Military history of the Philippines

Early 20th Century Military History of the Philippines

The Philippine Department

Prior to the establishment of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, in 1935, the US Army had maintained a force of 10,000 in the Philippines. This force included some 5,000 native Pilipinos and was mostly led by American officers. This force was the Philippine Department, a regular US Army unit commanded by an American general. With the exception of the Philippine Constabulary, the region had no other forces.

The National Defense Act of 1935

In 1935, President-elect Manuel L. Quezon convinced Chief of Staff of the United States Army General Douglas MacArthur to act as a military adviser to the Commonwealth of the Philippines. MacArthur was given the title "Military Advisor to the Commonwealth Government" and tasked with establishing a system of national defense, for the Philippines, by 1946.

The National Defense Act of 1935 acted upon the advice of the Office of the Military Advisor and 1936 was devoted to construction, training, and organization. The Philippine Constabulary and the Philippine Department's Philippine Scouts were used to create the core of the new Philippine Army.

World War II Begins

In September of 1940, Germany, Italy, and Japan had allied under the Tripartite Pact. In July of 1940, the US banned the shipment of aviation gasoline, to Japan, and by 1941, shipments of scrap iron, steel, gasoline, and other materials had practically ceased. Meanwhile, American economic support to China began to increase.

In April of 1941, Japan and Russia signed a neutrality pact and Japan increased pressure on the French and Dutch colonies, in Southeast Asia, to cooperate in economic matters. On July 22, 1941, Japanese forces occupied the naval and air bases of southern Indochina. The Philippines were almost completely surrounded.

General Marshall states, "Adequate reinforcements for the Philippines at this time, would have left the United States in a position of great peril, should there be a break in the defense of Great Britain."