MEDICAL
CARE ON BATAAN.
Filipino soldiers waiting for treatment outside an aid station. |
|
Since 24 December, a month earlier, they
had fallen back from position after position to reach the safety of
Bataan. Here they had held off the overconfident enemy along a line
which, because of the terrain in the center, was soon turned. After two
weeks of hard fighting the American and Filipino troops had fallen back
again. Bataan had been saved,
. . . .
. saved for another day
Saved for hunger and wounds and heat
For slow exhaustion and grim retreat
For a wasted hope and a sure defeat. . . .
There was no further retreat from the new
line. "With its occupation," MacArthur wrote to the Chief of Staff, "all
maneuvering possibilities will cease. I intend to fight it out to
complete destruction.