Manila Studies

JOHN LERY G SURELL

ED23- SOCIAL STUDIES
May 1, 2021
Act. # 12
The Battle of Manila
Answer the following Questions

1. What are the three (3) major objectives of the American Forces to the City
of Manila?
Explain each
There are three main objective of American forces to the city of Manila. First
during the pearl port many American forces were captured by the Japanese
after they won over the American forces warning the people of manila that
“Anyone who enters, or attempts to harm, an injury to Japanese soldiers or
individuals will be killed to death. " But if the culprit is not found the Japanese
"will hold ten influential people as a hostage." They want to free the interned
enemy civilian of Japanese such as American and British forces that
imprisoned at the Unibersidad ng Santo Tomas. Second to conquer the
Malacañan Palace or the house of the President because of that they control
the government of the Philippines. Lastly, the reclamation of the Legislative
Building to be a legal authority in the right of Filipino
Other view or opinion the main purpose of the enemy in defending Manila was
threefold: first, to effect maximum attrition of American fighting power by
utilizing the advantages of natural and man-made defenses within the city.
Secondly, to delay the occupation and utilization of the Port of Manila as long
as possible. Thirdly, to cripple the city as a base for future military operations
and as a center for civilian production and governmental control. This third
objective was covered in Manila Naval Defense Force (MNDF) Order No. 43,
dated 3 Feb., 1945, which reads in part as follows:
"1. The South, Central and North Forces must destroy the factories,
warehouses, and other installations and materiel being used by Naval and
Army forces, in so far as the combat and preparations of Naval forces in Manila
and of Army forces in their vicinity will not be hindered thereby.
"2. The demolition of such installations within the city limits will be carried
out secretly for the time being so that such actions will not disturb the
tranquility of the civil population nor be used by the enemy for counter-
propaganda. Neither large scale demolition nor burning by incendiaries will be
committed.
"3. A special order will be issued concerning the demolition of the water
system and the electrical installations."
https://usacac.army.mil/sites/default/files/publications/U_Battle_For_Manila.
pdf
2. How did their liberation marked the beginning of the Battle for Manila?
MacArthur’s ego fueled his decision to liberate Manila ignore the strategic
situation on Luzon and the sound military logic underpinning his order for the
operation Yamashita’s Army. MacArthur’s forces still had to fight and defeat
the main Japanese army defending Luzon, at least 200,000 soldiers under the
command of General Tomoyuki Yamashita. MacArthur recognized that it was
vitally important to free the captives as soon as possible to save their lives,
later writing, “I knew that many of these half-starved and ill-treated people
would die unless we rescued them promptly.” In the first days of the Manila
fighting, 5,800 internees and POWs were rescued at Santo Tomas and Bilibid
Prison. Returning the Capital to the Legitimate Philippine Government. After
three years of brutal and exploitative Japanese occupation, another major
priority for MacArthur was expeditiously re-establishing the legitimate
Philippine government. As the capital of the Philippines, Manila was the most
important symbol of governmental authority. MacArthur had sound politico-
military reasons for his decision to order the liberation of the Philippine capital.
However, the commander whose ruthless decision turned Manila into an
abattoir was not Douglas MacArthur.
3. What happened in the Battle of Manila? Narrate your answer.
the Battle of Manila Bay in May 1898, U.S. troops occupied the Philippine
capital, Manila. Relations between U.S. troops and native Filipinos deteriorated
as it became clear that the Americans were there to stay. On 21 December
1898, the U.S. president, William McKinley, issued a Proclamation
of Benevolent Assimilation taking over the islands. On 1 January 1899, Filipino
leader Emilio Aguinaldo was declared president of an independent republic. A
substantial Filipino rebel army dug into positions around Manila, which was
occupied by U.S. troops. The Filipinos were short on equipment and lacked
leadership, with no clear strategy or tactics. As tensions rose, two U.S.
sentries, who were on guard at Manila’s San Juan del Monte bridge on the
evening of 4 February, fired shots at a Filipino crowd crossing the bridge.
Within minutes, both sides were exchanging fire, and a group of Filipino rebels
captured two U.S. artillery pieces. The next morning, at daybreak, U.S.
general Arthur MacArthur gave the order to attack the Filipino trenches. U.S.
troops captured a ridge to the north, overlooking the city, while troops to the
south captured a village containing Filipino supplies. The population of the city
failed to rise in support of the rebels. Filipino units continued to skirmish with
U.S. soldiers on the city’s outskirts for several days until they were finally
driven out. The battle for Manila was the prelude to a conflict that would last
for three years. Losses: U.S., 50–60 dead, 225 wounded of 19,000; Filipino,
up to 2,000 dead or wounded of 15,000.
4. How long did the Battle of Manila last?
The Battle of Manila lasted three years and resulted in the death of over 4,200
American and over 20,000 Filipino combatants. As many as 200,000 Filipino
civilians died from violence, famine, and disease. the Spanish-American War
of 1898, Spain ceded its longstanding colony of the Philippines to the United
States in the Treaty of Paris. On February 4, 1899, just two days before the
U.S. Senate ratified the treaty, fighting broke out between American forces
and Filipino nationalists led by Emilio Aguinaldo who sought independence
rather than a change in colonial rulers.
5. What was the aftermath in Battle of Manila? Elaborate your answer.
Dewey’s decisive victory cleared the way for the U.S. occupation of Manila in
August and the eventual transfer of the Philippines from Spanish to American
control. In Cuba, Spanish forces likewise crumbled in the face of superior U.S.
forces, and on August 12 an armistice was signed between Spain and the
United States. In December, the Treaty of Paris officially ended the brief
Spanish-American War. The once-proud Spanish empire was virtually
dissolved, and the United States gained its first overseas empire. Puerto
Rico and Guam were ceded to America, the Philippines were bought for $20
million, and Cuba became a U.S. protectorate. Philippine insurgents who
fought against Spanish rule during the war immediately turned their guns
against the new occupiers, and a significantly greater number of American
troops died suppressing the Philippines than in defeating Spain.