Monday, February 12
Iwabuchi’s Last Chance
General Mudge confers with his officers in Malate - US National Archives
On the morning of February 12 the front line still ran along the Pasig in the north and Libertad Avenue in the south, but the line ran along the Estero de Paco in the east, with the Americans having consolidated their positions overnight and prepared for the assault on Ermita in the north and Singalong and Malate in the south. The bombardment of these areas continued to intensify, and today a Japanese ammunition dump in the Central Post Office was destroyed, along with fuel dumps in the City Hall and along Dewey Boulevard.
The 129th Infantry Regiment began to make their offensive from Provisor Island, pushing toward the first of the major government buildings, but ended up bogged down under heavy fire as they assaulted the large Police Station and Santa Theresa’s College. Meanwhile, the 148th Infantry was encountering trouble as they too pushed into Ermita, and today made the call to have heavy artillery commence a saturation bombardment of the district to clear their path. Heavy fighting developed as they approach Taft Avenue, fighting across Kansas, San Marcelino and Colorado Street before halting on Taft in the afternoon as they waited for their supporting artillery to move up.
A GI takes cover in a doorway during the street fighting in Manila - US National Archives
While they moved up, they encountered a grisly scene at 1195 Singalong Street. Inside the home the floor had been torn out in the downstairs hall, opening into the basement. Under this opening were 200 bodies, piled eight feet tall. Blood on the floor was inches deep. The Japanese had been blindfolding civilians and leading them into the house one by one, where a soldier waited with a sword to kill them and fling them into the pit in an almost industrial fashion.
The 1st Cavalry also commenced their assault, moving into the southern area of Malate and pushing north toward the Japanese strongpoint in Rizal Stadium, by the end of the day engaging the MNDF perimeter in the adjacent Harrison Park. Other elements of the division also joined the 11th Airborne in their assault on Nichols Field, the tanks they provided being of great help to the attackers as they pressed onto the open runways of the airbase. Other combined elements of both divisions also began the assault on the stronghold of the Genko Line at Fort McKinley, while other paratroopers also moved to assist the cavalry in the capture of Nielson Airport.
Admiral Iwabuchi had already made his decision by now to fight to the death in Manila, but a final chance was offered to him today, as his headquarters received word from Shimbu Group that they intended to launch an offensive on the sixteenth. The aim of this attack was to drive a wedge into the American lines and facilitate a breakout by the remaining forces of the Manila Naval Defense Force. The Admiral’s situation continued to worsen, as the Americans began to push into the city center, crossing the last major natural obstacles as they advanced. To make matters worse, by the end of the day most of his artillery had been silenced by effective American counter-battery fire, leaving his infantry to fight on unsupported.
In the Intramuros, the slaughter continued as it had for days, but the Spanish priests were released today, returning to the Manila Cathedral to find it a gutted ruin, as was the San Agustin Church. The fires had burned a large portion of the Walled City, and now American artillery was battering the stronghold as well. The release of the exception to rule today, however.
As the American cavalry approached Rizal Stadium another major atrocity was soon to commence, and in a notable example of humanity a friendly Japanese soldier known only as Furuda warned the Garcia family of an impending sweep of their neighborhood by MNDF troops, with their home targeted for burning. He further warned them to avoid De La Salle College, resulting in them taking refuge at St. Scholastica College instead. The Perez-Rubio Family was not so lucky.
“The Americans will come, but you will not see them.”
The family, having seen the American tanks in the distance, were ecstatic as they welcomed a group of soldiers into their home this morning, but happiness turned to horror as they realized the uniformed men were Japanese. After being stripped of their valuables the family was forced to pile rugs, drapes and other flammable items in the living room before the Japanese doused it with gasoline and set it alight. Those who attempted to flee were shot down by the Japanese soldiers surrounding the house, killing 26.
Nearby, across Taft Avenue from the stadium, a number of civilians had sought refuge inside the De La Salle University. A total of 70 were sheltering on the campus, along with the 17 Catholic brothers and Father Cosgrave, the chaplain. The Japanese had already come onto the campus days prior, taking the director, Brother Egbert Xavier, along with another brother, neither of whom had been seen since. The Japanese returned today, taking two more of the brothers away for torture, one returning later carrying his innards in his hands. Shortly afterward, the Japanese forced all the occupants together before the officer in command gave the order for his men to prepare to fire.
Bloodstains on the wall in De La Salle College after today’s events - US National Archives
One of the brothers spoke Japanese, and upon hearing this cried out to Father Cosgrave to begin an absolution, just as the Japanese opened fire, killing 58. They then proceeded to hunt the remaining people through the college, hacking them to death with bayonets inside the chapel where they sought sanctuary. Afterwards, the Japanese piled the bodies in a corner at the base of the stairwell, making no attempt to discern the dead from the wounded, leaving some to be crushed by the weight of corpses piled atop them. Father Cosgrave was among those still alive in the pile, although he would not be able to extricate himself until 2200.
In one particularly vile incident, the Japanese stabbed at five-year-old Fernando Vasquez-Prada with bayonets, only to be attacked by the boy’s mother. After being initially overwhelmed by the unexpected resistance, the soldiers hacked her to pieces with their bayonets, deliberately leaving her alive but immobile on the floor as they turned to finish off her children and husband while she watched.
The ruined Bayview Hotel on Dewey Boulevard - US National Archives
One piece of good news came of today, however, as American artillery hit the Bayview Hotel. The structure trembled with the force of the shells, and fires started, causing the Japanese to hurriedly abandon the building, ending four days of gang rape for the women trapped within.
US Flags - Represent US and Filipino positions, division emblems added as needed.
IJN Flags - Represent known Major Japanese positions
Black “X” - Represent major war crimes committed today
Medal of Honor - Approximate location of CMH action