EPIC OF BATAN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 April 1942, Page 4

EPIC OF BATAN

AIViEkiCAN WAR SECRET ARV’S SURVEY nothing but praise FOR DEFENDERS. CORREGIDOR AND FORTS STILL HELD. * (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.15 a.m.) RUGBY, April 9. The end of the defence of Batan was described by the American Secretary for War (Mr H. Stimson) who said that about 36,800 Americans and Filipinos went down fighting against overwhelmingly superior Japanese forces. This total did not include those on Corregidor and other places in Manila Bay and scattered forces throughout Luzon and elsewhere in the Philippines. The defenders of Batan were outnumbered and weakened by short rations and disease. Corregidor is still fighting, along with other Manila Bay forts, under General Wainwright. Included in the force of the defenders was a small body of regular United States ground troops and Air Corps personnel who had been converted into infantrymen after the loss of air equipment. The defenders also included Filipino scouts, and troops with meagre military training; also navy bluejackets and Marines. Two tank battalions, sent last summer, and some mobile artillery, proved a vital factor in prolonging the defence. The long strain was a very potent-fac-tor in wearing down the troops and placing them in a situation where they could no longer rebound as they did so many times earlier. Besides soldiers, there were 20,000 native labourers. Mr Stimson stated that he could not say how many of the defenders were killed, wounded or captured, nor would he estimate the number of the Japanese forces engaged, which had been put unofficially at 200,000. LACK OF AIR SUPPORT. In connection with the lack of air support, Mr Stimson said that about a month ago only four pursuit planes were available and they succeeded in sinking five ships in Subic Bay. He had heard nothing further about the aircraft in Batan and presumed that none existed when the final break occurred. The utmost was being done to evacuate the largest possible number of survivors to Corregidor and other Manila Bay fortresses, but it was doubtful whether any substantial number could be moved. Summing up, Mr Stimson said there could be nothing but praise for the men vzho had so ably conducted an epic chapter in the history of the Philippines, which had now been lined with the United States in battle, as well as by co-operation during the last forty years. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE. A Press Association cablegram from Washington reports that Mr Stimson said President Roosevelt, in a message to General Wainwright, sent yesterday, expressed his full appreciation of the enormous difficulties confronting General Wainwright and told him he had nothing but praise for his method of conducting the defence and his soldierly conduct throughout; also that any decision General Wainwright reached now would be in the interests of the country and the splendid troops he commanded. ' Mr Stimson said the defenders had had no substantial air support recently and added: “That is what made the outcome practically a foregone conclusion.” Efforts to aid the defenders from, outside were taken, Mr Stimson added, as soon as General MacArthur had taken up his position on the peninsula early in January, when “we began to take steps to make his stay as long as possible.”