Saturday, February 17
The Genko Line Breaks
Shells land on the Japanese side of the ruined Jones Bridge near the Intramuros, the Metropolitan Theater visible in the background - US National Archives
The fighting in northern Ermita had continued unabated for days now, with the 37th Infantry still unable to subdue the Japanese in the Police Station, but other elements had been slowly pushing northward, advancing to be within a few hundred yards of the wrecked Quezon Bridge by today. The long fight had taken a toll on the men, however, and today the 129th Infantry Regiment was relieved by the 145th in that sector, with the fresh troops taking up the attack on the Police Station, as well as attacking the City Hall and Central Post Office as they approached them.
The twisted mass of steel that was the Quezon Bridge - US National Archives
In Malate, the 148th Regiment continued their attack on the General Hospital. Having secured the Nurse’s Dormitory and Chemical Building yesterday, they made another attempt to take the Bureau of Science Building today, this time proving successful in clearing the structure. A street fight continued throughout the morning around the hospital, with tanks and assault guns being used to fire directly on the building, although care was taken to minimize civilian casualties within.
A GI fires an M9 Bazooka from a window of the Nurse’s Building at the General Hospital - US National Archives
As the battle for the hospital wore on the Japanese finally began to weaken, and the Americans pressed their attack, using their flanking positions in the three captured structures to squeeze the enemy strongpoint. With supporting artillery, they were able in the early afternoon to enter the eastern wing of the building, engaging in a bitter fight through an interior thronged with civilians.
GIs fight among the hospital beds in an open air ward on the edge of the General Hospital courtyard - US National Archives
As the fighting moved into the building, the civilians inside made their best efforts to extricate themselves from the building, swarming into the US line, with 2,000 escaping today followed by another 5,000 after dark. Many others had been killed by American fire as the Japanese used them as human shields over the past few days, while others had endured terrible conditions hiding in stairwells, basements and even an elevator shaft to escape the furious battle they were trapped in.
A sherman fires on buildings in the vicinity of the University of the Philippines - US National Archives
By the end of the day the hospital had been secured, and the Americans moved on to the adjacent University of the Philippines, where the Japanese were dug into the cluster of concrete buildings on the campus. As they did this, the 1st Cavalry continued toward them along Taft Avenue and Dewey Boulevard, with penetrating into Luneta Park, the open mall housing the main government buildings immediately south of the Intramuros, their ultimate goal.
Shells land on the Intramuros wall by Letran College - US National Archives
Along the Pasig, the Americans today commenced their bombardment of the Intramuros walls in preparation for their upcoming assault on the stronghold. 8 inch howitzers were directed against the 40 foot thick walls, intending to blast a hole for infantry to enter the district. US intelligence believed that the Japanese still have more than 2,000 men inside the Walled City at this point.
An American M1917 machine gun set up at the windows of a bank office - US National Archives
Even further south, the 11th Airborne and some elements of the 1st Cavalry launched their assault on the last bastion of the Genko Line at Fort McKinley, commencing their assault after a massive aerial attack on the old Army base. Fighting was intense, but less so than expected, and when the fort fell today the official history of the 11th Airborne counts 961 dead Japanese. Evidence suggested that a significant portion of the Genko Line’s remaining troops had slipped away before the base was taken and fled east to join Shimbu Group when their forces counterattacked this evening. The attack was intended to facilitate a general breakout from the city by Admiral Iwabuchi and the men of his command, but other than those at the fort the MNDF was by now far removed from the Japanese main line. The counterattack was otherwise unsuccessful, and Shimbu group was forced to withdraw and leave the IJN troops in the city to their fate.
Paratroopers move toward a Japanese pillbox on Corregidor - US National Archives
On Corregidor, the Americans pressed their attacks as well. The paratroopers dropped yesterday expanded from their dropzones, securing the above ground barracks against limited Japanese resistance and pushed on toward the ruined base hospital building, which was likewise taken. Other airborne units moved downhill, toward the beachhead of the infantrymen who were also pushing steadily inland. Further drops were canceled by command as they seemed unnecessary, and instead the remaining paratroopers were sent ashore in landing craft with more infantry reinforcements.
In the night US forces had reached the mouth of the Malinta Tunnel, and the a Sherman tank was moved to cover the entrance to the underground complex. Some Japanese attempted a banzai charge, but were quickly neutralized, leaving an unknown number still in the tunnels today. Despite the gains made today Corregidor was yet secured.
GIs and civilians at the door of the General Hospital, with a dead Japanese soldier in the foreground - US National Archives
In addition to the thousands of civilians in the General Hospital, the ordeal continued elsewhere today. The Maldonado family was murdered in their home today, with the Japanese locking the men in the bathroom and throwing in grenades, while the women are put to the bayonet. A similar scene took place at the home of a Dr. Moreta, the Japanese killed the 17 they found sheltering inside. In the Intramuros, the Japanese attacked the San Juan de Dios Hospital again, slaughtering the remaining priests and medical staff there, and at Santa Rosa College they slaughtered those still inside, forcing a small number to bury the bodies to hide their crimes from the approaching Americans.
The bloodstained walls of the Moreta bathroom - US National Archives
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