What needed to be done was ignored in 1941. They needed the supplies which MacArthur had requested and which were deferred in order to supply Europe. At the first sign of attack on Dec. 8, MacArthur should have realized the futility of his position and started evacuations. He had the gasoline to ferry them to other islands. He had no suitable aircraft and no anti-aircraft weapons. He had insufficient supplies and weapons. Most of the troops were using old Lee-Enfields. He was going against a superior force that had time, training, and equipment on their side. Trying to hold out was a ridiculous waste of people. It was only one of many examples of troops dying for lost cause. I suppose they figured on humanitarian treatment by the Japanese, but they were not prepared for so many POWs. The Japanese ignored the Geneva Convention with a strong antipathy for other races.

By disbanding the filipino forces, he would be able to save them and reserve supplies for the American troops. The majority of the filipinos troops spoke several languages, while the officers spoke other languages, and the Americans only spoke English. Communications were almost nil. Evacuation by sub could have been given enough priority to save quite a few soldiers.

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Lord, let me be the person my dog thinks I am.