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JAPAN INVADES THE PHILIPPINES 117

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P H I L I P P I N E S
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9–10 April 1942
Corregidor
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Mariveles
Aglaloma
Mauban
Morong
Port
Binanga
Mabayo
Tobang
Cabcaben
Limay
Lamao
Balanga
Abucay
Pilar
Orion
Bagac
Dinalupihan
Abo

• A
  bo

Mount

Natib

Mount

Mariveles

Japanese advance

Apr 3–10

RETREAT TO BATAAN

DECEMBER 23, 1941–JANUARY 22, 1942

As the Japanese advanced to Manila, General

MacArthur realized that he could not hold the city.

On December 23, he withdrew west to the more

easily defensible Bataan Peninsula with 80,000

troops. MacArthur established a line running down

from either side of Mount Natib to both coasts

on January 7. The first Japanese attacks followed

from January 9 after a heavy bombardment.

1

US territorial

extent, Jan 7

US defensive line

First Japanese

attacks, Jan 9–22

US surrender

to the Japanese

SURRENDER APRIL 3–10, 1942

Newly reinforced, the Japanese troops began their

final offensive with a five-hour air bombardment

of the US line on April 3. By April 6, they had

breached the line in the center of the peninsula

and pushed back the two main US corps. US

Major General Edward King surrendered his

battered forces to the Japanese on April 9. The

remaining US forces surrendered the next day.

US-held territory,

Jan 22–Apr 3

US reserve defensive line

Japanese attacks

Jan 22–Apr 3

THE THREE-MONTH WAIT

JANUARY 22–APRIL 3, 1942

US forces resisted the first attacks, but by

January 22 Japanese pressure had forced them

back to a southerly reserve line that stretched

from Orion to Bagac. Stalemate then followed as

the Japanese troops halted, suffering from disease

and exhaustion from continuous fighting.

2

3

Jan 15, 1942 The Japanese

penetrate deep behind the

US defensive line into the

Abo-Abo River valley.

Apr 6, 1942

The Japanese break

through the US line

and head south.

Mar 12, 1942

General MacArthur, his family, and senior

officers leave Corregidor for safety in

Mindanao and eventually Australia.

May 5–6, 1942

US troops make

a final stand.

Apr 10, 1942 Prisoners

of war begin their

forced march to the

north from Mariveles.

Apr 11, 1942 More

prisoners from Bagac

join the forced

march north.

Jan 9, 1942 The Japanese

launch attacks against the

eastern end of the US

defensive line.

DEC 1941 MAR 1942 JUN

TIMELINE

LAST STAND IN BATAAN

US troops held out in the Bataan

Peninsula to the west of Manila, and on

the tiny island fortress Corregidor, from

late December 1941 to their final defeat

in May 1942.

1

2

3

4

5

Jan 22–Apr 3, 1942

Japanese attacks

fail to breach the US

reserve defensive line.

May 5, 1942

Japanese forces

land on Corregidor.

US_116-117_Loss_of_Philippines.indd 117 19/03/19 5:40 PM