The Battle of Manila: February 5, 1945 — I Like to Hear Myself Talk History

One of the Strangest Days of the War

**Dense smoke rises from the city center as the Japanese torch entire neighborhoods**
*US National Archives*

As the dawn broke on February 5th, 1945, the Japanese presence on the campus of the University of Santo Tomas had not yet been eliminated. The Commandant of the internment camp there, Imperial Japanese Navy Lieutenant Commander Toshio Hayashi, was still barricaded inside the Education Building with what remained of his guards, with several hostages held on the upper floors of the structure. But that was about to come to an end, as US cavalrymen surrounding the structure were briefed by their commanding officer about a settlement that had been reached with the Japanese: they would be allowed to leave the camp and return to their lines, and could keep their rifles and sidearms. All heavy weapons and explosives were to be left behind.

At exactly 0630 the Japanese appeared, their rifles slung and in marching order. They formed into a column, flanked on both sides by cavalrymen, with Lt. Commander Hayashi at the head with US Colonel Charles Brady of the 1st Cavalry Brigade and former prisoner and interpreter Ernest Stanley with him. They marched out the main gate, some limping from wounds, and east down the road toward the Japanese lines near the Pasig. Upon reaching the intersection of Calle Aviles and Calle Legarda, Colonel Brady informed Hayashi that he would go no further, and after an exchange of salutes the Japanese marched off down the street, without looking back, but shortly afterward their column broke up as the soldiers attempted to flee the street, despite the efforts of Hayashi to maintain discipline. The event that would often be cited as one of the strangest of the war, and the only notable peaceful settlement during the liberation of Manila, had come to its conclusion.

**Captured Japanese leave Santo Tomas**
*US National Archives*

Back at the University, the newly liberated internees were now truly free from the Japanese yoke, with the last of their oppressors gone from the campus and the last hostages freed. A celebratory mood took hold, and when a American flag was produced by businessman Sam Wilson, word spread quickly, and soon a crowd was massing before the Main Building. The internees wore the best clothing they could find, and reporters and Army photographers clambered atop the cavalry’s shermans that were parked on the grounds to get a better angle, as Old Glory was unfurled over the entrance. A chorus of “God Bless America” struck up, choked with emotion, and even some of the battle hardened GIs were seen to tear up. The Japanese were not so moved, and began directing artillery fire against the campus shortly afterward.

Also today, a convoy of food trucks arrived at the camp, bringing a total of fourteen truckloads of desperately needed sustenance for the emaciated internees. The internees reported how to most it seemed like a miracle, but it also made them dangerously ill, as severe cramps and diarrhea stuck them, a similar issue of feeding starvation victims to that encountered months later in other sites of cruelty in 1945.

**The first US flag is displayed from the Main Building at Santo Tomas**
*US National Archives*

Nearby, the 37th Infantry was engaged with the Japanese in and around the Far Eastern University across from Bilibid Prison, as the Japanese continued to torch the area around Escolta. In light of this, General Beightler issued an order today for his engineers to begin the demolition of structures in a line, intending to create a firebreak. In other areas, the fighting was intense, as Japanese snipers picked off American troops and concealed machine guns turned the narrow streets into kill zones. It was rapidly becoming apparent that not only were the Japanese intending to put up a strong defense of the city, they intended to fight to the death for every position they held.

**GIs are supported by a 37mm anti-tank gun as the fight the Japanese in Chinatown, a few blocks west of Bilibid**
*US National Archives*

In another area, closer to Malacañang Palace, elements of the 1st Cavalry found themselves surrounded after moving too far into the seemingly deserted streets near the Pasig, but were quickly rescued by troops from the 37th Infantry. Meanwhile, in Chinatown the 37th Infantry advanced slowly against determined resistance, and in one notable incident Major Chuck Henne of the 147th Infantry Regiment entered a building and was confronted by armed Chinese. The surprised Major was greeted by a Chinese woman who informed him that they were a neighborhood defense force, and invited him to join her for tea and cakes on the rooftop, remarking later on the surreal nature of the scene, as they watched the city burn below them.

**A group of GIs prepares to destroy a Japanese MG nest**
*US National Archives*

In addition to the malnourished and wounded internees at Santo Tomas and Bilibid, there was an ever-increasing flood of civilian refugees fleeing the inferno that was the Japanese controlled areas of the city. In response, the 29th Evacuation Hospital set up in the George Washington Elementary School in Santa Cruz, quickly taking in more than 150 patients. Also, later today, at 2111, the evacuation of former prisoners from Bilibid was commenced by the 37th Infantry. The close proximity of the Japanese, who were fighting in the streets directly outside the prison walls, had precluded an evacuation up to this point, but with the fires consuming Escolta directly to the south the need to move the prisoners out had become critical and the evacuation commenced regardless of the Japanese presence, albeit slowly.

**Weakened by malnutrition, two internees are wheeled on a makeshift cart to the camp hospital at Santo Tomas, with the 1st Cavalry’s Shermans in the background**
*US National Archives*

“Tell Admiral Halsey to stop looking for the Jap Fleet. It’s dug in here on Nichols Field!”

— Unidentified 11th Airborne Officer (Scott, p.248)

To the south, the 11th Airborne continued its assault on the Genko Line, finally crossing the partially destroyed Parañaque Bridge where they had been stalled since yesterday, advancing toward Nichols Field against strong Japanese defenses. Another hazard presented itself in the form of the aircraft bombs that had been positioned along the road, repurposed into improvised landmines, as well as murderous fire from the Japanese pillboxes. Other elements of the division pushed north, fighting against strong Japanese forces dug in at the Manila Polo Club. The fight for Nichols Field proved to be fierce, with the Japanese making good use of the large numbers of naval guns as well as the anti-aircraft batteries of the airfield against the advancing paratroopers.

**A Japanese gun on the Genko Line**
*US National Archives*

With it now obvious that the Japanese would fight hard for the city, General Griswold, commander of the XIV Corps, issued revised orders for the city to be secured not just by the 37th Infantry, but also ordering the 1st Cavalry to be responsible for a sector. The dividing line was drawn along the railroad running north-south a few blocks east of Santo Tomas, with the cavalry responsible for securing the area east of the tracks and the 37th ordered to take the area westward to the bay, pushing straight south toward the Intramuros. Orders came down from even higher as well, with 6th Army commander General Krueger placing a priority on securing the water and electrical plants to prevent the Japanese from destroying or contaminating them, even as supplies to the city began to fail today.

**Civilians flee with their belongings as the fires started by the Japanese spread through their neighborhood**
*US National Archives*

For the civilians, the situation continued to deteriorate. The fires continued to burn in the northern districts of the city, with the massive plume of black smoke visible from the Los Banos Internment Camp some 40 miles away. At 0930 this morning, witnesses saw a truck arrive at the Yucan She Drug Building on Escolta, loaded with Japanese troops and aircraft bombs. These they began to distribute, a large portion being allocated to the beautiful art-deco Crystal Arcade (the home of the Manila Stock Exchange and a collection of high-end retailers), as well as the nearby Yutivo Hardware Building, before moving down Escolta toward Rosario Street, dispersing their explosive cargo.

**GIs man a M1919 machine gun from a ditch during the street fighting today**
*US National Archives*

The bombs dispersed throughout the morning begin to detonate at 1700, destroying the structures and setting off canisters of fuel scattered throughout as well, leading to massive fires. The “5th Avenue of Manila”, already ablaze in some places, was completely engulfed in a firestorm. In addition to the Crystal Arcade and Hardware Building, the Philippine National Bank and Bank of the Philippine Islands a large number of of smaller businesses as well as apartments were destroyed.

**The gutted lobby of the Crystal Arcade**
*US National Archives*

The situation was not much better on the other side of the Pasig. The supply of water and electricity had failed in most areas, and the Japanese were clamping down on the civilian population. MNDF troops patrolled the river, intending to stop any refugees from fleeing toward the American lines, and it was becoming increasingly dangerous to be on the streets. Bands of collaborationist Makapili and Japanese soldiers were moving through the neighborhoods and taking residents away to an uncertain fate, and the stench of the smoke issuing from across the river permeated the city as it blotted out the sun.

In the Intramuros, where Admiral Iwabuchi had his command post in the old citadel of Fort Santiago, the Japanese sealed the gates, trapping the unfortunate civilians there inside the Walled City. They began rounding up civilians within and collecting them at the San Agustin Church on General Luna Street and the Manila Cathedral near the fort, with thousands reporting by nightfall. As darkness falls, the Japanese begin selecting women from the throng and dragging them away into the darkness.

Monday, 5 February

One of the Strangest Days of the War

Tuesday, 6 February

Sunday, 4 February

I Like to Hear Myself Talk History