Note 38 — Chapter VI · The Japanese Reaction

At this time the Japanese had about 432,000 men in the Philippines, including air force and construction units. Most of them believed that they were well prepared to meet the Americans. In fact a staff officer of the 14th Area Army, upon hearing that the Americans had landed on Leyte, is reported to have jumped up and exclaimed: “Good, they have picked the place where our finest troops are located.”38 It was also thought that the American troops on Leyte were “having a difficult time.”39 Nevertheless, General Yamashita, who had succeeded Kuroda as the commanding general of the 14th Area Army, sent the 1st Division and other units to Leyte. The Japanese felt that “if the decisive battle in Leyte results in failure, it will upset the entire operation in the Philippines and the decisive battle in Luzon will be lost.”40