Wainwright collapsed in his chair when he heard his adjutant's words. The more than 70,000 troops in Edward King's hands are Wainwright's last support now. Without these 70,000 troops, he would

An army of just over 10,000 people could not withstand the Japanese attack.

Wainwright closed his eyes in pain, knowing that the situation was over.

In fact, the U.S. military has been extremely short of food and ammunition since the middle of the Philippine Campaign, and now the U.S. military's daily rations are less than half of the normal standard.

At the same time, the outbreak of tropical epidemics such as malaria and dysentery gradually depleted the combat strength of tens of thousands of troops. The dual torture of hunger and disease led to a continuous decline in the morale of the troops.

Wainwright knew from the bottom of his heart that MacArthur would not come back so early. They left on a submarine. After the U.S. Pacific Fleet was attacked by the Japanese, it would be a year before they could even provide support to the Philippines.

After the Japanese Combined Fleet withdrew from the Pacific, it devoted all its strength to the battlefield in Southeast Asia. The U.S. military suffered more intense bombing than ever before.

"Chirp, chirp, chirp...boom, boom, boom..." The explosions and bombings continued. Now Wainwright still has 12,000 people in his hands. But he is not sure how long he can last...

"This matter is kept secret for the time being. Don't let it leak out..." Wainwright finally chose to continue fighting. He could not forget his promise to MacArthur.

"You go down first...tell the soldiers that now is the time when America needs them to fight! Please hold on! We will win the final victory!"

The adjutant said nothing, gave Wainwright a military salute, turned and left the headquarters.

The war at the Corregidor Line is still going on. But the soldiers who surrendered with Edward King are waiting in fear for their fate.

They put down their weapons, and the Japanese army began to arrogantly come over and take away the weapons.

"You damn white pigs! Hand over everything! Hurry up!" A Japanese military officer brandished his saber and roared viciously in half-baked English.

"According to the Geneva Convention, we have the right to demand prisoners of war..." A US military officer couldn't help but stand up and was about to speak, but what greeted him was a "Puff!" knife!

The officer screamed and fell to the ground. Blood spurted out continuously. Some American soldiers wanted to step forward, but what they saw were bright machine guns pointing at them.

"Bang!" The Japanese officer ferociously walked up to the American officer who kept screaming, took out his pistol and shot his head in pieces.

Fear and despair suddenly filled the U.S.-Philippine coalition forces, and many people suppressed their voices and cried.

"Hand over everything! Quick!!" After the Japanese military officer shot and killed the American officer, he turned around and said viciously to the remaining people.

No one dared not to hand it over. Under the machine guns of these Japanese troops, watches, water bottles, wallets, rings, etc., everything that was considered potentially valuable were looted.

Everyone was herded into a group like garbage. They were divided into groups of 300 people and then sent to the mining site designated by Masaharu Honma for mining.

"Don't give them anything to eat or drink on the way!" Masaharu Honma looked at the surrendered U.S.-Philippine coalition forces and said lightly: "If they can't hold on to the mine, it means these people are useless. It's better to die.

."

"Hai!" the adjutant responded loudly, and turned around to pass on the order. Masaharu Honma didn't pay much attention to these prisoners of war. In his opinion, the only use of these people now is to mine.

What he is focusing on now is the damn Corregidor Island, where there are still more than ten thousand American troops fighting. This makes Masaharu Honma very angry.

Yamashita Fengwen's victory was so great that he forced more than 100,000 British-Australian troops to surrender with just over 50,000 men. However, he only had about 100,000 people here, but they are still fighting now.

Masaharu Honma would never admit it. A large part of the reason why he abused those prisoners of war was that he felt that they had made him lose face. Since he wanted to surrender, why not surrender earlier?!

"Call the Navy! I hope they will increase their bombing intensity. These damn white pigs are tough elements. Since they don't want to surrender, let them all die!"

"Hai!"

Under the forced order of Masaharu Honma, countless bombers and fighter jets continued to take off, frantically bombing and strafing the U.S. military on Corregidor Island.

Wainwright looked at the artillery fire outside and felt constant pain in his heart.

"General, we have no supplies. The ammunition base has dropped to less than one per person... The injuries and illnesses are serious, at least half of the people have fallen ill... The Japanese artillery fire and bombing have caused a large number of casualties, and there are already two front-line positions

The high ground was occupied by Japanese troops..."

None of the news that came back was good news, and no matter how Wainwright called MacArthur, the answer he got was that he hoped they would persist and wait.

The Corregidor Line of Defense, which MacArthur said was impregnable, was actually gradually collapsing. More than 10,000 U.S.-Philippine troops were squeezed into the small third line of defense and struggling.

The plane had been destroyed long ago, and now all the former pilots have been transferred to the infantry. Covered in mud, water and smoke, they clenched their teeth and persisted on the position.

"Boom! Boom! Boom..." This is the naval gun mobilized by the Japanese army that is constantly bombarding the Corregidor defense line. Countless soldiers on the defense line are screaming and being bombarded by this large-caliber naval gun.

Eight falls.

Mutilated corpses and internal organs were scattered everywhere, and the screams could not even be heard amidst the roar of the huge explosion. After the shelling, the Japanese tanks began to attack the position.

At this time, the only ones left on the battlefield were the U.S.-Philippine coalition forces who kept wailing and covering their severed arms and thighs. The cruel war scenes made the U.S.-Philippine coalition forces on the battlefield cry continuously.

They tried to counterattack, but the Japanese heavy machine guns and grenade launchers began bombarding them before they could use them. The remaining Japanese infantry even raided the position under the cover of tanks.

"General... we can no longer hold on. Without support, we can only fight with stones and sticks..." In the second week of the Battle of Corregidor Island, the adjutant with a bandage around his neck faced Wainwright.

Sobbed.

Wainwright looked at the flames outside and said nothing. The support had not arrived, but now the coalition forces did not even have ammunition. Four lines of defense had been broken. The Japanese troops were still shelling and breaking through.

If they continue like this, they will either be annihilated or they will be forced to jump into the sea by the Japanese army.

Wainwright took out a piece of paper on his desk at the headquarters. He opened the pen and wrote something with trembling hands. It took a while before Wainwright filled up the paper.

He stood up with difficulty and said to his adjutant in a trembling voice: "Send this telegram to Washington, and I...I will organize the surrender of the Japanese army..."

After saying this, Wainwright slumped down on the chair, lowered his head and began to sob silently. After all, he was unable to hold on to the Philippines, and in the end he could only take this step.

"Please tell the nation that my troops and I have accomplished all that is humanly possible and that we have defended the great traditions of the United States of America and her military... It is with deep regret and immense pride in my tenacious military that

Went to see the Japanese commander. Goodbye, Mr. President!"

Marshall finished reading the telegram, and Roosevelt lowered his head and said nothing. The senior cabinet officials beside him remained silent. They had long expected that the Philippine battlefield would not last long, but when that day really came, everyone

People still find it somewhat unacceptable.

However, they can do nothing. Now their biggest wish is to save Australia and suppress the Japanese army. In Southeast Asia, at least now, they have no way.

"What now, Mr. President?!" After a long silence, Marshall asked Roosevelt softly. The latter smiled bitterly and said nothing, looking at the Secretary of War, Secretary of the Navy and others present.

"If the Tiger Commander-in-Chief can rescue our soldiers and generals in the Philippines, I will agree with them to dominate the Southeast Asian battlefield." Secretary of War Harry Woodring looked very unhappy. He was a staunch conservative.

In his opinion, the interests of Southeast Asia belong to the interests of the United States, and the National Defense Forces should not interfere at all. He is also extremely dissatisfied with the arrival of the National Defense Forces to support the United States, believing that this is a way for the president to question the combat effectiveness of the US military.

Marshall sighed helplessly. He knew that the conservative forces in the US military were very strong. They had even formed a stable system, and solving this problem did not happen overnight.

Even in many cases, Roosevelt, as president, had to make certain compromises with these forces.

"I have approved the visiting General Tu's request to conduct confrontation exercises with us. If you think you can deal with the Japanese, then show me." Roosevelt's face was not good-looking, and he said to Secretary of War Harry Woodring: "I

I hope you can win the exercise. But if not, then please listen to the opinions of the National Defense Forces who have fought with the Japanese army."

There was a debate in the White House, but MacArthur in Australia was shouting curses.

"Traitor!! Damn Wainwright! He is a traitor to America! This shameful bastard, the bastard son of a bitch! How could he surrender to the Japanese?!"

MacArthur felt that if Wainwright had implemented his battle plan, he would not have been defeated so quickly. Although the telegrams transmitted showed that the Japanese army used a large number of naval guns and fighter planes to shell and bomb the position.

However, MacArthur still firmly believed that the Corregidor Line of Defense he had established was unbreakable. Wainwright's failure to implement his plan must have led to such a result.

"I will go back...I will go back! I will take Bataan back with my own hands!!"
Chapter completed!