January 1942

Philippines

The Philippine II and I Corps complete their withdrawal to the final defense line on Bataan in the morning, followed closely by the Japanese. The new line, which is to be continuous for the first time, extends from Orion on the east to Bagac on the west and in generally behind the Pilar-Bagac road. Gaps develop in each corps sector when USAFFE (United States Army Forces Far East) withdraws the Philippine Division as its reserve. Units are hastily shifted to replace the US 31st and 57th Philippine Scout Regiments in the II Corps line and the 45th Philippine Scout Infantry in the I Corps line. II Corps, responsible for eastern Bataan from the coast to the Pantingan River, orgnizes its line into 4 sectors. They are from east to west: Sector A, 31st Infantry of the 31st Division (PA); Sector B, Provisional Air Corps Regiment; Sector C, elements of the 31st Division (PA) and remnants of the 51st Division (PA); Sector D, 41st and 21st Divisions (PA) and 33rd Infantry, less the 1st Battalion of the 31st Division (PA). In addition, beach defense forces are organized as Sector E. The 1st Battalion of the 33rd Infantry, 31st Division (PA), and a regimnet of PA combat engineers constitute the corps reserve. The Japanese patrol along the eastern slopes of Mt Samat almost to the defenders main line but do not discover the gap in the line, which exists for several hours.

The I Corps line, extending from the Pantingan River to the west coast, is divided into Right and Left Sectors: the Right Sector is manned by the 2nd PC (Philippine Constabulary) Regiment (less one battalion) on the east and the 11th Division (PA) on the west; disposed in the Left Sector are elements of the 1st Division (PA) on the east and the 91st (PA) on the west. Beach defense forces make up the South Sector. The 26th Cavalry (PS) is held in corps reserve.

The Japanese open an offensive, driving south along West Road toward the Binuangan River. The 91st Division (PA) contains these attacks. In the South Sector, the Japanese maintain beachheads at Points Quinauan and Longoskawayan and move reinforcements toward the former. USAFFE sends the 88th Field Artillery (PS) to the west coast from the II Corps sector, one of its gun batteries to Point Quinauan and another to Point Longoskawayan.