Hello, and thank you for listening to the history of World War II podcast, Episode

312, Baton or Bust.

Last time, Esmergertha realized his defensive plan to hold up the enemy at the beaches had

failed, he decided to revert back to the original plan, plan orange.

This would see a series of battle lines being thrown up between the enemy now below Ling

Gain, Galf and Manella.

The last of these lines, designated D5, would be the strongest, but even this was only

to gain time.

So all available troops could reconvene in the Baton Peninsula to set up the real defensive

position until help came.

This move would hopefully allow Washington the time it needed to bring in reinforcements,

but even this effort did not start out well, as the defending forces to hand were no match

for the experienced and well-supplied enemy, who also already controlled the skies and

the waters around Luzon.

No, D5 seemed doomed to fail as General Jonathan Wainwright, the Northern Commander, had asked

the General for help from the Philippine Division to help boost his numbers, but he was told

no.

Further complicating the Carthor's new defensive plan was that his logistics people had

not placed stores, food or supplies within Baton, and why should they?

The General had done away with that part of the plan until now.

Whereas on the island of Corregidor in Manila Bay below Baton, sure stores had been put

aside there for any coming battle.

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