Bataan, symbolic of hope for the Fil-American forces and a thorn and yoke for Japan, has come to an end. Its spirit and history, however, represent something that will not end with its surrender.
Allied radios carried the official release from the USAFFE that General Wainwright had sent General King with a white flag, and the defending forces laid down their arms. On the other hand, the Press and Japanese newscasts reported that East Bataan has surrendered and that the Japanese mopping-up forces have occupied various towns, crushing the isolated cases of resistance they encountered. The news is rather confusing. If there was surrender, why the continued fighting? If the defenders have already laid down their arms, why are they still being attacked?
From official sources, we learned that Japan launched a devastating attack, putting into play her whole war machine, thus annihilating the enemy resistance in six days. It was added that the general offensive started on Good Friday, the 3rd of April, before which they were not really serious about the conquest of Bataan.
As far as we were concerned, the attack on Bataan has been consistent for the last three months, intensifying to a grand scale these past two weeks.
At any rate, the stronghold of Fil-American forces has fallen. Only the small island of Corregidor remains to prevent the entry of the Japanese to the Bay. But for all its fortifications, how long will it stand against the vigorous and gnawing advance of the Japanese forces supported by thousands of reinforcements?