Japanese Tanks and Infantry Advance through Bataan Jungle
While British forces were retreating down the Malay peninsula, US forces were retreating down the Bataan peninsula on the Philippine island of Luzon. The defenders were already on half rations by mid January and debilitated by the jungle conditions but they were putting up a fierce defence against superior numbers, without the weapons to match the Japanese artillery and tanks. It was another fighting withdrawal against an enemy that were prepared to throw wave after wave of their troops into suicidal ‘Banzai’ attacks. There was no peace even when an orderly withdrawal was possible, the Japanese were constantly pressing down on them, even at night.
