1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

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tions from which to defend Kuantan airdrome and
protect Ind 11th Div from attack from E.
CHINA—At meeting of Allied leaders in Chungking,
Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek offers Ch 5th
and 6th Armies for defense of Burma. Gen Wavell
accepts Ch 6th Army's 93d Div, elements of which
are approaching border of Burma from China; regt
of 49th Div is to be held in reserve on N Burma
frontier.
AUSTRALIA—Pensacola convoy reaches Brisbane,
where Gen Barnes' TF South Pacific becomes U.S.
Forces in Australia (USFIA). This is the first U.S.
troop detachment to arrive in Australia.
23 December
WAKE—Japanese naval force arrives off Wake
about 0200 and puts ashore about 1,500 personnel of
Special Naval Landing Force. Garrison holds out for
about ii hours before being overwhelmed. TF 14,
the relief force, after reaching point a little more than
400 miles from Wake, is recalled shortly before surrender
of the island and retires toward Midway, the
last American base remaining between Hawaii and
the Philippines.
P.I.—On Luzon, General Douglas MacArthur
decides to evacuate Manila and withdraw to Bataan
to make a delaying stand. During night 23–24, enemy
invasion force of 7,000 men arrives in Lamon
Bay from the Ryukyus. Enemy invasion force sails
from Mindanao for Jolo I., Sulu Archipelago.
MALAYA—Ind 3 Corps completes withdrawal of
all W coast forces behind Perak R, night 23–24.
Japanese planes, which so far have concentrated on
airfields, begin intensive action against forward
areas.
BORNEO—Japanese convoy is detected heading
toward Kuching, Sarawak.
CHINA—Japanese begin drive on Changsha,
Hunan Province.
BURMA—Japanese open series of strong air attacks
on Rangoon, beginning battle for air
supremacy that is to last until late February 1942.
Exodus of civilian laborers hampers port operations
in Rangoon.
LIBYA—Because of supply difficulties, which increase
as pursuit progresses westward, elements of
13 Corps, Br Eighth Army, are forced to remain in
place. However, Ind 4th Div seizes Barce, on coast,
and forward elements Of 7th Armd Div force enemy
to retire from Antelat to Agedabia.
24 December
ST PIERRE AND MIQUELON Is.—These islands, off
Newfoundland, are seized by Free French.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE—Anglo-American
[ 23–24 DECEMBER 1941 ]
conference, called ARCADIA, opens in Washington to
consider war strategy. Prime Minister Winston S.
Churchill, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and
British and U.S. Chiefs of Staff attend.
U.S.—American engineers and military members
of Iranian, USSR, and North African missions
sail for the Middle East from New York on Army
transport Siboney.
MIDWAY—Garrison is reinf with 2 batteries of
4th Defense Bn, which arrive from Hawaii.
P.I.—On Luzon, Adm Hart releases 4th
Marines, stationed at Olongapo, to defend beaches
of Corregidor. Japanese Lamon Bay invasion force,
which constitutes southern prong of pincers applied
against Manila, goes ashore early in morning
at 3 points—Mauban, near Atimonan, and Slain.
Main assault force, in center, secures Atimonan,
forcing defenders back toward Pagbilao. Mauban
force takes that town and pushes 5 miles W. From
Slain enemy advances in 2 columns, one SW toward
Tayabas Bay and the other SE along Route 1
toward the Legaspi detachment. Japanese on N
Luzon consolidate beachhead and debouch on central
plain to thrust sharply toward Agno R line. San
Fabian and Binalonan fall, 26th Cav (PS) retiring
from Binalonan across the Agno to Tayug. Planned
withdrawal toward Bataan is begun in evening.
USAFFE hq, except for rear echelon, and President
and High Commissioner of the Philippines sail to
Corregidor from Manila. Fort Stotsenburg is evacuated.
Maj Gen Jonathan M. Wainwright's North
Luzon Force, disposed generally along line Tayug–
Urdaneta–San Carlos–Aquilar, from E to W, begins
withdrawing toward Agno R line. South Luzon
Force, command of which passes from Gen
Parker to Brig Gen Albert M. Jones, is to withdraw
northward into Bataan. Gen Parker moves to
Bataan to head Bataan Defense Force, organized
to prepare defensive positions.
SULU ARCHIPELAGO—Japanese invade Jolo I. in
evening against light resistance from the constabulary.
BORNEO—Japanese convoy, despite attacks by
Br and Dutch planes and Dutch submarines, succeeds
in landing troops in Kuching area, Sarawak,
early in morning. Garrison, having already destroyed
Kuching airdrome, requests permission to withdraw
to Dutch Borneo and is told to delay enemy as long
as possible before retiring. Dutch aircraft withdraw
from Singkawang, Borneo, to Palembang, Sumatra.
MALAYA—Ind 11th Div, controlling all Ind 3
Corps troops N of Slim and Bernam Rivers, is organizing
defense in depth astride main road with
MLR in Kampar area and rear positions near Slim
R. Commander AIF Malaya, Ma) Gen Gordon Bennett
(CG Aus 8th Div), assigns responsibility for N
Johore to Aus 27th Brig Gp, Aus 8th Div.