions.
MacArthurs forces would have to fight and die where
they
Only Macarthur and few Of his trusted senior officers
knew that during the trying days Of January Feb
ruary.