Conclusions
The cost of retaking Manila had not been light. XIV Corps
lost over 1,000 men killed and 5,500 wounded in the metropolitan area from 3
February through 3 March. The breakdown among major units is shown in Table
5.
TABLE 5
CASUALTIES IN BATTLE FOR MANILA
Unit |
Killed |
Wounded |
Total Casualties |
|
37th Infantry Division |
300 |
2,700 |
3,000 |
1st Cavalry Division |
250 |
1,250 |
1,500 |
11th Airborne Division |
210 |
865 |
1,075 |
XIV Corps troops |
250 |
750 |
1,000 |
Total |
1,010 |
5,565 |
6,575 |
Source: Based upon a study of relevant corps, divisional,
and regimental sources, all of which, as usual, provide contradictory and
irreconcilable information.
The Japanese lost some 16,000 men killed in and around Manila. Of this total
the Manila Naval Defense Force lost
at least 12,500 men, the remainder of Admiral Iwabuchi's 17,000-man garrison
having escaped across the Marikina River. The other 3,500 men killed were
members of various Shimbu
Group units overrun on the
periphery of the metropolitan area or chopped down during the abortive
counterattack effort.27 Japanese
equipment captured in the Manila area, either intact or damaged, is shown in Table
6.
TABLE 6 JAPANESE EQUIPMENT CAPTURED IN MANILA AREA
|
Caliber and Type |
Number |
|
7.7-mm., 7.92-mm., and 13-mm. machine guns, various mounts |
a600 |
20-mm. dismounted aircraft machine cannon and antiaircraft
weapons |
990 |
25-mm. machine cannon, various mounts |
110 |
37-mm. guns, various mounts |
15 |
40-mm. antiaircraft guns, various mounts |
15 |
|
|
47-mm. antitank weapons |
5 |
75-mm. field artillery and antiaircraft guns |
10 |
76-mm. (3-inch) naval guns |
15 |
100-mm. and 105-mm. guns and howitzers |
10 |
120-mm. dual-purpose naval guns |
60 |
127-mm. (5-inch) guns |
5 |
150-mm. (6-inch) weapons |
5 |
150-mm. mortars |
5 |
200-mm. rocket launchers |
5 |
|
a Minimum estimate.
Source: XIV Corps Arty Rpt Luzon, p. 10; 37th Div Arty Rpt Luzon, app. 4,
Japanese Arty in Sector of 37th Div During Advance to and Capture of Manila;
XIV Corps, Japanese Defense of Cities, p. 11; 11th A/B Div Rpt Luzon, p. 29;
1st Cav Div G-2 Summary Luzon, p. 40. The calibers listed for some of the
artillery pieces are open to question--for example, the 6-inch vs. 150-mm.
The cost of the battle for Manila cannot be measured in
military terms alone. The city was a shambles after the battle was
over--much of it destroyed, damaged beyond repair, or reparable only at
great expense in time and money. The public transportation system no longer
existed; the water supply and sewage systems needed extensive repairs; the
electric power facilities did not function; most of the streets needed
repaving; 39 of 100 or more large and small bridges had been destroyed,
including the 6 over the Pasig River.
The University of the Philippines and the Philippine
General Hospital were largely irreparable. Lower class residential districts
north of the Pasig and upper class apartments south of the river had been
destroyed; the Philippine Commonwealth's government's center had been wiped
out; the 400-year-old landmark of Intramuros had been nearly razed; severe
damage had been inflicted on the economically important installations in the
North and South Port Areas; the industrialized Paco and Pandacan Districts
had been badly battered. Many buildings still standing would ultimately have
to be torn down as unsafe for occupancy. Millions upon millions of dollars'
worth of damage had been done and, as a final shocking note of tragedy, an
estimated 100,000 Filipino civilians had lost their lives during the battle.
In brief, Manila's economic, political, and social life
would have to start over almost from scratch. For a city left in Manila's
condition there could be no return to normalcy--instead, a new normalcy
would ultimately develop. The Battle of Manila was indeed over, but its
effects would long be felt.
|