Office of the Military Advisor to the Commonwealth Government of the Philippines
Encyclopedia
The Office of the Military Advisor to the Commonwealth Government (OMACG) was created in 1935 upon the initiative of President Manuel L. Quezon
by the Philippine
and American
governments for the purposes of developing a system of national defense for the Commonwealth of the Philippines
by 1946. OMACG's recommendations were adopted by the Philippine National Assembly in Commonwealth Act Number 1, the National Defense Act of 1935
.
The Military Advisor to the Commonwealth Government was US
General Douglas MacArthur
, who was assisted by Major Dwight Eisenhower
and Major James Ord
; along with four officers from the Philippine Department
, under Major General Lucius Holbrook (1936-1938) and Major General Grunert
(1940-1941), as well as retired Lieutenant colonel
Sidney L. Huff.
OMACG produced a plan calling for a gradual 10-year build up so that the Philippines would have small regular and reserve armies, an air force, and a fleet of torpedo boat
s (the Offshore Patrol
). The tactical organization of this army was based on divisions of ~7,500 troops.
, Cebu
, Negros, Panay
, Leyte
, Mindanao
, Bohol
, Mindoro
, and many of the smaller islands. The plans included the establishment of seacoast defenses along the seven straits which give access to the inland waters of the Philippines
.
These plans did not involve the use of US forces, but were intended for use by district military commanders of the army
which was to be created under the National Defense Act.
The seacoast defenses, mentioned above, were to consist, naturally, of heavy coastal guns. These defenses were scheduled to be completed in April 1942. The War Department
, at some time or other, had sent 24 155 mm guns, without fire control equipment
. Later, while assigned to USAFFE, MacArthur asked for 4 12in, 4 8in, and 22 additional 155 mm guns, as well as 30 searchlight
s. This request was received in December, too late.
was brought in as his replacement. Colonel Eisenhower left in December 1939 and was replaced by Lieutenant Colonel Marshall. In October 1937, Captain Casey
joined the group as an engineering
advisor and later Major Marquat
was appointed as an antiaircraft advisor. These men would stay with MacArthur throughout the war
.
s, supported by an air force
."
MacArthur adds, "These islands have enormous defensive advantages. Luzon
has only 2 areas where a hostile army could land. Each of these positions is broken by strong defensive positions.
MacArthur continues, "When developed the Philippine Army
will be strong enough to oppose any conceivable expeditionary force. By 1946, the Islands will be in a favorable posture of defensive security."
See also:
Manuel L. Quezon
Manuel Luis Quezón y Molina served as president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines from 1935 to 1944. He was the first Filipino to head a government of the Philippines...
by the Philippine
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
governments for the purposes of developing a system of national defense for the Commonwealth of the Philippines
Commonwealth of the Philippines
The Commonwealth of the Philippines was a designation of the Philippines from 1935 to 1946 when the country was a commonwealth of the United States. The Commonwealth was created by the Tydings-McDuffie Act, which was passed by the U.S. Congress in 1934. When Manuel L...
by 1946. OMACG's recommendations were adopted by the Philippine National Assembly in Commonwealth Act Number 1, the National Defense Act of 1935
National Defense Act of 1935
The National Defense Act of 1935 was passed by the Philippine National Assembly on December 21, 1935. The purpose of this act was to create an independent Philippine Army, this was interrupted by World War II.-Provisions:...
.
The Military Advisor to the Commonwealth Government was US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
General Douglas MacArthur
Douglas MacArthur
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur was an American general and field marshal of the Philippine Army. He was a Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the...
, who was assisted by Major Dwight Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
and Major James Ord
James Basevi Ord
James Basevi Ord was a US Army Lieutenant Colonel killed in an air crash at Camp John Hay, Philippines. At the time, Ord was serving as the Assistant Military Advisor to the Commonwealth of the Philippines, under US Military Advisor General MacArthur.Upon his death, Ord was replaced by Major...
; along with four officers from the Philippine Department
Philippine Department
The Philippine Department was a regular US Army unit, defeated in the Philippines, during World War II. The mission of the Philippine Department was to defend the Philippine Islands and train the Philippine Army...
, under Major General Lucius Holbrook (1936-1938) and Major General Grunert
George Grunert
George Grunert was a United States Army cavalry officer who retired as a Lieutenant General in a 47 year career that extended from the Spanish-American War to the end of World War II.-Education and early career:...
(1940-1941), as well as retired Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
Sidney L. Huff.
OMACG produced a plan calling for a gradual 10-year build up so that the Philippines would have small regular and reserve armies, an air force, and a fleet of torpedo boat
Torpedo boat
A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval vessel designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs rammed enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes, and later designs launched self-propelled Whitehead torpedoes. They were created to counter battleships and other large, slow and...
s (the Offshore Patrol
Offshore Patrol
The Offshore Patrol was a rudimentary navy, intended for inshore defenses only, called for by the Philippine National Assembly in its National Defense Act of 1935...
). The tactical organization of this army was based on divisions of ~7,500 troops.
War Plans and Seacoast Defenses
The office drew up defense plans for the islands of LuzonLuzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
, Cebu
Cebu Island
Cebu is an island of the Philippines. It is the main island of Cebu Province at the center of the Visayan Islands, south of Manila.It lies to the east of Negros Island; to the east is Leyte and to the southeast is Bohol Island. It is flanked on both sides by the Cebu Strait and Tañon Strait...
, Negros, Panay
Panay Island
Panay is an island in the Philippines located in the western part of the Visayas. Politically, it is divided into five provinces: Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Iloilo, all in the Western Visayas Region. It is located southeast of the island of Mindoro and northwest of Negros, separated by the...
, Leyte
Leyte Island
Leyte is an island in the Visayas group of the Philippines.The island measures about 180 km north-south and about 65 km at its widest point. In the north it nearly joins Samar, separated by the San Juanico Strait, which becomes as narrow as 2 km in some places...
, Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
, Bohol
Bohol Island
Bohol Island is the main island of Bohol Province in the Visayas. It lies southeast from Cebu Island across Cebu Strait and southwest from Leyte Island, separated by the Camotes Sea and Canigao Channel...
, Mindoro
Mindoro
Mindoro is the seventh-largest island in the Philippines. It is located off the coast of Luzon, and northeast of Palawan. The southern coast of Mindoro forms the northeastern extremum of the Sulu Sea.-History:...
, and many of the smaller islands. The plans included the establishment of seacoast defenses along the seven straits which give access to the inland waters of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
.
These plans did not involve the use of US forces, but were intended for use by district military commanders of the army
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
which was to be created under the National Defense Act.
The seacoast defenses, mentioned above, were to consist, naturally, of heavy coastal guns. These defenses were scheduled to be completed in April 1942. The War Department
United States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...
, at some time or other, had sent 24 155 mm guns, without fire control equipment
Fire-control system
A fire-control system is a number of components working together, usually a gun data computer, a director, and radar, which is designed to assist a weapon system in hitting its target. It performs the same task as a human gunner firing a weapon, but attempts to do so faster and more...
. Later, while assigned to USAFFE, MacArthur asked for 4 12in, 4 8in, and 22 additional 155 mm guns, as well as 30 searchlight
Searchlight
A searchlight is an apparatus that combines a bright light source with some form of curved reflector or other optics to project a powerful beam of light of approximately parallel rays in a particular direction, usually constructed so that it can be swiveled about.-Military use:The Royal Navy used...
s. This request was received in December, too late.
Staff Changes
Upon the accidental death of Lieutenant Colonel Ord, in January 1938, Major SutherlandRichard K. Sutherland
Richard Kerens Sutherland was a Lieutenant General of the US Army and General of the Army Douglas MacArthur's Chief of Staff in the South West Pacific Area during World War II.-Early life:...
was brought in as his replacement. Colonel Eisenhower left in December 1939 and was replaced by Lieutenant Colonel Marshall. In October 1937, Captain Casey
Hugh John Casey
Hugh John Casey was a Major General in the United States Army. A 1918 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Casey served in Germany during the Occupation of the Rhineland...
joined the group as an engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
advisor and later Major Marquat
William F. Marquat
William Frederic Marquat was a Major General in the US Army. Prior to his service in the military, Marquat was a reporter for The Seattle Times...
was appointed as an antiaircraft advisor. These men would stay with MacArthur throughout the war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
MacArthur's Point Of View
MacArthur argues, "A small fleet will have distinct effect in compelling any hostile force to approach cautiously. The only naval task is that of inshore defense. This will be provided by flotillas of fast torpedo boatTorpedo boat
A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval vessel designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs rammed enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes, and later designs launched self-propelled Whitehead torpedoes. They were created to counter battleships and other large, slow and...
s, supported by an air force
Air force
An air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...
."
MacArthur adds, "These islands have enormous defensive advantages. Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
has only 2 areas where a hostile army could land. Each of these positions is broken by strong defensive positions.
MacArthur continues, "When developed the Philippine Army
Military history of the Philippines
-Battle of Mactan:The Battle of Mactan on April 27, 1521, is celebrated as the earliest reported resistance of the natives in the Philippines against foreign invaders. Lapu-Lapu, a Chieftain of Mactan Island, defeated Christian European explorers led by the Portuguese navigator Ferdinand...
will be strong enough to oppose any conceivable expeditionary force. By 1946, the Islands will be in a favorable posture of defensive security."
See also:
- Military History of the PhilippinesMilitary history of the Philippines-Battle of Mactan:The Battle of Mactan on April 27, 1521, is celebrated as the earliest reported resistance of the natives in the Philippines against foreign invaders. Lapu-Lapu, a Chieftain of Mactan Island, defeated Christian European explorers led by the Portuguese navigator Ferdinand...
- Military History of the United StatesMilitary history of the United StatesThe military history of the United States spans a period of over two centuries. During the course of those years, the United States evolved from a new nation fighting the British Empire for independence without a professional military , through a monumental American Civil War to the world's sole...
- World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
- Pacific TheaterPacific WarThe Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
- Pacific Theater