Great Pacific War: A History of the American-Japanese Campaign of 1931-33 by Hector C. Bywater Page B

fury. A wild mêlée now ensued, in which half the American machines were destroyed or sent down out of control, though not without disabling several of their opponents. Ten broke through the enemy formation and sped on towards the transports, coming as they did so under a well-aimed fire from naval anti-aircraft guns, which brought down three more. This left but seven planes in action. Nor were they able to attack under conditions so advantageous as those which their colleagues at Lingayan had turned to such good account on the previous night. Here the transports, being still some distance out, were moving at their best speed: moreover, they had enough sea room to zigzag, and thus hamper the airmen’s aim. This notwithstanding, one of them was sunk and three others were damaged by bombs, so that, at a narrow estimate, a thousand or more of the invading troops had been placed hors de combat . But on the American side nothing more could be done to hinder the landing. With their naval escort still shelling the deserted heights, and under a strong aerial screen, the transports moved in to discharge their living cargoes. Having no opposition to contend with, the disembarkation proceeded with great rapidity.
    At dawn on the 13th at least 30,000 troops were ashore, with most of their light artillery and tanks, and a few hours later the landing was complete. Of the Japanese advance inland, and of the sanguinary action fought at Calamba, which ended in the virtual annihilation of the small American force after a stubborn resistance, it is unnecessary to speak at any length. The defenders did all that brave men could have done; but, outnumbered as they were by ten to one, their position was hopeless from the start. In the two landings at Lingayan and Lamon respectively and in the subsequent fighting ashore, the invaders had suffered, perhaps, 15,000 casualties, a loss out of all proportion to the size of the defending force. But the Japanese still had over 80,000 men in the two armies which were now advancing on Manila simultaneously from north and south.
    During the next few days there were innumerable skirmishes, many of them unrecorded, between the Japanese advance guards and small parties of American sharpshooters. But the inevitable end came on March 19, when General O’Neill, with less than 2,000 fit men left under his command, was forced to capitulate in order to spare Manila the horrors of bombardment. Although severely censured at the time by American critics who were ignorant of the circumstances, this decision was, without doubt, both wise and morally courageous. Further resistance had become absolutely impossible; to have attempted it would not only have led to the useless sacrifice of the few Americans who remained alive, but brought death and destruction to the teeming populace of Manila.
    Five days before the capitulation, the American destroyers and submarines in Manila Bay were ordered to break out to Guam. The majority got through safely, but submarine S 10 was blown up on a Japanese mine, and the destroyer Osborne was chased and sunk by light cruisers. The old cruiser Cleveland , being too slow to run the gauntlet of the blockading fleet, was scuttled by her crew, as was S 19 , whose machinery was out of order. Very little war booty remained for the victors, General O'Neill having ordered the demolition of all military material, such as guns, airplanes, etc., on the eve of the surrender. The Japanese troops, under General Kimura, entered the city on March 20. In recognition of their gallant defence, the American Commander-in-Chief and his staff were permitted to retain their swords.
    On the previous day a Japanese expeditionary force, consisting of two divisions — about 50,000 men — had landed at Sindangan Bay, on the island of Mindanao, and was advancing on Zamboanga. As the garrison of Mindanao did not exceed 5,000 men, including militia and constabulary, no effectual resistance could be offered to the