1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 8–10 JANUARY 1942 ]
Force is renamed II Philippine Corps and consists
of about 25,000 men of 11th, 21st 41st, and 51st
Divs (all PA), 57th Inf (PS) of Philippine Div, and
supporting weapons. Defense of Bataan as far S as
Mariveles Mts is divided about equally between the
2 corps, I Corps being responsible for W half and
II Corps for E half. Service Command Area is located
at S tip below Mariveles Mts and is the responsibility
of Brig Gen A. C. McBride; in this area
are 2d Div (PC)—organized on this date—provisional
infantry units formed from air corps
personnel, and provisional bn of Navy and Marine
personnel. Defenses on Bataan are organized in
depth: MLR extends from Mauban on W to Mabatang
on E, a distance of 20 miles; OPL is disposed
before the MLR; and rear line of defense, manned
by USAFFE reserve (Philippine Div, less 57th Inf;
tank group; SPM group), is being formed.
MALAYA—Japanese, in strong tank-infantry assault
beginning before dawn, break through Slim
R positions of Ind 11th Div and drive rapidly toward
Kuala Lumpur, reaching positions a miles S of
Slim village. Ind 3 Corps withdraws the Slim R line
southward to Tanjong Malim, between village of
Slim and road junction at Kuala Kubu. This action
temporarily leaves Ind 11th Div ineffective as a
fighting force. Gen Wavell arrives at Singapore.
BORNEO—Japanese in Sarawak reach frontier
of Dutch West Borneo.
LIBYA—13 Corps, Br Eighth Army, patrols to
Agedabia and finds that enemy has withdrawn.
Convoy arrives safely at Benghazi. Because of rough
seas, this port is not put into full operation.
8 January
U.S.—War Department orders that only Air
Corps, AA, and service troops be sent to Australia,
where emphasis will be placed on rapid build up
of air forces.
Luzon—Front is quiet as Japanese regroup for
drive on Bataan and U.S. and Philippine forces
organize defense positions.
MALAYA—Gen Wavell visits Malayan front,
where preparations are being made for withdrawal
of Ind 3 Corps into Johore.
BORNEO—Japanese occupy Jesselton, British
North Borneo.
9 January
Luzon—Japanese open assault on Bataan at
1500 From Dinalupihan-Hermosa area, 3 RCT’s
with arty support move forward, a against II Corps
on E and I toward I Corps sector on W. None of
the columns reaches the OPL. II Corps, defending
Abucay line (from Mabatang on Manila Bay to Mt
[ 13 ]
Natib) with 57th Inf (PS) on E, 41st Div (PA) in
center, and 51st Div (PA) on W, opens fire on
enemy combat team driving down East Road and
makes patrol contact with it. To W, another Japanese
column advances unmolested down trail from
Dinalupihan to vicinity of Album. In I Corps area,
enemy column from Dinalupihan is slowed only
by demolitions while moving W along Route 7
toward Olongapo. Disposed along I Corps’ Mauban
line (Mt Silanganan on E to Mauban on Subic Bay)
are Co K of 1st Inf (PA); 31st FA bn of 31st Div
(PA) organized as infantry; and 3d Inf of 1st Div
(PA). Additional troops are maintaining OPL to
front.
MALAYA—Gen Percival issues instructions for
withdrawal of Ind 3 Corps into Johore, where final
stand before Singapore Naval Base is to be made.
Corps begins withdrawal at once, executing demolition
program as it goes. Ind 11th Div and line of
communications troops are to delay enemy along
two lines: one covering Seremban and Port Dickson,
and the other covering Tampin and Malacca;
Ind 9th Div is to clear Kuala Pilah and Tampin,
respectively.
BORNEO—RAF planes from Malaya terminate
action over Borneo with rcn flight over Kuching.
CHINA—As consideration of the U.S. role in
China continues in Washington, Gen Marshall decides
to recommend against sending Gen Drum to
China because of the small effort that is currently
to be made there.
10 January
LUZON—Gen MacArthur inspects Bataan defenses.
Japanese make their first surrender demand,
dropping it from the air. In II Corps area, Japanese
force driving S along East Road splits, most of it
moving W; both forces reach OPL along Calaguiman
R below Samal and exert strong pressure
against it. Enemy column pushing S in central
Bataan is slowed by jungle terrain. In I Corps area,
Japanese W assault force reaches Olongapo without
opposition.
MALAYA—Ind 3 Corps abandons Port Swettenham
and Kuala Lumpur while falling back to cover
Port Dickson and Seremban area. Japanese planes,
which since late December have been making night
attacks on airdromes on Singapore, begin daylight
raids on the airdromes.
NEI—Gen Wavell, Supreme Commander of
ABDA area, flies to Java, where he confers with
members of ABDA staff; establishes hq at Lembang,
10 miles N of Bandoeng.
BURMA—Commander of Ind 17th Div arrives
in Burma to take charge of Tenasserim operations.