Wednesday, February 14
Fighting Intensifies at the General Hospital
An American soldier runs forward under Japanese fire in Ermita - US National Archives
“Massed artillery south of the Pasig River has harassed our installations north of the river, destroyed pontoon bridges and hindered the advance of our troops. This artillery has been skillfully placed in buildings and behind walls.”
The fighting in the city had devolved into a brutal hand to hand melee, with American troops advancing building by building, using heavy artillery to demolish buildings that offer major resistance, and clearing others with flamethrowers and small assault teams. In some cases they then enter to find the Japanese defenders melted into the walls.
The advance of the 148th toward Dewey Boulevard had been halted, as the Americans engaged the major Japanese strongpoint in the Philippine General Hospital and the adjoining University of the Philippines. The large concrete building was very resistant to shellfire, and to make matters worse the Japanese were defending the building regardless of the fact that it was filled with thousands of civilians. As the assault began on the hospital the Americans commenced a massive barrage of the area, hitting the building with over a thousand shells, but still the Americans were not able to enter the building today as the Japanese proved impossible to dislodge.
A Japanese fuel dump in Ermita erupts in flame after being hit by American artillery - US National Archives
Meanwhile, the 1st Cavalry continued to push north from their positions toward Rizal Stadium, although they were still fighting in Harrison Park to the west of the arena they have now reached as far north to the east, as they approach the College of St. Scholastica. Their artillery fire remained intense until a USAAF spotter plane confirmed the presence of civilian refugees there, and the bombardment ceased. The Japanese lobbed hand grenades over the wall into the compound, but were did not otherwise molest those sheltering inside before the arrival of 1st Cavalry tanks drove them back.
In the south, the 11th Airborne was redeploying its forces, forming into two groups intended to join the assault on Fort McKinley. One unit was to press the attack from their current positions while others flanked around to the south, while the 1st Cavalry also attacked from the north. With Nichols Field now secure, the bulk of the 11th Airborne Division could now be turned against the last stronghold of the Genko Line.
USS Fletcher
A new theater was also opening in the Battle for Manila, as ships of the US Navy entered Manila Bay. Their objective was to clear out Japanese mines and pave the way for amphibious operations to take control of the islands in the bay, including the site of the American last stand in 1942 on Corregidor. The previous day several ships had entered the bay, including minesweepers and the destroyer USS Fletcher, which had been escorting them and preparing to provide naval gunfire support for the upcoming landings. Today as she engaged positions on the Bataan Peninsula she was hit by fire from a Japanese coastal artillery battery, detonating the powder in her No.1 magazine and starting a large fire, killing eight sailors in the process. Responding to this, Watertender Second Class Elmer Bigelow charged into the blazing compartment with a fire extinguisher, managing through quick action to quell the flames and prevent further damage to his ship. He would succumb to burns and smoke inhalation the next day, and receive a posthumous promotion as well as the Congressional Medal of Honor.
The Japanese also today targeted Ateneo College on Calle Padre Faura near the General Hospital, launching incendiary munitions into the tower. The ensuing blaze caused the tower to collapse, while the civilians who had been sheltering inside stampeded out into the streets. About 100 people were killed, many tramped in the panicked rush to escape the collapsing school.
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