1.
AERIAL VIEW CORREGIDOR
0.05

2.
GV PAN. CANNON NOW IDLE
0.15

3.
GV'S CANNONS BEING FIRED AND LOADED DURING BATTLE
0.21

4.
GV LARGE CANNON AIMS AND FIRES
0.27

5.
GV SHELLS EXPLODING SOLDIERS ADVANCE
0.40

6.
SCU'S CANNONS NOW IDLE (4 SHOTS)
1.00

7.
GV'S & CU DESERTED BARRACKS (3 SHOTS)
1.10

8.
GV'S DITTO
1.20



Initials AB/N/MGT/PC


EDITORS: THIS FILM HAS NATURAL SOUND THROUGHOUT

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE BATTLE OF CORREGIDOR BEGAN 25 YEARS AGO TODAY (SATURDAY, 8 APRIL), AND SOME UNITED STATES AND PHILIPPINE SOLDIERS WHO TRIED TO HOLD THE ISLAND HAVE RETURNED FOR COMMEMORATION CEREMONIES.

THE ISLAND OF CORREGIDOR IS 2 1/2-MILE (4 KILOMETRES) OFF BATAAN'S SOUTHERN TIP IN THE PHILIPPINES ISLANDS. IT GUARDS THE ENTRANCE TO MANILA BAY. AFTER 76,000 UNITED STATES AND FILIPINO SOLDIERS SURRENDERED TO THE JAPANESE ON BATAAN, THE BATTLE OF CORREGIDOR BEGAN.

MIGHTY HOWITZERS ON CORREGIDOR BELCHED FORTH ENOUGH FIREPOWER TO STALL THE ENTIRE JAPANESE IMPERIAL FLEET FROM TAKING OVER THE PHILIPPINE ISLAND ACCORDING TO THEIR TIMETABLE. THEY ENABLED U.S. GENERAL DOUGLAS MACARTHUR TO ESCAPED TO AUSTRALIA, TO BEGIN BATTLE PLANS FOR THE DAY OF HIS FAMOUS RETURN.

AFTER ONE MONTH, JAPANESE BOMBS, ARTILLERY AND TROOPS OVERWHELMED THE PHILIPPINE AND UNITED STATES TROOPS STILL HOLDING OUT ON THIS TROPICAL ISLAND. THE BATTLE WAS COSTLY, BUT IT DELAYED JAPAN'S SOUTHWARD GRAB FOR AN ASIAN AND PACIFIC EMPIRE THAT EVEN THREATENED AUSTRALIA.

CORREGIDOR WAS A SOLID ROCK JUTTING OUT OF THE PACIFIC, OVERGROWN WITH A DENSE COVER OF TREES AND JUNGLE. IT WAS HONEYCOMBED WITH TUNNELS STRAIGHT THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS. NOW, 25 YEARS AFTER THE BATTLE, BRILLIANTLY COLOURED JUNGLE FLOWERS AND JUNGLE VINES COVER THE BATTLE ENTRENCHMENTS. PITTED ROCK, HOWEVER, GIVES MUTE EVIDENCE OF THE EXPLODING SHRAPNEL THAT FILLED THE AIR IN 1942.

THE FAMOUS MILE-LONG BARRACKS, NOW JUST EMPTY SHELLS, STAND AS THEY WERE LEFT WHEN THE BITTER STRUGGLE FINALLY CAME TO AN END IN MAY, 1942.

THE PHILIPPINE DEFENDERS OF BATAAN AND CORREGIDOR HAVE MADE EXTENSIVE PLANS FOR COMMEMORATION CEREMONIES, TRIPS TO CORREGIDOR AND TO MT. SAMAT ON BATAAN, WHERE PHILIPPINE AND AMERICAN TROOPS HELD OUT AGAINST FIERCE JAPANESE ONSLAUGHTS, VISITS TO OTHER OLD BATTLE SITES AND PRISON CAMPS AND A PILGRIMAGE OVER THE ROUTE OF THE DEATH MARCH.