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

328, The Fall of Mindenau.

Last time General Edward P. King surrendered all the Allied forces on Luzon on April 9,

given the deteriorating military situation.

Finally his men were unable to go on and the defensive line of second corps was no more.

In other words, King was making official what had already happened.

The Allies had lost the war for Paton and the Philippines.

And yet, Corregidor and the islands to the south were still defiant.

While word of the surrender was flying through Allied lines and valuable equipment was being

destroyed, one of the last issues General King and his staff discussed before his surrender

was the speed of the enemy's advance.

Specifically, if General Homes men got to the top of the Maravelle's, they would of course

dominate Paton, but also Corregidor.

Yet the question was, could the defending forces in southern Paton do anything to slow

them down?

As the answer was no, that seemed to be the last straw on the camel's back.

I.E. the surrender.

The island that housed Wainwright's command was now on its own.

So they're sat Corregidor at the entrance of Manila Bay, one of the finest natural

harbors in the world.

Yet, it was not open for business to the Japanese, not quite yet.

The Americans had enough large guns on Corregidor, some 45 coastal guns and mortars and all, to

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