Japanese might on MacArthur's return

The fluid disposition of Japanese troops on the eve of MacArthur’s return made it difficult for the Americans to accurately determine their number. A month before the invasion, the 6th Army intelligence estimated that the Japanese forces on Leyte consisted mainly of 16th Division units and service troops--a total of 21,700 troops. But this number would increase in the subsequent weeks.

On the day of the invasion itself, it was believed that the Japanese would commit one division and the equivalent of another division, assembled from the tactical reserves on the island, not later than three days after the landing. For the next ten days, five to eight regiments were expected from neighboring islands. The enemy likewise had an undetermined number of tanks and armored cars. The only artillery known to be available were some coastal defense guns emplaced along the east coast and some artillery pieces on the hills overlooking Tacloban.

The Japanese felt that the chances were even and thus continued with their program of making Leyte the decisive battle of the Philippines. Although the American fleet had soundly whipped the Japanese Navy at the now-famous Battle of Ormoc Bay, the Japanese were still able to send reinforcements in great numbers to their Leyte garrison. Because of the lack of sufficient aerial strength, the Americans were unable to check the steady flow of troops into the port of Ormoc.

At this time, the Japanese had about 432,000 men in the Philippines, including air force and construction units. Most of them believed that they were well prepared to meet the Americans. In fact a staff officer of the 14th Area Army, upon hearing that the Americans had landed on Leyte, is reported to have jumped up and exclaimed: Good, they have picked the place where our finest troops are located!

General Yamashita, who had succeeded Kuroda as the commanding general of the 14th Area Army, sent the 1st Division and other units to Leyte. The Japanese felt that if the decisive battle in Leyte results in failure, it will upset the entire operation in the Philippines and the decisive battle in Luzon will be lost.

By the 25th of October, a battalion of the 55th Independent Mixed Brigade and one of the 57th Independent Mixed Brigade from Cebu, together with two battalions of the 30th Division, had arrived on Leyte to reinforce the 16th Division. Shortly after the Sixth Army landed, the 35th Army commander, General Suzuki, received orders from General Yamashita to undertake an all-out offensive against the Americans. All Japanese air, naval, and land forces were to participate.

Said Maj. Gen. Yoshiharu Tomochika, Chief of Staff, 35th Army:

We were determined to take offensive after offensive and clean up American forces on Leyte Island. . . . We seriously discussed demanding the surrender of the entire American Army after seizing General MacArthur.

Then came the decisive Battle of Leyte Gulf which dramatically turned the tide of the war. From then on, the Japanese were on the run. But despite the setbacks caused by this disastrous sea battle, the Japanese continued to send troops to Leyte through Ormoc. The reinforcement of Leyte came from the Japanese troops stationed in Mindanao, Cebu and Panay and even from Luzon.