General MacArthur was commanding the Southwest Pacific forces and his primary focus was to move north into the Philippines as Admiral Nimitz approached from the east with his Central Pacific force. With weight of the United States Pacific force approaching the Philippines, Japan needed to hold its defensive line and make its stand, but they did not know where it would come within the island chain. Japanese Admiral Toyoda in a post war interview explained the need for the Japanese to stop the United States at the Philippines by
General MacArthur was commanding the Southwest Pacific forces and his primary focus was to move north into the Philippines as Admiral Nimitz approached from the east with his Central Pacific force. With weight of the United States Pacific force approaching the Philippines, Japan needed to hold its defensive line and make its stand, but they did not know where it would come within the island chain. Japanese Admiral Toyoda in a post war interview explained the need for the Japanese to stop the United States at the Philippines by