Special Report of Capt. Octavio Nicolas to the C.O. 11th A/B in Tagaytay, Feb 1945
[TRANSCRIPTION]
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 special report written on 9 February 1945 by one Capt. Octavio Nicolas of the Alcazar Battalion addressed to the Commanding Officer of the 11th Airborne Division (U.S. Army) stationed at the time in Tagaytay.
UNITED STATES PHILIPPINE ISLANDS FORCES
THE HUNTERS OR ROTC GUERRILLAS
ATTACHED U.S. 6TH ARMY
Cp. 4th Bn. 49th Regt.
|
Subject To |
: Special Report : C.O. American Troops, Tagaytay |
1. The day before yesterday, a company of brother guerrillas went & attacked the Japs just a kilometer north of Salas. They encountered a hard fight because the Japs were well protected in their dugouts. After a long series of firing, the Japs stopped their fire. The guerrillas thought that they had killed all the Japs, but when they were to approach the holes, the Japs threw hand grenades at them, hurting two guerrillas. The Japs were disbounded [disbanded?]. They rushed the wounded guerrillas to our Medical Officer and after they were treated, they were brought to Polo to stay there until they are well.
2. At about 19:00 the same day, the same group of Japs was seen eight in number on the shore, took one banca and rode on it. They used their hands as their paddles, but unfortunately for them, when they were a little bit further from the shore, their banca capsized, drowning 6 and two [were] left. The following morning, they searched for those Japs and they were able to capture one but badly hurt because he resisted and tried to fight. He was treated by our Lady Physician and brought to Polo for concentration.
3. At about 20:00, Feb. 7, these Japs in Calei about two kilometers from the town captured some of the folks living there. Some were able to escape, but Fortunato Petalio, Feliciano Caraan, Felix Biscocho and M. Almendras were killed. These Japs were not staying in one place, they were distributed in 3 places, Mt. Banawan, Calei and Pulang Bato. Some of our men are always recruiting [from] those places, having hand grenades for protection, given by the C.O. of the American forces in Tagaytay and some old rusty pistols. Had we been equipped a little better, perhaps we can be of better service to this operation.
4. For your further information, the undersigned will show you the exact location [part of page torn] of the Japs on the map.
American Forces, Tagaytay
Battalion Adjutant & L. O.
DISTRIBUTION:
1 - C.O. American Troops
1 - C.O. 49th Regt.
1 - File