FIELD NOTE: FOTS2-111122 (Page 2)

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Starting back down the road you can see Mount Mariveles on Bataan in the distance.

Walking back towards Bottomside you will pass a few structures on the left-hand side as you pass the Enlisted Men’s Swimming Beach (#6 on the map).

Coming around the corner three structures come into view.

Here is a look at the structures as seen from Infantry Point.

The first structure is not numbered or named on any map that I have. All that remains are the four outer walls.

 

Exterior of the first structure.

 

Inside view of an end wall.

The second structure is small but still worth a look. It is labeled as Cable Terminal #3. This is where submarine communication cables would be hauled ashore and then routed off to where ever the electronics was located. Ask EXO about Corregidor monitoring secret diplomatic traffic. This building might have been one link in an interesting story.

Front view of Cable Terminal #3.

 

Just below the entrance are cable conduits facing out towards the beach. A few cables are still sticking through the holes.

 

What we see here are armoured submarine cables. Large diameter spiral wrapped wires provide protection for the fragile coax cable in the center. The coax cables were used for long distance communications where multiple pairs of twisted copper wires were used for local communication.

 

The metal hooks probably supported a false floor above the coiled cables.

 

On the rear wall opposite the conduits is this metal loop that would have been used to help pull the cables in from the beach.
 

The final structure is labeled as Casemate #3. This is a solid concrete building however it does have some battle damage and some severely burned inside areas. One room has two pads for diesel generators. The rear windows and door are filling up with soil as the adjacent hillside is sliding towards the building. I notice a large rock on the roof that was not there months ago.

Outside front of Casemate #3

 

Looking in one of the doors.

 

Concrete generator pads on the floor. A hole for an exhaust pipe is above the left side window.

 

One of the areas that looks to have been burned.

 

 

 

Note the recent little rock slide on the roof of the Casemate. Up the steep slope is Malinta Point.

 

On the way back to Bottomside I walk around the cliff face at Malinta Point. This piece of water is the north channel between Corregidor Island and Bataan.

 

Soon I am in view of the north side docks and minutes away from the cold drinks at MacArthur’s.

Another good day on the Rock.

 

John Moffitt