1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 22–23 JANUARY 1942 ]
Muar and Segamat fronts continues. Commander of
West Force is placed in charge of all troops on Yong
Peng-Muar road. Muar force is supplied by air. East
Force patrols ambush enemy force driving on
Mersing.
CELEBES SEA—Enemy convoy is observed moving
S in Celebes Sea.
BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO—Japanese planes continue
preinvasion bombardment of Rabaul (New
Britain) and Kavieng (New Ireland). At Rabaul,
the only coastal battery is destroyed.
NEW GUINEA—Japanese begin air offensive
against New Guinea with 50-plane attack on Lae-
Salamaua area.
CHINA—Chinese Government accepts proposal
that Gen Stilwell act as chief of the Generalissimo’s
Allied staff and agrees to give him executive authority
over Allied units. Ch 49th Div (6th Army)
is authorized to move into Burma.
LIBYA—Axis forces, with strong air support,
go on the offensive in W Cyrenaica, pushing rapidly
eastward in 3 columns astride main road. Br Eighth
Army’s 13 Corps commander orders withdrawal to
line Agedabia–El Haseiat at once and a further retreat
if necessary; orders Ind 4th Div to check coastal
advance toward Benghazi.
22 January
LUZON—Gen MacArthur orders withdrawal of
entire Mauban–Abucay line southward to final defense
position on Bataan, behind Pilar–Bagac road;
withdrawal is to start after nightfall on 23d and be
completed by daylight of 26th. In II Corps area,
Japanese open offensive that forces Philippine Div
back to positions E and S of Abucay Hacienda,
approximately those held at beginning of counteroffensive
on 16 January. In I Corps area, elements
of 91st Div (PA), supported by Scouts of 26th Cav
and tanks, attempt unsuccessfully to reduce roadblock
on West Road and to reach 1st Div troops still
fighting along MLR to N. Japanese begin series of
amphibious operations, night 22–23, when bn embarks
in barges at Moron and sails toward Caibobo
Pt, below Bagac. U.S. PT boat encounters and sinks
2 vessels.
MALAYA—Six-day battle on Muar front ends in
victory for Japanese. Ind 45th Brig, despite close air
and naval support during the operation, is destroyed
as a fighting body. Muar force destroys its vehicles
and weapons and pushes toward Yong Peng by
infiltration, leaving wounded behind. Batu Pahat
defense force (detachment of Ind 11th Div) skirmishes
with enemy on Batu Pahat–Ayer Hitam road.
Ind 8th Brig Gp, 9th Div, having withdrawn from
Segamat sector to positions astride main road between
Labis and Yong Peng, is attacked by enemy.
[ 17 ]
East Force repels enemy attempt to cross river at
Mersing. Partly trained Ind 44th Brig, reinf, and
7,000 Ind reinforcements arrive at Singapore.
MAKASSAR STRAIT—U.S. submarine attacks
enemy convoy.
BURMA—Ind 16th Brig breaks off action in
Kawkareik area and falls back toward Moulmein.
L IBYA—Continuing swiftly eastward, Axis
forces occupy Agedabia.
23 January
U.S.—Gen Stilwell, in Washington, accepts
China assignment and takes over part of staff previously
selected by Gen Drum.
Luzon—Philippine Div, on II Corps W flank,
withstands increasingly heavy pressure. After nightfall,
II Corps begins withdrawal to final defense
line. In I Corps area, Japanese maintain heavy pressure
against Mauban MLR and frustrate further
attempts to reduce roadblock on West Road. In
Service Command Area, enemy amphibious force
heading for Caibobo Pt, having lost its way during
night, arrives at 2 points on SW coast, both well
S of objective. About a third land at Longoskawayan
Pt; the rest land at Quinauan Pt. Gen McBride, responsible
for defense of S tip of Bataan except for
naval reservation near Mariveles, sends Philippine
Constabulary elements to Quinauan Pt, but they
make little headway. Comdr Francis J. Bridget, commanding
naval reservation, dispatches sailors and
marines to Longoskawayan Pt; these, reinf by personnel
of U.S. 301st Chemical Co and a howitzer
from the Constabulary, clear Pucot Hill, but enemy
returns after nightfall.
MALAYA—Rear guards from Segamat and Muar
fronts complete withdrawal through Yong Peng at
midnight, 23–24; West Force then comes under
command of Ind 3 Corps, which is to defend central
Johore and thereby protect Singapore naval base
until reinforcements arrive. Japanese are to be kept
N of line Batu Pahat–Ayer Hitam–Kluang–Jemaluang,
if possible. Fighting continues in Batu Pahat
area, and road from there to Ayer Hitam is closed.
Japanese intensify air attacks.
BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO—Japanese Fourth Fleet
lands troops at Rabaul (New Britain) and Kavieng
(New Ireland). Small Aus garrison of the important
Rabaul base is soon overwhelmed. Kavieng is undefended.
Japanese are now within easy striking distance
of New Guinea.
SOLOMON IS.—Elements of Japanese Fourth Fleet
invade Kieta (Bougainville) without opposition.
NEI—Japanese invasion forces move S in 2
convoys, one through Makassar Strait to Balikpapan
(Borneo) and the other through Molucca Passage