"The American forces believed that the 35,00 guerrillas of Mindanao were strong enough to destroy the Japanese forces in Mindanao that they seriously considered bypassing the island when they returned. Although MacArtur's general headquarters in Australia, generally regarded the Mindanao guerilla movement as the best organized of the guerilla organizations in the Philippines, only about 1,000 of the guerrillas received training in combat fighting. With just 10,000 rifles and a perpetually short supply of ammunition, the entire guerilla organization managed to contain well-armed Japanese soldiers in 30 coastal and 6 inland towns and cities. The guerillas of the 130th Infantry regiment, 107th Division undisputedly owned the jungles around Davao as they surrounded the enemy and fought decisive battles that hastened Mindanao's liberation." --On Cover