[fso301]

Ok. I found the reference I was talking about. It’s alot harder without my laptop which has my notes in it. First I should clarify that the War Plans Department estimate of 12 months was the maximum. That is a little unclear in my previous post.

This is discussed in a WPD memo that can be found in the National Archives, Record Group 165, WPD-4192 in a memo from George V. Strong to George C. Marshall

Both WPO-2 and WPO-3 both state that a minimum defense of six months be maintained so that establishes the range that was required, 6 to 12 months.

Thanks. I've never really heard of such a long holdout period but I also don't profess to be an authority. In any event, it 4, 6 or 12 months wouldn't have mattered. FDR and the War Department were not going to resupply the Philippines garrison and the men were doomed.

We're at my parents right now for the holidays and I hoped to get to the library at OSU (Ohio State) tonight to research from where it was I got the notion about MacArthurs compensation by the Philippines government but didn't make it. Hopefully I can get there tomorrow. The library is pretty extensive so, if you have anything you'd like for me to look up while I'm there, say so.

[CougarGA7]

Very true. Even if they wanted to, it would have required the longer end of the time line if we assume that the first landings at Guadalcanal represent the earliest possible attempt to reinforce the Philippines had it held out. But of course that is just an assumption.

I can’t think of anything specific I need at the moment except for some stuff in College Park, Maryland at the National Archive II, but I am writing a major paper on American and Japanese cryptology in the 1930s and early 40s this spring. If you are poking around and run across anything interesting let me know.