<P> From mid-1941 , following increased tension between Japan and several other powers , including the United States , Britain and the Netherlands , many countries in South East Asia and the Pacific began to prepare for the possibility of war . By December 1941 , the combined defense forces in the Philippines were organized into the US Army Forces in the Far East ( USAFFE ) , which eventually included the Philippine Army 's 1st Regular Division , 2nd ( Constabulary ) Division , and 10 mobilized reserve divisions , and the United States Army 's Philippine Department . General Douglas MacArthur was recalled from retirement by the U.S. War Department and named commander of USAFFE on 26 July 1941 . MacArthur had retired in 1937 after two years as Military Advisor to the Philippine Commonwealth , and accepted control of the Philippine Army , tasked by the government of the Philippines with reforming an army made up primarily of reservists lacking equipment , training and organization . </P>
<P> From mid-1941 , following increased tension between Japan and several other powers , including the United States , Britain and the Netherlands , many countries in South East Asia and the Pacific began to prepare for the possibility of war . By December 1941 , the combined defense forces in the Philippines were organized into the US Army Forces in the Far East ( USAFFE ) , which eventually included the Philippine Army 's 1st Regular Division , 2nd ( Constabulary ) Division , and 10 mobilized reserve divisions , and the United States Army 's Philippine Department . General Douglas MacArthur was recalled from retirement by the U.S. War Department and named commander of USAFFE on 26 July 1941 . MacArthur had retired in 1937 after two years as Military Advisor to the Philippine Commonwealth , and accepted control of the Philippine Army , tasked by the government of the Philippines with reforming an army made up primarily of reservists lacking equipment , training and organization . </P>
in december of 1941 who commanded the allied forces in the philippines
in december of 1941 who commanded the allied forces in the philippines
General Douglas MacArthur
General Douglas MacArthur