In March 1945, U.S. and Filipino troops pushed towards Yamashita’s main line of resistance holed up in the rugged mountains around Baguio

U.S. and Filipino troops pushed towards Yamashita’s main line of resistance holed up in the rugged mountains around Baguio .

General MacArthur refused to deny the natives road access to Manila , saying, “Before I interfere with this innocent population, it will have to be a lot worse for us first ”.

The three-year occupation and months-long reconquest devastated the Philippines .

Much of the Philippines ’ art treasures and history went up in flames.

The intellectual capital, the doctors, lawyers, engineers, civil servants, businessmen big and small, had been murdered by the Japanese or died in the fighting.

Brad Schaeffer is a commodities fund manager, author, and columnist whose articles have appeared on the pages of The Daily Wire , The Wall Street Journal , NY Post , NY Daily News , National Review , The Hill, The Federalist , Zerohedge , and other outlets.