Book Review
by Maximo P. Fabella
THE BATTLE OF LEYTE GULF:
OCTOBER 23-26, 1944
by Thomas J. Cutler
New York: Harper Collins. 1994. 297 pp.

This book is by far the most comprehensive study on the subject. The author, Thomas J. Cutler, is a naval historian. The book is published fifty years after the event, after a lot of the controversies have settled. The author had access to information including official histories, after-action battle reports, accounts of key players, especially the controversial ones.

The book includes accounts from the Japanese side, but consists mostly of translations by John Toland of interrogation of Japanese officers conducted by the Navy. Of the earlier works, on the battler of Leyte Gulf, worth mentioning are C. Van Woodward, Samuel E. Morrison, and Stanley Falk. Few of the Japanese sources are used, which means over-reliance on translations by Americans.

This book has seven parts and twenty two chapters. A detailed treatment for those who really want to explore the subject. Leyte Gulf was the "greatest naval battle in history," in terms of the number of ships, the variety of forces deployed --- American, Japanese, Australians, numbers of men involved --- nearly 200,000, in a geographical area of 100,000 square miles, involving every aspect of naval war --- air, surface, submarine and amphibious.

Key players included President Roosevelt, Macarthur, Halsey, Nimitz, King, Kinkaid, Spruance, Oldendorf, Sprague on the Allied side. On the Japanese side the names of Kurita, Ozawa, Nishimura. Yet, Leyte Gulf is not a household name in American circles.

Hanson Baldwin basically agrees that it was "the a great, desperate and daring sea fight."

We may summarize the SHO I operations as follows. The Japanese ships based near Singapore, named 1st Diversion Attack Force converged on Leyte Gulf, and the Central Force, under Kurita, transited to San Bernardino Strait (north of Samar) at night. The Southern Group, under Nishimura, went through Surigao Strait, and the three converging fleets simultaneously arrived in Leyte Gulf on October 25.

Admiral Halsey was "lured" north by Ozawa which left San Bernardino uncovered. However, Ozawa's force was ambushed by submarines in Palawan Passage and Sibuyan Sea, warning the Americans. The landing was left unprotected and the gap had to be filled. The Nishimurta Southern Group was ambushed. The situation was saved.

Cutler praises Halsey for keeping the Japanese off balance by his bold actions. He also caused the acceleration of the schedule which brought the Americans closer to the Philippines before the Japanese had completed their preparation.

Kinkaid gets credit for his performance before Leyte Gulf, and at Leyte overall performance was excellent. McArthur was instrumental in bringing about the liberation of the Philippines at an earlier time. Oldendorf's actions in Surigao Strait was outstanding, in both planning and execution. Sprague is credited for his conduct in Samar.

On the Japanese side, the Japanese commanders were faulted for bad communication, lack of coordination and bold leadership. Cutler's purpose is not to defame the men who originated them, but the let their actions and criticisms ....serve as lessons for future naval officers. This work is probably the definitive work on the subject for some time to come.

Max Fabella of Orange Park, Florida, USA obtained his bachelors and masters degree (in history) from the University of the Philippines. Before he left the Philippines many, many years ago, he taught at the University of the East. He was a book reviewer for AMERASIA journal of UCLA, and other newspapers. He is editor of PORTABLE RIZAL READER : Selected Essays and Poems.