Chapter 2

One of the larger airraids by the Japanese consisted of 3 flights and 27 bombers forming a total of 81.  The U.S.S. Canopus was moored alongside Manila's Pier 7, and experienced many raids.  She took a 500 lb. bomb down her shaft alley, wrecking her engines and putting her shaft in such a shape, that after repairs of bomb damage, the ship could only be made to go 6 or 8 knots at the most. Consequently, she would make an easy prey for the Japanese planes or submarines.  The grand old Canopus was selected to stay and help any U.S. submarines damaged that would be put in Manila.

USS SEALION (SS195) Lost 25 December 1941

The U.S.S. Sea Lion and another submarine were in Cavite Navy Yard being overhauled when a large force of Japanese heavy and medium bombers raided the yard and damaged the U.S. submarine, Sea Lion so badly that she had to be blown up.  The other submarine had hundreds of shrapnel holes in her hull, but crewmen from the submarine tender U.S.S. Canopus succeeded in repairing the damaged hull under trying conditions and frequent air raids.  The repaired submarine was able to reach Australia.  The men in the Cavite yard force and also of tenders around the yard did a magnificent job under terrible working conditions trying to get all craft out of the yard that would float and could be towed to other docks not blown up.  Many old time Navy men were lost in one of the largest air raids on Cavite Navy Yard.  Thousands of Filipinos lost their lives and many service personnel were killed.  The Filipinos were totally unprepared in regards to the proper procedure for taking cover from Japanese bombers.  The raids were so large and swift in nature that the Cavite Navy Yard was almost blown out of existence. The enemy flew from altitudes varying from 15,000 to 23,000 feet and did a thorough job.  It was many days before the huge fires started by bombs burned themselves out.

A few days after the raid, the Commissary store was salvaged by various ship’s crews from ships in the harbor, which consisted of nothing bigger than gunboats and minesweepers.  The rest of the ships had left for parts unknown in the earlier part of December 1941.

Right after Christmas, high officials decided to abandon Manila and Cavite as the Japanese were very close to Manila and had sent messages to U.S. Army headquarters demanding that the city be surrendered to Japanese forces.  Finally, after a consultation by the high command, Manila was declared to be an open city.  Even then, the enemy still bombed Manila and killed many Filipinos.  All guns were ordered to be abandoned and civilians had been requested to offer no armed resistance when the Japanese forces entered the city.  The U.S. Army had to abandon a large lot of 8inch rifles and over 1,000,000 tons of powder and ammunition which were located in Sunset Beach.  To destroy this large amount of ammunition would have been an impossibility as the explosions would have blown Manila right off the map.  Also to try to transport the huge 8inch rifles, weighing hundreds of tons, would not have been possible as there was no ship available to take them to Corregidor.

It was said that Corregidor had food and ammunition to last for 20 years.  It was also said that no enemy ships would ever be able to get by the Fortress of Corregidor, which later proved to be true. Not one ship got into Manila Harbor till Corregidor had surrendered.  By losing Manila, the United States Forces Far East lost millions of dollars in supplies and equipment that could not be replaced.  The Manila harbor and the shores of Cavite and Bataan were studded with wrecked and burning ships.  United States Forces Far East retreated to Bataan, Corregidor and other small islands.  General MacArthur’s headquarters were changed to Corregidor and there, he directed plans for the American and Filipino forces to fight against the “Devil Dwarfs” (the Japanese).

On January 2, 1942, the Japanese occupied Manila and many Filipinos were killed while the women were forced to entertain the Japanese soldiers.  The Filipinos were frequently put to death by being dragged to death through the streets of Manila.  The Japanese love their bayonet and like to use it.  Many Filipinos felt the cold steel passing through their bodies.  The Japanese command decided to take over the Y.M.C.A.  Secretaries were driven out of the building and were not allowed to take anything with them.  All contents of the building were either destroyed or stolen by the Japanese.  All records were lost, except the records of safekeeping deposits which the brave Y.M.C.A. secretaries had the foresight to make lists of and at the risk of their lives hid from the Japanese all during their internment at Santo Tomas and Los Banos. This was a very noble thing to do as it enable many servicemen to claim their deposits after the war though probably most of the depositors would have lost their claim tickets.

Many retired servicemen in the Philippines lost their homes, cars, businesses and their families through Japanese bombing raids.  The Japanese rounded up all American nationals and they were put in various camps.  Some were treated fairly; others were subject to brutalities.  Winning Manila, the enemy decided to stage gala celebrations and parades in honor of their great victory.  All Filipinos were forced to attend under pain of death.  Plenty of pro-Japanese were available, and they cooperated to the fullest extent.  Later, many collaborators were found with their throats slashed in various alleys.  All the banks were seized and later reopened under Japanese bankers who extolled the Filipino people to place their savings in the new banks.  Also all theaters were required to keep open day and night and the best seats were reserved for the Japanese military.  The famous million dollar Jai Alai stadium was taken over and remodeled for entertainment purposes to suit the enemy.  Shops were entered upon and the proprietors handed over goods for the worthless occupation money. To refuse, meant severe punishment or possible death.  Most of the Filipinos hid their savings, but a few put their funds in the Japanese banks.  After a while, an order was issued by the Japanese military requiring all Filipinos to change their currency for Japanese military yen at the local banks.

The Japanese soldiers gorged themselves on food and drink and all Filipino girls were forced to entertain any wishes of the drunken and brutal solders, who were more than beasts.  Nearly all the railroad engineers, streetcar operators and other public utilities employees had fled into the mountains and transportation was practically nil.  The Japanese military had a plan to bring them back and that plan would be put into effect later.  All lights in Manila burned brightly every night as the enemy was confident that they had destroyed all American aircrafts and did not anticipate an air raid.  Through Filipinos who were pro-Japanese, they had ascertained that the U.S. forces had only five or six P40’s left and would only be able to carry a small bomb load and that surely Japanese fire would destroy them if they ever tried to bomb Japanese held Manila.

American gunboats comprising the Navy Inshore Patrol, consisting of the U.S.S. Luzon, U.S.S. Oahu and U.S.S. Mindanao commanding, frequently observed the enemy with powerful night glasses and noted all the big marquee lights on and the music which could plainly be heard.

Every day the former radio station, Manila, would broadcast to Corregidor and play songs intended for men on Bataan, Corregidor and other American held forts.  One of the songs was entitled “Waiting For Ships That Never Came In” and speeches were made by captured Filipino soldiers entreating Corregidor to surrender now, or eventually be annihilated.

Day after day the voice of a Filipino Lieutenant would tell his story of how nice he was being treated by the Japanese Army.  We soon found out that the Lieutenant making the speeches, who was attached to the Filipino Constabulary, was not in person on the radio station, but was speaking from a phonograph recording, as one day, something went haywire and his voice started to run down so quickly that the recording was silenced.  This resulted in the canceling of any more talks by the Filipino lieutenant.  After that, the song entitled “Waiting For The Ships That Never Came In”, was played often.

Airraids came upon Corregidor, Bataan and other forts with increased violence.  The Japanese air force flew at altitudes from 15,000 to 27,000 feet at different times.  Cab Caben, which was Bataan headquarters and motor pool, suffered heavy bombings day after day and the roads leading from Marvailes and Bataan front lines were badly damaged.

The U.S.A. airfield located at Real Point, about nine miles from Corregidor, was very heavily bombed by Japanese air force consisting of from 20 to 50 medium bombers.  Only five P40’s were using this airfield, and were never standing in the open as they were carefully concealed in the sugarcane fields.  Once a P40 came in to land and was just over the field when Japanese medium bombers unloaded.  Great clouds of smoke and dust rose from the field. Observers thought, “Well, we now have one less P40 in our air force”, but in a few minutes, the lone P40 came into view climbing for the Japanese fighters above in the sky.  A great cheer went up and soon the one P40 was engaged in a dogfight with six Japanese fighter planes.  While he was engaged, four more P40’s joined a now furious fight.  It wasn’t long before all the Japanese fighters were shot down without any loss to our air force.

A great number of Chinese and Filipinos were staying in a camp at Cab Caben.  One day they were caught off guard by Japanese bombers and a lot of them were killed and wounded.  After that, the rest of the Chinese and Filipino refugees were brought to Corregidor for safety.  Filipino scouts were playing a great role in the fight against the Devil Dwarfs, and were taking a heavy toll.  At 10:00 A.M. on March 27, 1942, a Filipino scout came aboard the fantail of the U.S.S. Oahu, former Yangtze river gunboat now attached to Navy Inshore Patrol to see the ship’s cook.  He offered to trade twelve little brown ears strung on a wire for food and American cigarettes.  He said that if I wanted more ears he would be delighted to get them.  I declined his offer and traded cigarettes for a bolo and some coconuts.  Most of the time Filipino scouts would bring back proof of their killings.  In a pinch, Filipino scouts were cool and magnificent.

In the Pukow Hill charge, a naval battalion led by the late Commander Birdget was engaged in a furious battle and about one half of the men were wounded as a result of the Japanese heavy fire power.  For a while, it looked like the charge would end in retreat, but the Filipino scouts jumped into the fray and saved the day by driving the enemy into retreat.  Japanese snipers were getting to be quite a nuisance and the naval battalion men decided to do something about it.  Twelve gauge shotguns were used and the men, in staggered positions, walked towards the suspected areas.  They thoroughly sprayed all the trees and bushes and the result was sixteen dead Japanese.  The Japanese forces on Bataan were continually supplied with fresh reinforcements and also were supplied with cold beer and other comforts, while our troops were suffering from lack of food and physically exhausted.  Many times supplies intended for front line troops were diverted, or after landing the stores ashore to be picked up by motor transports, the enemy would manage to bomb the trucks.  Japanese dive bombers flew over American lines and dropped pamphlets, filthy postcards, and crude drawings supposedly sent by America Prisoners of War in Manila who had been captured with the surrender of Manila.  They were supposed to be having the time of their lives after being treated royally by the enemy.  Of course, the fighting Americans and Filipinos ignored this kind of propaganda.  Before long, pamphlets were dropped to front line troops and on them was printed in English, the following: “American soldiers, arise kill your officers cease fighting and suffering.  Give yourself up!  Your officers are sacrificing you to preserve their own skins!  They care nothing for you.  While you are starving, they are gaining weight!”

This propaganda only succeeded in making our men fight harder.  We had been bolstered time after time by the Voice Of Freedom, which always sent by radio the following: “This is the Voice of Freedom, broadcasting from somewhere in the Philippines.”  In reality, the broadcasting was located in Malinta Tunnel.  One broadcast announced that 100 ships were on the way from America to help the nearly exhausted troops.  Help was on its way at last!  Everybody  felt really good after that was announced, but while on its way, the large force of ships decided to go to Australia as the Philippine situation was very bad and due to Japanese domination on the Asiatics, it would be futile to sacrifice any more men or ships.

The American forces were outnumbered four and one half to one. The Japanese forces were thought to number about 250,000 and the American forces, including Navy, Marines and U.S. Army, plus the Filipinos numbered about 60,000.  With no reserves for reinforcements or rest, the American gunboats played a great part in the fight against the Devil Dwarfs.

Sometime in the month of March, 1942, orders were received from Corregidor to the gunboats, Mindanao, Luzon and the U.S.S. Oahu, to rendezvous in the vicinity of Real Point, about nine and one half miles from Corregidor.  They were to wait for darkness and then, with darkened ships, proceed to Manila and Sangley Point.  Their mission was to try and found out what activities were being carried out by the Japanese.  They were to also skirt the Bataan shoreline and watch for any forces leaving or coming into Bataan.

About 2200 (10:00 PM), the gunboats were about 500 yards offshore [rom Sangley Point, and through nightglasses it was observed that nothing had been done to repair the damage caused by Japanese bombings and the American scorched earth policy.  Previous to abandonment of Sangley Point by naval forces, all installations had been destroyed.  Satisfied with the findings, Captain Hoeffel of the U.S.S. Mindanao, decided to proceed to Manila breakwater. Here again, through powerful night glasses, neon lighting of various establishments at full blast were observed.  Also, Japanese Army trucks could be seen moving around but never to the outer harbor.  Had they done so, the gunboats would have been immediately fired on and possibly sunk.  Nearly all the crew knew this but were willing to take the chance.  All these men had formerly been stationed on the Yangtze River Patrol in China and were fully acquainted with all the Japanese tricks, deceptions and their cruelties so they were itching to have a battle.