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The
advance to Manila, and the initiation of the battle therefor, began on
30 January 1945 when Field Order No. 46, Headquarters Sixth Army, was
issued. This order directed the XIV CORPS to push aggressively
Southward, secure crossing over the PAMPANGA RIVER within the Corps zone
of action, and seize the line MALOLOS -SIBUL SPRINGS-CABANATUAN. The
boundary between the XIV and I Corps was along the line DAGUPAN -SAN
CARLOS -MALASIQUI -CARMEN -NAMIPCHAN -VICTORIA (all inclusive to the XIV
CORPS), then LICAB -PlNAGPANAAN -CABU -TAMAIA (all inclusive to I
Corps).
(See
Sketch No. 16). The boundary between the XI Corps, which landed
West of SUBIC BAY on 29 January, and the XIV CORPS ran from PORAC· on the
West coast through DINALUPIHAN to ORANI. This order also gave to the XIV
CORPS the 1st Cavalry Division reinforced (less the 112th RCT) , which had
landed on LUZON January 27th and was in assembly area near GUIMBA . This
Division was to be attached to the Corps at 2400, 31 January. On the 31st
day of January the XIV CORPS issued its Field Order No.4, which directed
that the 40th Infantry Division with the 129th RCT attached would continue
aggressive action against the RAN FORCE in the STOTSENBURG area, while the
37th Division (less the 129th ·RCT) and the 1st Cavalry Division, both
within their respective zones of action, would advance toward MANILA and
seize the line HAGANOY -MALOLOS -SIBUL SPRINGS – CABANATUAN (See
Sketch No. 15).
The 37th Infantry Division and the 1st Cavalry Division were to maintain
contact with each other at ARAYAT and PLARIDEL, and be prepared for prompt
advance Southward on Corps order. The 37th Division was to maintain
contact with the 40th Division in the vicinity of GUAGUA. The boundary
between the 37th and 40th Divisions ran from ANGELES to PORAC, thence to
GUAGUA and along-the GUAGUA RIVER to MANILA BAY. The boundary between the
37th Division and 1st Cavalry Division ran South from SAN LUIS to
CALUMPIT, thence East to PLARIDEL, thence South through BOCAUE and
NOVALICHES to BALINTAWAK.
At the time of issue of Field Order No.4,
forces of the XIV CORPS were holding the line MAGALANG - ANGELES - FT
STOTSENBURG -CLARK FIELD, with elements of the 37th and 40th Divisions at
1800, 31 January disposed as follows: in the zone of the 37th Division the
148th Infantry had its 1st Battalion holding the line ANGELES -MAGALANG,
and the 2d and 3d Battalions in the vicinity of CALUMPIT; the 145th
Infantry had its 1st Battalion holding a position 2,500 yards South of
SAPANGBATO
(See
Sketch No. 13) , and its 2d Battalion in division reserve at
ANGELES. The 3d Battalion 145th Infantry was attached to the 129th RCT.
The 3d Battalion was to be relieved from attachment to the 129th at 2400,
31 January and move to assembly area at ANGELES at 0300, February 1st. The
129th Infantry with the 3d Battalion l45th attached was holding a North
-South line 1,000 yards West of SAPANGBATO. In the zone of the 40th
Division the 160th RCT and the 108th RCT, in order from South to North,
were holding the enemy West of Highway 3, and the ,185th RCT was securing
the line of communications from BAMBAN North to LINGAYEN GULF. The 1st
Cavalry Division was in assembly area at GUIMBA and would come under the
control of the XIV CORPS at midnight 31
January.
With each increasing mile of advance from
LINGAYEN, the flanks and supply line of the XIV CORPS had increased
without a corresponding increment in personnel. At the time of the battle
at FORT STOTSENBURG the 40th Division was holding a line extending from
PORT SUAL to CLARK FIELD, a distance of 77 miles, and the 37th Division
was extended for 47 miles along a line from ANGELES to MAGALANG and LA PAZ
to VICTORIA, where contact was made with elements of I Corps. The
thinly-held line of the 40th Division offered the enemy excellent
opportunity to attack from the West against our main supply route. The
dispositions of the enemy indicated that the greatest possibility for such
an attack occurring lay in the FORT STOTSENBURG area, and it was logical
to presume that the enemy would launch a strong counterattack at that
point to sever our line of communication to LINGAYEN. It was this
reasoning that formulated the plan for the 40th Division to contain the
RAN FORCE, as comprehended in the Field Order. On the Corps East flank,
the enemy threat from the area CABANATUAN - SAN JOSE had been ever
present. Although reconnaissance elements of the 37th Division had scouted
Eastward to CABANATUAN and had made no contact with sizeable enemy forces,
intelligence advised that large enemy concentrations existed in the area,
and included therein were armored troops. The 6th Division had pushed
reconnaissance elements as far South as VICTORIA. The 1st Cavalry
Division, coming under Corps control at midnight and moving Southward in
the Eastern part of the Corps zone of action, would relieve concern by the
37th Division for the exposed portion of that division's flank from
VICTORIA to PLARIDEL. However, the Cavalry Division in turn would need
give serious consideration to the safety of its own East flank.
Consequently the Corps order directed that the 1st Cavalry Division would
protect the East flank of the Corps and conduct "vigorous reconnaissance
to the East". As the Division moved Southward, it left rear elements
strung along the route of advance.
Sketch No. 17 shows the flank protection of the Corps from 2 February to 10
February.
The 1st Cavalry Division at one minute past midnight, January 31 - February 1, started its movement toward MANILA with two squadrons abreast.
The 2d Squadron of the 5th Cavalry was on the West; the 2d Squadron 8th
Cavalry on the East. By 0645 1 February, the 2d Squadron 5th Cavalry had
secured the crossings of the PAMPANGA RIVER in the vicinity of General
Luna Bridge. By 1800 on the 1st of February the Division was disposed as
follow's: the 12th Cavalry in assembly area in the vicinity of
PINAGPANAAN; the 7th Cavalry at CINCO CINCO with one squadron designated
as Division reserve and another squadron as Corps reserve; the 1st
Squadron of the 5th Cavalry was at CABANATUAN, and the 2d Squadron held
the General Luna Bridge; the 8th Cavalry was stationed at CABANATUAN.
For detailed study see Sketch No. 16 1:500,000 (in map supplement).
Thus the troops of the 1st Cavalry Division were disposed to meet a threat
threat from the East as they continued toward the South. Throughout the
night of 1st - 2d February, elements of the Cavalry Division continued to
push Southward and at 1100 on the 2d, contact was made with the 37th
Division in the vicinity of PLARIDEL. The 1st Battalion of the 148th
Infantry was still engaged in a fire fight at PLhRIDEL when contact was
made, and it was not possible for elements of the 1st Cavalry Division to
cross the ANGAT RIVER at that point. However, a ford was found East of
PLARIDEL which permitted the Cavalry to move on to the South. By 1800, 2d
February, the 5th Cavalry had the 2d Squadron at ANGAT and the 1st
Squadron at BALIUAG. The 12th Cavalry was still at CABANATUAN; the 7th
Cavalry was at SLNTA ROSA and CABANATUAN; and the 8th Cavalry had its 1st
Squadron at BALIUAG and its 2d Squadron at SANTOL.
During the night 31 January - 1 February, the 37th Division moved the
l48th Infantry to the South, and by nightfall the 3d Battalion was in the
vicinity of SAN FERNliNDO and the 2d Battalion was at CALUMPIT. The 1st
Battalion was en route from SAN FERNANDO to PLARIDEL where it was stopped
by an enemy road block 1,000 yards North of the town. This road block
resisted throughout the night, but at daybreak on the 2d, of February the
Battalion left a containing force at the block, bypassed the enemy
resistance, and pushed into town. By this encircling movement the
Battalion at 1545 secured PLARIDEL and the crossing of the ANGAT RIVER. On
the same day the 2d Battalion moved South from CALUMPIT and, after an
encounter with the enemy at MOJON, entered MALOLOS at 1730. The 3d
Battalion of the 148th Infantry followed the 2d Battalion down Highway 3
and stopped at CALUMPIT for the night of February 2d. The 145th Infantry
began its advance Southward from ANGELES at 0630 on 1 February, the
objective being to gain the line HAGANOY -MALOLOS. The 3d Battalion
crossed the PAMPANGA RIVER at CALUMPIT and, moving South on the CALUMPIT -
HAGANOY road, had one company in BULACAN by 1800, 2 February. The 2d
Battalion of the 145th remained in its assembly area 1,500 yards North of
CALUMPIT on 2d February. The lst Battalion, which was at ANGELES on the
31st of January, moved to SAN FERNANDO on 1 February, and thence to SAN
JUAN the next day as Division reserve. The 129th Infantry, which had
attached to the 40th Infantry Division, was released to the 37th Division
at 1200, 2 February, and by 1800 the Regiment was assembled in the
vicinity of CULAYO.
Thus by 1800, 2 February, the XIV CORPS had secured the line HAGANOY
-MALOLOS - SIBUL SPRINGS - CABANATUAN, in compliance with Army Field Order
No. 46. On this date the Sixth Army issued Field Order No. 47 directing
the XIV CORPS to capture MANlLA and secure the line CAVITE - TAGIG -
TAYTAY - ANTIPOLO - MONTALBAN.