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This article, “Pacific Theatre Part 15: The Philippines” by Lestrade, challenges conventional historical narratives surrounding the Spanish-American War and the subsequent American occupation of the Philippines. The author argues that the Spanish conquest of the Philippines by Philip 2nd of Spain and the Habsburg dynasty was part of a larger, centralized power structure, and that the Philippine Revolution was instigated by Americans to seize Spanish possessions.
The text heavily scrutinizes the sinking of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor, suggesting it was a false flag operation by the US Navy to justify war with Spain. This is linked to yellow journalism employed by newspapers like the New York Journal owned by William Randolph Hearst and the New York World owned by Joseph Pulitzer. The author makes connections between prominent figures, suggesting a pattern of manipulation and familial ties, referencing events involving the Symbionese Liberation Army, Marcus Foster, Robert Blackburn, Mr DeFreeze, William Foster, Joe Remiro, Angela Atwood, Margaret Atwood, and Nancy Ling Perry.
The narrative then shifts to the Spanish-American War in the Pacific Theatre, detailing the Battle of Manila Bay where Commodore George Dewey achieved a seemingly improbable victory with minimal American casualties. The author claims this was a pre-arranged handover of territory, not a genuine battle, citing the Spanish fleet’s obsolescence and lack of preparedness. Similarly, the Battle of Manila is described as a “mock battle” orchestrated by Governor-General of the Philippines Fermín Jáudenes and United States Army Major General Wesley Merritt to transfer control to the Americans while excluding Emilio Aguinaldo and the Philippine Revolutionary Army. The capture of Guam is also presented as a bloodless, pre-arranged surrender.
The author asserts that the Treaty of Paris of 1898, where the Americans paid Spain $20 million for Philippines, Guam, Puerto Rico, and Cuba, marked the end of the Spanish Empire and the beginning of American occupation. Emilio Aguinaldo’s subsequent actions, including collaboration with the Japanese, are highlighted. The Philippine–American War and the Moro Rebellion are discussed as brutal insurgencies resulting from Filipino resistance to American rule, with tactics like General Jacob H Smith’s scorched-earth policy in Samar being presented as evidence of American brutality. The Battle of Balangiga is deconstructed as a questionable ambush narrative.
The article delves deeply into the MacArthur family, tracing Arthur MacArthur Jr.’s lineage to Scottish nobility and Robert the Bruce. Douglas MacArthur’s upbringing, his alleged “mama’s boy” tendencies, his actions at West Point, and his supposed combat exploits in the Philippines are scrutinized, often framed with skepticism. The author questions the authenticity of Douglas MacArthur’s military career and motivations, suggesting his relationships, including his marriage to Louise Cromwell Brooks, and his later career as Chief of Staff of the United States Army and Field Marshal of the Philippine Army, were part of a larger staged performance. The alleged affair with Isabel Rosario Cooper is presented as a potential cover-up for his homosexuality.
The text then examines World War II in the Philippines, criticizing the state of the Philippine Army’s preparedness and equipment, suggesting it was a “ghost army” for propaganda purposes. The author disputes the official casualty figures for the Battle of Bataan, the Bataan Death March, and the Battle of Corregidor, labeling them as inconsistent and fabricated. Various accounts of atrocities are questioned, with the author suggesting they are exaggerated or staged.
The article also touches upon Yamashita’s gold, an alleged treasure looted by Imperial Japanese Army forces, suggesting it was hidden in the Philippines for later recovery by the Americans to finance covert operations. The author highlights the involvement of figures like Charles A. Willoughby, who is presented as a suspicious intelligence operative with a potentially fabricated identity, and Edward Lansdale of the CIA.
Ultimately, the article posits that the Pacific Theatre and the events in the Philippines were largely orchestrated, featuring “mock battles,” manipulated media, and fabricated narratives to serve American imperial and financial interests. The author concludes by thanking the reader for their patience and promising further installments.