3 March 1945
The “Private Road” encounter came to be so called because it happened on a “Private Road” leading to a hacienda occupied by a Japanese enterprise before the outbreak of the war.
At 6:00 AM, 3 Mar 1945, a group of thirty to forty Japanese were encountered by the outpost of the Combat Co of the 110th Division Special Troops at the Taguibo steel bridge between kilometers 9 to 10 along the Butuan-Cabadbaran Road (Agusan Province).
The outpost fought for one and a half hours, then withdrew to join its company in a prepared line of defense. The Japs pursued the guerrillas but did not reach their main line of defense. They later deployed in the vicinity of the Taguibo steel bridge until 6:00 PM.
MORE JAPS ARRIVE
Just after dusk, a Jap column of ninety to one hundred men with four cartloads of supplies and an artillery gun dragged by a white horse appeared into view along the national highway from Cabadbaran proceeding to Butuan. There was tension all over the guerrilla line as every man waited for the order to commence firing.
When the column reached the left-most sector of “A” Co which was the center flank of the DST defense, every gun, BARs, TSMGs, carbines and Enfields simultaneously fired. A bloody fight followed. The Japs who were deployed in the vicinity of Taguibo steel bridge opened fire at the Combat Co entrenched in the left frank of the DST defense and tried to locate its left-most flank but failed.
The Japs from Cabadbaran tried to encircle “B” Co which was at the right flank of the DST defense but were driven back with heavy fire.
From 6:30 PM, 3 March to 2:00 AM, 4 March, the Japs desperately fought to save their supplies left in the road. They were able to drag the carts only a few yards. They dared not approach the artillery gun which was in the field of fire of “A” Co.
CAPTURED JAP FLAG AND GUN
At 2:30 AM, 4 March, a message was sent to the CO of the 2nd Battalion, 113th Inf Regiment at Antongalon (adjacent unit of the DST) for reinforcement but none arrived. However, at 3:30 AM, the enemy fire markedly weakened. The .30 cal MG emplaced on the right flank of “B” Co and the bazookas which were reserved, were moved to the defense positions of “A” Co and brought into action. Later a group of picked guerrillas rushed to the road and captured the artillery gun and the Japanese flag.
At 6:00 AM, 4 Mar 1945, a carbine platoon under 3rd Lt PLACIDO ABELLANA, CO
of “D” Co, DST, was organized to scout the area. At 7:30 AM, the 81mm gun opened up followed by bazooka rockets. The carbine platoon then advanced.
One squad of the Combat Co under Sgt MACARIO JUMAYA, captured a cartload of Japanese supplies, while Lt ABELLANA with his carbine platoon captured two others.
Total number of enemy casualties could not be determined, but were believed heavy. Two dead Japs were found in the battle ground after the Japs retreated. The guerrilla units which numbered 151 men were intact, unscathed.
Captured materials in the “Private Road” encounter were as follows: One artillery mountain gun, one Jap rifle, cal.25, one Enfield rifle cal .30 (No. 58015), five mortar shells (for Jap knee mortar), one Japanese flag, two cases of ammunition, twelve sacks of Saigon rice, twenty cans of canned beef, one Jap pack, one sack of salt, eight meat cans, three carabaos, one horse, two woolen blankets, one Jap cap, one fork, one spoon, four bayonets, two pairs of shoes, five aluminum cooking pots, three Jap grenades with pouches, one leather pouch, one Jap saber, three bolos, one pair of Khaki trousers, three carts, three boxes of toyo powder, one Jap shirt, two Jap bags, five hundred pesos Japanese money, one pocket book with Japanese writing, and several materials with Japanese inscriptions.
Source: History of the Mindanao Guerrillas by the American Guerrillas of Mindanao (AGOM) Unpublished Manuscript
