JAPANESE TROOPS INVADE THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

First landing was made on December 8,
1941 at Batan Island north of Luzon.

The third landing was made at Legaspi on
December 12, 1941---south of Manila.

On December 20, 1941, the Japanese forces
landed and took over Davao on the Island of
Mindanao.

The second landing was at Vigan and
Aparri on December 10, 1941.

On December 22, 1941 the Japanese forces landed at
Lingayen Bay north of Manila and Lamon Bay south of Manila
thereby initating a pincer movement on the capitol.

The Japanese landing at Lingayen Bay did not surprise the American high command. It was the logical place to
land a large force whose destination was Manila. Although there was early notification of the landing, our forces
seemed to be ill prepared to drive off the invaders.

A first line of defense was set on Bataan as of January 10, 1942. It was identified as the Abucay
Line. Tremendous pressure from the Japanese forces caused a withdrawl to a reserve
position on January 22, 1942 known as the Bagac-Orion line.

Fil-American Forces Dig In

The numerical superior Japanese
forces cause a withdrawl to the Bagac-
Orion Line on January 22, 1942

The supply situation on Bataan was serious from the start and became worse through the
campaign. There was no time to evacuate the depots in northern Luzon and scarcely time to
get out part of the reserves from Fort McKinley and Stotsenberg. The lot of the individual
soldier on Bataan was hardly affected by a change in command. The search for food was his
constant pursuit; hunger and disease were his deadliest enemies. All else was of secondary
importance.