Capt. Octavio Nicolas' Memo to the Commanding Officer, 49th Regt, Hunters-ROTC
[TRANSCRIPTION]
UNITED STATES PHILIPPINE ISLANDS FORCES
THE HUNTERS OR ROTC GUERRILLAS
ATTACHED U.S. 6TH ARMY
Cp. 4th Bn. 49th Regt.
ON TO VICTORY
Notes and references:
1 “The Alcazar Battalion,” online at the United States National Archives.
The Alcazar Battalion was a guerrilla unit purportedly founded by one Emilio Alcazar in the town of Talisay, Batangas in March of 1942. It was supposedly initially affiliated with Marcos Agustin’s guerrilla outfit but, because of difficulties in communicating with the mother unit, it later became attached instead to the Hunters-ROTC. Communication with this other large organization, however, was also poor so that essentially, the Alcazar Battalion operated independently. In this page is a transcription1 of a memorandum of information written by one Capt. Octavio Nicolas of the Alcazar Battalion addressed to the Commanding Officer of the 49th Regiment of the Hunters-ROTC Guerrillas.
THE HUNTERS OR ROTC GUERRILLAS
ATTACHED U.S. 6TH ARMY
Cp. 4th Bn. 49th Regt.
15 February 1945
|
Subject To |
: Information : C.O. 49th Regt. |
1. Yesterday, our C.O. went to Tagaytay to inspect our unit that is giving help to the American troops stationed there. He met Governor Maximo Malvar of Batangas and was informed that, at present, there are 5,000 Japs in San Antonio, a barrio of Sto. Tomas, and 8,000 Japs in Sta. Clara, a barrio of Sto. Tomas, too. He was also informed by an officer of our unit in Sto. Tomas that, in the town of Sto. Tomas, there are 300 to 400 Japs. Also in Tanauan, there are about 150 Japs stationed in the town.
2. These Japs in these towns are at present giving too much destruction to the people. They burned the houses and killed civilians, even those newborn babies. Our units in these two places were disbanded, too, and some of the members were killed as revealed by that officer, Lt. Maloles of Sto. Tomas.
3. At present, there are about 300 Japs between Tagaytay and Talisay. These Japs killed every civilian they captured. At night, these Japs crawled to places where there were men and threw their hand grenades to give distractions. In Tagaytay, this happened many times. So, here in Talisay, we got busy guarding our own sector. All bridges and probably entrances of the Japs are guarded by the members of our troops. We have hand grenades and some old pistols as sort of our defense. We get busy helping the civilians. We lead them to where we think is safe to stay in. We advised them not to stay in places that we thought were always reached by the Japs.
4. As it is now, the defense of our sector is too little as to what is needed. Our brother unit here in Talisay, members of the 3rd Bn., is getting tired waiting for the arrival of these arms. Due to this, some members of our organization have lessened their morale. The enlistment also in units [is] slow. Many want to enlist but, due to the lack of arms, they are told to wait. They say they are easy to be instructed and [if] there are arms, they are very willing to enlist themselves and [be] ready to fight in the line. Those members of this organization also long for the immediate arrival of the said arms, AND WILL FIGHT TILL VICTORY IS WON.
FOR THE COMMANDING OFFICER:
[Sgd.] OCTAVIO NICOLAS
Capt. Guer. Inf.
Bn. Adj. 4th Bn 49th Regt.
Capt. Guer. Inf.
Bn. Adj. 4th Bn 49th Regt.
DISTRIBUTION:
1 - C.O. 49th Regt.
1 - File
Notes and references:
1 “The Alcazar Battalion,” online at the United States National Archives.