Ran across this today. It is a poster advertising a living history event in the Philippines from six years ago that focuses on the fighting along the Abucay-Mauban line in 1942.

When USAFFE began their retreat to the Bataan Peninsula on January 4, 1942, they established a line of defense from the east coast at Abucay west to Mount Natib, and west from the mountain to Mauban. The mountain served as boundary between USAFFE’s I & II Corps.

The two corps were basically isolated from one another by Mt Natib, which reduced the fighting along the Abucay-Mauban line to two separate battles.

Although very rugged and difficult to traverse, the mountain did offer a determined enemy the means to flank both positions.

Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s decision to delay the planned withdrawal to the Bataan Peninsula prevented the timely stockpiling of supplies that would be needed to sustain both soldiers and civilians for the trials ahead.

The eastern sector held by II Corps (Gen. George Parker) was the more defensible of the two lines, with open ground and good fortifications, backed up by strong artillery positions. Unfortunately, losses to desertion during the retreat had sapped Parker’s strength considerably.

The fighting in II Corps’ sector began on January 9, resulting in heavy fighting for the next several days. Forced to commit his reserves to strengthen his lines following a failed counterattack, Parker managed to recover some lost ground.

Having received Bataan’s designated reserve, the US Philippine Division (US 31st Inf & 45th Inf, Philippine Scouts), Parker continued to hold and counterattack as needed. By Jan. 19, Japanese forces had crossed Mt Natib, getting into the rear of II Corps and threatening its flank

Japanese control of the air and superiority in artillery told on II Corps’ hard pressed lines and when it was clear that his left was soon to suffer the same fate as Wainwright’s broken right flank, Parker was ordered to withdraw on January 22.

From the beginning, I Corps’ commander Maj. Gen. Jonathan Wainwright had seen off enemy attacks in somewhat easier fashion until 15 January when the Phil. div holding I Corps’ right flank was threatened by an enemy force that had penetrated a gap connecting it to the mountain.

Unable to dislodge the enemy force that had maneuvered into his rear and threatened his line of retreat, Wainwright was likewise ordered to withdraw on 22 January 1942.

Though the fight for Bataan was far from over, this first series of bitterly fought encounters in dense jungles and on mountain trails was characteristic of a campaign that would force Japan to commit reserves intended for other operations to secure the Philippines.

Still the best source on the campaign, Louis Morton’s ‘The Fall of the Philippines’ is available online. #WWII #History

https://history.army.mil/books/wwii/5-2/5-2_Contents.htm