Hide Article Text (OCR)
CorregidWhen.Become ShrineUPvNALCongressActs(CP)— Only dust Japan’s,the men and women cooped in„—.u_ t-:_. . . ive for all southeastern Asia the unaerground passages ofones cover the historic splendor of that great chapter in World War II called Corre-gidor.and Australia into a major upset.Fell Jan. 2Manila fell Jan. 2; neighbor, ing Bataan, April 9—only Cor-regidor was left.Malinta Tunnel.On May 6, in the old market place just above the Sou thSome day, when and if the ing Bataan, April ^'nly Cor- Sdg^ht negotiftTd^^foT si!!^?en' Congress of the United States regidor was left. der surren-acts in conjunction with the The island’s huge batteries I Tidi.,Philippine government, the w e r e pounded with unre-i i !dust will become a shnne wor-.lenting Jap bombardment and a thy of that great defensive lOne by one they were knockedstand that terminated withiout of commission. Battery‘iw a .u u’surrender of “The Rock’’ in G a r y, whose eight 12-i n c hi!:'*? , regained1942, a little more than 22 mortars h.aH hepn mnoi ^ Philippines, ascended to the Topside paradeground and raised the star-spangled banner on the “bat-t e r e d flagpole, the shaftwhich had witnessed and sur.vived the ravages of war.’’Corregidor, though, had fallen to the enemy of time in the tropics. Jungle growth, rubble and debris were the mute evidence of a siege thaj had made history.The Republic of the Philippines attempted to restore the island and its army did some cleaning up. A National Shrine1942, a little more than 22 years ago.Past efforts have been mainly words aimed to make ofmortars had been most effective. was exploded by Jap shells May 2, and only Battery Way with its four 12-inchCorregidor. a fitting monu-irnortars remained, nient to commemorate the im- The water supply w’ a s mortal, five-month stand by,knocked out. and with the 13,000 United States and Phil- enemy having made a suc-ippine scouts w'ho turned ccssful landing May 5, furtherwhat .should have been alre.sistance was impossible for8,54Iii€€Bntrance to Malinta Tunnel, the key gateway to *‘The Rock,' which fell to the enemy some 22 years ago.Commission, headed by Lt. Col. Reynaldo B. Pe-rez, and a citizen’s group'be placed historical markers|to enshrine the memorv nf sparked by Felipe Juico, have jand mementos of the Pacific|one of the glorious pag^s ofsnUC?ht ri0htfiil . «-sktir tt a ® wus Oisought a rightful historic role pha.se of World War II.’’ for “The Rock ’’^ ■ •• pm “ • • ” ^ •American valor. And whenifmOi! Red tape and political she-I nanigans, however, have frus-|t rated all efforts, although I just outside Manila, a mag-inificent United States ceme-itery has been built.In 1962, less than 100 tourists could make the 25-mile Manila-to-Corregidor water trip although the Philip-pine government did makeavailable a navy ship for students to augment their historybackground with on-the-sccnevisits.New FerryLast year, a 78-passenger^hydrofoil boat began making'^two daily 45-minute trips to „I “The Rock.’’ Tourists, pnnci- „,pally American, can now see;'this stirring saga of World’*’War II. But travel on Cor-jy’regidor’s ancient and dusty':roads is limited to army wtrucks, and no facilities of many kind are available on thciSi island.However, there is hope that ^, out of the pigeon holes of, Congress may come relief Congress is being asked for $1,500,000 for implementing Public Law 88-240 To create P memorial plans to include si tw'in flagpoles at a high point 1.on Corregidor Island, illumi-ip] nated at night, from which w the flags of the United State:.,I of America and the Republic ;of the Philippines would fly; a suitable building or buildings for use as an auditorium and tourist center, and a contiguous battlefield park of ap- h' propriate size m which may RiPhilippine authorities have the flagpole is finally com-said they 11 match this money, pleted. what better way to re-when and if Washington ap- call those historic days, thanproves this allocation.This, say experts, will at least be a start, long overdue,to name the “twin flagpoles after the late Gen. Douglas MacArthur.
Newspaper Details
Albuquerque Journal
Albuquerque, New Mexico, US
Fri, Jun 05, 1964
Page 30
Full Page
Clipped by
University O.
NM, USA 01 Aug 2018
Other Publications Near Albuquerque, New Mexico
Industrial Advertiser and Weekly News
Albuquerque Tribune
Albuquerque Daily Journal
Albuquerque Weekly Journal
Albuquerque Journal
