About 4:00 P.M. January Sth, Colonel Brady assembled the Commanding Officers and Platoon Leaders of the battalion and told them that all the troops to the north would pass through the battalion line that night and that the bridge would then be blown up. The 71st Division was to hold the line and delay the enemy until the other units could prepare their positions in the Abucay line. The kitchens and vehicles moved to the rear about 8:00 P.M.
At midnight, the 26th Cavalry (Philippine Scouts) passed the Battalion Command Post and took up positions on the left of the 31st Infantry. The bridge was blown about 1:00 A.M.