Manila

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Possible U.S. violations of the open city proclamation may have lead to destruction in the Philippine capital.

By John W. Whitman

Much has been made of the Japanese violations of General Douglas MacArthur’s December 26, 1941, proclamation of Manila as an open city. Americans considered the December 27-28 Japanese bombings deliberate attacks on a defenseless city. The attacks were especially infuriating because they came just after MacArthur had announced that the city was undefended. Actually, there is more than a little doubt as to which side violated Manila’s open city status. Some contend it was the Americans.

MacArthur evacuated his main headquarters from Manila on December 24. At the same time, his two corps-equivalent fighting forces, the North Luzon Force and the South Luzon Force, were involved in a double retrograde movement as they retreated from the beaches and tried to reach the Bataan Peninsula. Two days later, MacArthur issued the following communiqué: “In order to spare the Metropolitan area from ravages of attack, either by air or ground, Manila is hereby declared an open city without the characteristics of a military objective. In order that no excuse may be given for possible mistake, the American high commissioner, the Commonwealth government and all combatant military installations will be withdrawn from its environs as rapidly as possible. The Municipal government will continue to function with its police powers, reinforced by constabulary troops, so that the normal protection of life and property may be preserved. Citizens are requested to maintain obedience to constituted authorities and continue the normal processes of business.”

Manila’s newspapers and radio stations published news of the open city proclamation throughout the day. Two large banners in front of city hall announced “Open City” and “No Shooting.”

The open city proclamation was tested on December 27, the day after the announcement, when Japanese twin-engine naval aircraft flew strikes against shipping in Manila Bay and the Pasig River. The ships lay immediately adjacent to heavily populated areas, especially those docked along the Pasig River. Manila’s docks abutted the city, and the Pasig ran through the heart of Manila, only yards from some of Manila’s most historic shrines.

The Japanese obviously considered the line of small interisland steamers and the U.S. Army minelayer Miley, which were docked along the south bank of the Pasig River, to be military targets. The ships’ owners had not moved their vessels out of the river, despite government orders to do so. The owners had argued that they needed to unload them first. Several merchantmen that lay in the Manila harbor basin and another group of small ships near Engineer Island, where the Pasig River enters Manila Bay, were legitimate military targets. The Japanese also targeted the shops that produced the Philippines’ own motor torpedo boats.

Five waves of bombers in formations of eight to nine aircraft each arrived at about 12:05 p.m. on December 27 and flew leisurely over Manila’s waterfront. In the port area, their first objective, one bomb hit the north end of Pier 7, a second hit the center of the pier and a third hit a mess hall at the north entrance. Bombs sank the Coast Guard cutter Kanlaon and destroyed the steamer SS Samal. The cutter Arayat was hit and set ablaze. Pier 3 was damaged, and Pier 5 took several hits that started cargo fires and rendered the pier unserviceable.

The Japanese changed targets at 2 p.m. and went after the shipping in the Pasig River. The first bombs landed in the river, missing the ships but driving the crews off the vessels in a mad dash for safety ashore. The second attack landed bombs on both sides of the river, yet once again missed the ships. The citizens of Manila watched helplessly in anger and frustration as aircraft calmly circled the city. Nine-plane formations seemed always to be in sight.

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