What's Iraq really like today?

[AnotherTraveler]

The Philippine Department

Prior to the establishment of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, in 1935, the United States Army had maintained a force in the Philippines. This force was composed mostly of native Filipinos and led by US officers, including a US general. This force was the Philippine Department. With the exception of the Philippine Constabulary, the region had no other forces.

The National Defense Act of 1935

In 1935, President-elect Manuel L. Quezon convinced Chief of Staff of the United States Army General Douglas MacArthur to act as the military adviser to the Commonwealth of the Philippines. MacArthur was given the title "Military Advisor to the Commonwealth Government" and tasked with establishing a system of national defense, for the Philippines, by 1946. For a time, MacArthur would also act as the Field Marshal of the Philippine Army.

The National Defense Act of 1935 acted upon the advice of the Office of the Military Advisor and the military devoted 1936 to construction, training, and organization. The Philippine Constabulary and the Philippine Department's Philippine Scouts were used to create the core of the new Philippine Army.

World War II Begins

In September of 1940, Germany, Italy, and Japan had allied under the Tripartite Pact. In July of 1940, the US banned the shipment of aviation gasoline, to Japan, and by 1941, shipments of scrap iron, steel, gasoline, and other materials had practically ceased. Meanwhile, American economic support to China began to increase.

In April of 1941, Japan and the USSR signed a neutrality pact and Japan increased pressure on the French and Dutch colonies, in Southeast Asia, to cooperate in economic matters. On July 22, 1941, Japanese forces occupied the naval and air bases of southern Indochina. The Philippines were almost completely surrounded.

US Army Chief of Staff General George C. Marshall states, "Adequate reinforcements for the Philippines, at this time, would have left the United States in a position of great peril, should there be a break in the defense of Great Britain."

The Far Eastern Command

On July 25, US Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson requested that US President Franklin D. Roosevelt issue orders calling the military forces of the Commonwealth into active service for the United States. Stimson explains, "All practical steps should be taken to increase the defensive strength of the Philippine Islands." The following day, President Roosevelt froze all Japanese assets within the United States and issued the orders to absorb the forces of the Philippine Army. That same day, the War Department created the US Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) command, with jurisdiction over the Philippine Department and the military forces of the Commonwealth. At the same time, MacArthur was recalled to active duty and designated as the commander of USAFFE.

Naval Forces

At the outbreak of war, the United States Navy's Asiatic Fleet was stationed at Cavite Naval Base, in Manila Bay. Also stationed here was the Offshore Patrol.

Mobilization and Reinforcement

In July of 1941, MacArthur was informed that it was now the policy of the United States to defend the Philippines, whereas, the goal had formerly been to merely train the Philippine Army. According to Secretary of War Stimson, the success of the B-17 heavy bomber, in the European Theatre of Operations, had convinced the War Department that a striking force of such bombers could be used, against the Japanese, from bases within the Philippines.

MacArthur ordered mobilizaton of the Philippine Army, beginning on September 1. Elements of 10 Pilipino reserve divisions were to be called into the service of the United States Army by December 15. It was also necessary to quickly construct housing for 50,000. To each of these divisions were assigned 40 US Army officers and 20 American or Philippine Scout noncommissioned officers, who served as instructors.

The reinforcment of US troops was expected to be completed by April of 1942 and the reinforcement of Pilipino troops was expected to be completed by July. Mobilization and assimilation of Pilipino forces into the US Army was incomplete (and none of the antitank battalions were ever organized), by the time of the Japanese invasion, in December. However, a force of 100,000+ Pilipinos was raised.

On August 14, Brigadier General Leonard T. Gerow argued that the Philippine Department could not resist a Japanese attack. He thus recommended that the Philippines be reinforced with antiaircraft artillery, modern aircraft, and tanks. On August 16, MacArthur was informed that, by September 5, he could expect the 200th Coast Artillery Regiment (AA), the 194th Tank Battalion (less Company B), and a company of the 17th Ordnance Battalion.

On September 5, Army Chief of Staff, General Marshall asked MacArthur if he wanted a National Guard Division, probably the 41st, MacArthur replied that he did not need any additional divisions. MacArthur states, "Equipment and supplies are essential. If these steps are taken, I am confident that no further major reinforcements will be necessary." MacArthur was promished more aircraft, guns, and equipment. Marshall explains, "I have directed that the forces in the Philippines be placed in highest priority for equipment." MacArthur responds, "With such backing, the development of a completely adequate defense force will be rapid." During September and October, in addition to the above-mentioned reinforcements, MacArthur received the 192nd Tank Battalion and 75 self-propelled 75mm gun mounts.

MacArthur strove to reorganize the Philippine Division, from a square formation, into a triangular formation. This plan involved shipping an American infantry regiment, and 2 artillery battalions, to the Philippines. This would free Philippine Scouts for other positions (such as Harbor Defenses or complementing forces at Forts McKinley and Stotsenburg) and allow USAFFE control of 2 American combat teams. These plans also involved the formation of 4 tactical commands, each of corps level, along with various additional support units.

By November, the War Department had approved additional reinforcements of 1,312 officers, 25 nurses, and 18,047 enlisted soldiers. Ironically, the 34th Infantry Regiment was scheduled to shipout on December 8, 1941.

By December 5, there were 55 ships carrying 100,000 ship-tons of cargo to the Philippines. General Marshall informed Lt. General MacArthur, "You will soon receive all your supporting light artillery (130 75mm guns). You will also receive 72 155mm howitzers." When the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor took place, there were 52 dive bombers of the 27th Bombardment Group (L), 18 P-40s, 340 vehicles, 48 75mm guns, 3,500,000 rounds of .30 and .50 caliber ammunition, 600 tons of bombs, 9,000 drums of aviation fuel, 2 light field artillery battalions, the ground echelon of the 7th Bombardment Group (H), and various other supplies; all enroute.

(See also: National Defense Act of 1935)

Material and Training Deficiencies

The Philippine Army received clothing that was of poor quality. Their rubber shoes would wear out within 2 weeks. There were shortages of nearly every kind of equipment. There were shortages of blankets, mosquito bars, shelter halves, entrenching tools, gas masks, and helmets.

During August, MacArthur had requested 84,500 Garand rifles, 330 .30-caliber machine guns, 326 .50-caliber machine-guns, 450 37mm guns, 217 81mm mortars, 288 75mm guns, and over 8,000 vehicles. On September 18, he was informed that, because of lend-lease commitments, he would not receive most of these items. As a result, the Philippine Army was stuck using Lee-Enfield and Springfield rifles.

The shipment of supplies depended upon the US Navy limited cargo capacity. In September, the Navy announced it's intentions to convert three transports into escort carriers, but, this was not done, after MacArthur observed that the loss of three transports would delay his reinforcements by more than two months.

Then, the army approved requests for 105mm howitzers, 75mm pack howitzers, 75mm guns, .30-caliber machine guns, 37mm guns, 10 250-ft station hospitals, 180 sets of regimental infirmary equipment, jeeps, ambulances, trucks, and sedans. By November, there were 1,100,000 tons of equipment, intended for the Philippines, piled up in US ports. Most of this never reached it's destination. Meanwhile, the Navy did manage to transport 1,000,000 gallons of gasoline to the island. Much of this fuel would be stored on the Bataan Peninsula.

In 1941, many Pilipino units went into battle without ever having fired their weapons. Many of the troops had never even seen an artillery piece be fired. The 31st Infantry Division (PA) signal officer was unable to establish radio communication with units units in the same camp. Commander of the Philippine 31st Infantry Division, Colonel Bluemel states, "The enlisted men are proficient in only two things, one, when an officer appears, to yell attention in a loud voice, jump up, and salute; two, to demand 3 meals per day." Training and coordination were further complicated by language barriers. Enlisted Pilipinos often spoke one language (such as Bikol or a Visayan language), their officers would speak another (such as Tagalog), and the Americans would speak English. There were some first sergeants and company clerks who could neither read nor write.

The Japanese Decide to Attack

The economic sanctions imposed by the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands were weakening the Japanese economy. The leaders of Japan were faced with a choice: End the war in China and southeast Asia, so as to end the sanctions, or obtain additional resources by some other means.

The Japanese government decided to seize resources under the control of Britain and the Netherlands. As the United States was their ally, it was decided to attack the American territory of the Philippines as well. Japanese military planners argued that the British (and the USSR should they decide to declare war) would be unable to effectively respond to a Japanese attack, given the threat posed by the Third Reich.

[AnotherTraveler]

The Japanese Occupation and World War II (1941-1945)

Main article: Philippines during World War II

A few hours after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, the Japanese launched air raids in several cities and US military installations in the Philippines on December 8, and on December 10, the first Japanese troops landed in Northern Luzon.

General Douglas MacArthur, commander of the United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE), was forced to retreat to Bataan. Manila was occupied by the Japanese on January 2, 1942.

Fall of Bataan April 9, 1942. Corregidor Island, at the mouth of Manila Bay did not surrender until May 6, completely delaying the Japanese war timetable.

The Commonwealth government by then had exiled in Washington, DC upon the invitation of President Roosevelt.

The invasion by Japan began in December of 1941. As the Japanese forced advanced, Manila was declared an open city to prevent it from destruction, meanwhile, the government was moved to Corregidor. In March of 1942 U.S. General Douglas MacArthur and President Quezon fled the country. The cruelty of the Japanese military occupation of the Philippines is legendary. Guerilla units harassed the Japanese when they could, and on Luzon native resistance was strong enough that the Japanese never did get control of a large part of the island. Finally in October of 1944 McArthur had gathered enough additional troops and supplies to begin the retaking of the Philippines, landing with Sergio Osmena who had assumed the Presidency after Quezon's death. The battles entailed long fierce fighting; some of the Japanese continued to fight until the official surrender of the Empire of Japan on September 2, 1945. The final Japanese soilder to surrender was Hiroo Onoda, in 1974. Over a million Filipinos had been killed in the war, and many towns and cities, including Manila, were left in ruins.

Independent Philippines and the Third Republic (1946 to 1972)

Reeling from the devastation of World War II, the United States withdrew its sovereignty over the Philippines on July 4, 1946, as scheduled. Manuel Roxas (Liberal Party) having been inaugurated president before the granting of independence, immediately worked towards the rehabilitation of the country. Roxas strengthened political and economic ties with the United States and granted them several concessions including parity arrangements and the retention of US military bases in the country in exchange for reconstruction and rehabilitation assistance. Roxas' administration ended prematurely when he died of heart attack April 15, 1948 while at the US Air Force Base in Pampanga.

Vice President Elpidio Quirino (LP) was sworn in as president after the death of Roxas. He ran for election in 1949 against Jose P. Laurel (NP) and won.

[jcm]

I'll tell you why I brought it up. You feel that you have a right to find fault with the USA, ok, fine, but this is a two way street.

I feel I have a right to find fault with the USA? Where did I ever say that? I only said I disagree with YOUR (yours only) idea that US interest comes first before anyone else's when the US is operating in a foreign land. How would you feel if other nations applied this policy to you? Well I guess that won't happen because no one else has the military and economic strength to do it.

Things that occurred more than a century ago, horrid as they were, were neither you nor I, nor any that we know. All that did so in 1898 are dead, and I was not involved, and neither were you.

Yes, they are all long dead, and neither you nor I were there. But the policy then is as you espouse now, victory at any cost, by any means.

If you had to fight the USA for your independence, you might have a case,

Yes, we did have to. After fighting Spain. Unfortunately we lost. Justify to me what happened then. It was a war of conquest and aggression.

Read what the Japanese were doing to your people, then get back to me on this.

Don't get me started on the Japanese. Of all colonizers (Spain, Britain, US, Japan.) they were the worst by far. But if you're going to bring up Japanese atrocities then remember all four nations I mentioned are guilty as well.

Yes, American lives were lost here in WWII. I am not trying to belittle their sacrifice. But if you take someone's money, then give it back, is it right to say "You owe me for that."?

I don't claim that you owe us anything, but I guarentee you that if you are attacked by a greater power, your long term friendship with the USA will be remembered, and the ONLY ones in the world that might respond to your plight is the USA, and your leaders would be pleading for our intervention because they KNOW that we don't try to keep the countries that we invade.

And so we should keep ourselves in your good graces, eh?

Edit: Sorry for hijacking the thread, serotta.

Edited October 14, 2004 by jcm

[amor]

In Afghanistan, it was over the second we stepped foot there.

Really, Osama Bin Ladin, the main reason for going to war is still at liberty and Bali, Madrid, and the recent Red Sea attack suggest that Al Qaeda are still a force to be reckoned with. Meanwhile elsewhere in Afghanistan vast areas are still controlled by warlords such as general Dostum or by Taliban remmnants. The probity of the recent election is also being challenged by all candidates apart from Hammad Kharzai.

[Jon The Jew]

The British raped women, burned churches, villages, brutally murdered men, women, and children. That was the Revolutionary War. Britain is now our closest ally. The North and South fought brutally across our land. North and South are now united. My point, everyone has done terrible things, but you move on.

But that wasn't the point. U.S. interests, do they come first in a foreign land? You'd have to define U.S. interests, because loss of life is included. Just like terrorists forcing innocent women and children to pile in a van and run through a checkpoint, opting the U.S. soldiers to fire on them. U.S. Soldiers had no way of knowing if it was a suicide attack or not.

Protecting our people is the best interest for our country. Protecting others is secondary. It sounds cold, but then when you think of your family being attacked or someone elses family being attacked, who are you more inclinded to defend? In WWII we fought with Japan first, which was best for our own interests. Then we fought Germany, which was best for everyone elses interests.

Right now we are focusing on stopping terrorism. I do believe the Phillipines have a small amount of help from our Special Forces. Those terrorists don't attack us, they're not a threat to our soil...but we're doing what we said we would do; fight terrorism wherever it is to make sure it's anywhere but here. I'm not saying "bow down and worship us" because we're helping you...but we're not just destroying the terrorists who try to destroy us. So it goes way beyond protecting Americans and blowing everyone else to kingdom come.

As for Iraq, AT's explanation of that really explains why we're still fighting there.

[AnotherTraveler]

jcm,

I was pointing out tactics and stratigy, not endorsing war, but many times the war that we hate must be fought, because to not fight the war has far worse consequences.

You seem very articulate and to care for your country deeply, good for you, I also care for mine. There is nothing that you must do, nor do you owe, to be in my good graces, I feel that your nation is an honorable people, and for the most part, you just look for peace and prosperity.

You have assumed that I don't care for anyone but US citizens, click on my little website link at the bottom of the page, and I hope you will understand differently.

However, if your people started training terrorists, creating suicide murders, and exporting them to other places, I would certainly have a different view of you. If I were faced with presidential decisions, I would REQUIRE your nation to stop it.

The fight against terror is a fight against the training, supplying, and exporting of evil men bent on murder, certainly you have no problem with stopping them.

When a Palestinian murderer would blow up himself or herself to kill innocents on the streets of Israel, Saddam would pay the family of the murderer $25,000. That is why Israel began the policy of demolishing the houses of the family of the murders, to prevent there being a financial reward for murder. This is supporting terror, pure and simple, and living in a country where terrorists and rebels cause havoic, certainly you don't want nor need additional terrorists introduced, nor does any country.

[Jon The Jew]

In Afghanistan, it was over the second we stepped foot there.

Really, Osama Bin Ladin, the main reason for going to war is still at liberty and Bali, Madrid, and the recent Red Sea attack suggest that Al Qaeda are still a force to be reckoned with. Meanwhile elsewhere in Afghanistan vast areas are still controlled by warlords such as general Dostum or by Taliban remmnants. The probity of the recent election is also being challenged by all candidates apart from Hammad Kharzai.

Well, if remnants decide whether or not a war is won or lost, then we lost WWII, because the Nazi party still exists in Germany. We have control of the country and it is mostly stable. Al-Queda opertives are in other countries besides Afghanistan. They're all over the place. Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Isreal, Iran, Saudi Arabia...many places. But their "main camp" was in Afghanistan. Osama is not the only one who runs Al-Queda. In fact, he probably doesn't even lead it anymore because we've caused so much dissaray in their ranks, that he is constantly on the run.

To say Osama was the main reason is foolish. Getting rid of terrorists, either be killing or capture, was our main reason. The Taliban is out of power right now. 10,000,000 people just voted for President, it's the first time women have been able to vote. Afghanistan went smoothly and is going smoothly. All major fighting has ceased, and it's down to Special Forces (such as the 10th Mountain Division) removing the remnants of terrorists like the Taliban.

[amor]

.

Things that occurred more than a century ago, horrid as they were, were neither you nor I, nor any that we know. All that did so in 1898 are dead, and I was not involved, and neither were you.

......

Yes, many Filipino's were heroic in fighting for their homeland, and they would have certainly failed if the USA had not also been heroic in fighting for your homeland, and sorry to disappoint you, but the freedom you enjoy today was purchased by American blood and Filipino, and the generation that fought side by side with US soldiers will tell you that, if you ask them.

You'd be speaking Japanese and be a minority in your own homeland, if they bothered to let you live, which is really not a certainty, were it not for US assistance. Your short term appreciation misses this fact, as do the French, the Germans, the Russians, and the Koreans.

I am not trying to insult you, but point out to me, please, where your countrymen went out and fought and died for the freedom of anyone other than your own. It is not a big thing to be heroic in your own interests, but when you acknowledge that US soldiers did fight and die on your behalf, but in the same breath claim that the freedom that they purchased for you with their blood was not valuable, I find that insulting.

I don't claim that you owe us anything, but I guarentee you that if you are attacked by a greater power, your long term friendship with the USA will be remembered, and the ONLY ones in the world that might respond to your plight is the USA, and your leaders would be pleading for our intervention because they KNOW that we don't try to keep the countries that we invade.

If you had to fight the USA for your independence, you might have a case, but READ YOUR HISYORY, then, after you remember the facts, you might just be a little less quick to be insulted, and a little more understanding. Read what the Japanese were doing to your people, then get back to me on this.

So Philipinos should be grateful to the USA for fighting witrh them against the Japanese 60 years ago, but should forget about war-crimes commited by them 100 years ago. Why does 40 years make such a difference. Both are now history, something to be reflected upon, but not a guide to current behaviour. The argument that non-Americans should support Bush in this silly and destructive war, because they might have benefited from the policies of FDR are nonsense.

Edited October 14, 2004 by amor

[jcm]

Look, you are making it out to look like I am against fighting terrorism, which I haven't said and isn't true.

I am also not trying to dig up old war crimes.

My point only is this: You just can't send troops to some country and disregard the people whose country you are in.

Edit:

The above was for Jon.

AT I am for stopping the terrorists, but it concerns a lot of people around the world that the only superpower left in the world has a free hand in much of global affairs. Certainly any country has a right to defend itself. The question is, how far do you go? Do you pursue those rights to the point of violating the rights of others?

Edited October 14, 2004 by jcm

[AnotherTraveler]

The arguement that non-Americans should support Bush in this silly and destructive war, because they might have benefited from the policies of FDR are nonsense.

I never said that non-Americans should support Bush or anyone. I pointed out that it is NOT RELEVANT if non-Americans support or don't, our policy, and our president, must do first of all what is in the best interests of our country, as all national leaders.