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Product Description (Overview)Moroland is the lost history of the once-famed struggle between the United States Army and the "wild" Moros, the Muslim peoples of the southern Philippine islands. Lasting over two decades, it was this country's first sustained encounter with a volatile mixture of nation-building, insurgency, counterinsurgency, and militant Islamism. A byproduct of the Spanish-American War, the task of subduing and then "civilizing" the "Land of the Moros", a land area larger than Ireland, was delegated to the U.S. Army. Working through the traditional ruling hierarchy and respecting an ancient system of laws based on the Qur'an, "Moro Province" became an autonomous, military-governed Islamic colony within a much larger, overwhelmingly Christian territory. For three years it was a successful and bloodless occupation, but trouble arrived in mid-1903 when the American objective transitioned to a grand experiment: an audacious plan to transform and remake Moro society, values, and culture in an American image; placing the Moros on an uncertain and ill-defined path towards eventual integration in a Western-style democracy. The Moros reacted with obstinate and unyielding resistance to what they perceived as a deliberate attack on the religion of Islam and a way of life ordained by God. The constant stream of battles and expeditions that followed over the next ten years is known in U.S. Army history as the "Moro Campaigns". In violence and ferocity they may have equaled, if not surpassed, the more famous late-19th Century Indian Wars of the Great Plains. Despite seeming victory after victory on the battlefield, pacification of the Moros remained a distant and elusive goal. Gradually the Army was replaced as the principal instrument for achieving "law and order" over the troubled province by the famed Moro Constabulary and the Philippine Scouts; native troops led by American and European officers. In 1914, the US Army left Moroland altogether, replaced by a civil government and a major increase in the Constabulary. Despite proving far more effective than the Army, Moro resistance to what they perceived to be outside rule continued (for that matter it has not abated to this day). In 1920 the last American Governor left and control over Moroland was handed over to the Filipino-dominated colonial legislature. The backdrop is a bustling, raucous, newly-prosperous nation finding its way as a world and imperial power. But with this new-found status came a near-religious belief that the active spread of America's institutions, values, and form of government, even when achieved through coercion or force, would create a better world. A subplot is a deep and bitter rivalry between two of its most prominent players, Capt. John J. Pershing and General Leonard Wood, born only one month apart, each championing markedly opposed military philosophies. Eventually they would compete to lead one-million American "doughboys" into the cauldron of the world's first Great War. Few Americans are aware that a century later the U.S. military quietly returned to Moroland, to battle "radical Islamist terrorism"; using Army Green Berets, Navy Seals, and other elite forces. It is the smallest of the fronts of the "global war on terror" and the least-covered or critically examined. It leads the reader to an obvious question: are we avoiding or are we repeating our own past? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Many good insights into Mindanao and the Philippines
This is an interesting book, telling us about the Moros in Mindanao, the Mestizo Catholics in Manila, and the American soldiers and colonial leaders. Good stories about Captain John Pershing, General Leonard Wood, and Big Bill Taft.

Excellent account of long forgotten events
Mr Fulton has written an excellent book on the little known subject of the United States and the conflict with the Moros in the early 20th Century. Rich in detail and color and some amazing characters, this true account fleshes out a little understood portion of American and Filipino history. Not for the casual reader or beginner history buff, but rather a detailed and well crafted history of events and people that shaped our modern foreign policies and relations in that region of the globe. Highly recommended for those interested in US/Moro relations, conflicts and actions in remote areas.
Well done, Mr Fulton

Revised 2nd edition Oct. 2009
An extremely insightful study with an enormous amount of detail, written from a frankly-admitted American perspective, of the U.S. colonial actions and policies towards the Moros of the southern Philippines, correcting the historical record in important respects, and not glossing over the many faults of individuals involved.This 524 page second edition bears a printing date of 30 September 2009, and has links to a website where owners of the 2007 first edition can download an upgrade, [...].That website is evidently a work in progress, and as of today, 29 October 2009, contains few of the promised photo illustrations, and other supporting material.My main criticism is that the volume's value as a reference source is severely limited by the woefully inadequate index, almost certainly not compiled by the author himself.

Continues the Narrative of the U.S. Experience in the Philippines beyond 1902
Moroland by Robert A. Fulton is a comprehensive examination of American policy toward and military operations against the Moros of the southern Philippine Islands from 1899 to 1906.Fulton very effectively covers policies, politics, and military operations.What emerges from his work is a fascinating tale of brilliance and opportunities lost.It is a must read volume for anyone interested in a host of contemporary issues including counterinsurgency, clash of cultures, Islamic warrior societies, and nation-building.

Through his analysis of the individual commanders, Fulton highlights the two very different approaches taken toward interacting with the Philippine Moro tribes.One approach was the "hard war" approach represented by General Wood.The other approach was the "soft war" approach represented most dramatically by Captain Pershing and Major Scott. Fulton's comparison of the two approaches creates tension and drama in the work and greatly enhances its readability.Fulton also highlights how the different American commanders accounted for the Moslem religion and the decentralized tribal culture in their approach to operations.This discussion makes the book's relevance to current military operations readily apparent.

Moroland is a perfect follow-on to Brian Linn's The Philippine War.Its only serious short-coming is that it is an incomplete history.The U.S. Army's engagement with the Moro Province tribes does not end in 1906 but rather continued to 1913.American policy dominance over the area continued to 1921.The reader is left wanting to hear the rest of the story.Fulton plans a follow-up book that will complete the history to 1913 and the end of military governance.

Overall, RobertFulton's Moroland is an informative, well-researched, and valuable contribution to the historiography of the U.S. military in the Philippines. The Moro campaigns are ignored in the histories of the Philippine War, but were an important formative experience for five different Army Chiefs of Staff.Fulton fills an important gap in the history of the U.S. Army prior to World War I, while at the same time raising important considerations regarding contemporary military operations.

A solid effort on history's circle completing
Just 30 years after Spain booted the last of the Moors from Iberia, Magellan renewed contact in the Philippines, and thus, the "Moros" of U.S. history nearly 500 years later. Both sides completed the circle, as Islam arrived in the southern Philippines little more than a century before the Spanish.

Fulton shows how we, at times, dealt with our first conflict with Islam little better than today, between willful ignorance, accusations of barbarism and more. He also shows how
Spanish really only controlled the northern Philippines, and natives' understanding of a U.S. takeover agreement are the legal basis, in Muslim Filipino eyes, for the continued effort at independence from today's Manila government.

Fulton also gives a good overview of the diversity of the tribes, the personalities of some of the top Army brass, the promotion stagnation of the Army of this day and the incessant politicking that went along with that, and more.

I also like Fulton's illustration, contrary to myth, of the political "sharp elbows" of William Howard Taft.

That said, while this is a good introduction to the subject, just a couple of things left it a bit short of 5-star status.

Like a few other readers, I noted some spelling errors. Most of them I let go, given this is an independently-published book.

But to repeatedly spell Arthur MacArthur's name as McArthur can't be let go. I'm not saying that Fulton doesn't know his Army of 1900 well, but a spelling mistake like that can leave that impression open.

And, that leads to a larger comment about MacArthur - Fulton introduces him "in medias res." Not just in the midst of the Philippines, but in the midst of his career, plucking him out of nowhere.

I know he won the Medal of Honor at Missionary Ridge. But, how many other people do?

And, I know that he had some post-Civil War experience in Indian fighting. But, while he mentions that background with others, Fulton never discusses it on MacArthur. Fulton leaves him as a blank slate.

Two illustrative issues, then.

First, some of the maps did not have very sharp reproduction quality.

Second, a couple of timeline charts, and a chart or two of sultan/datu connections, would have made some of the narrative a bit easier to follow.

That all said, I am looking forward to the promised sequel.
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Ninth book in the series of operational monographs, all based on official sources. Well illustrated with b/w photos & 9 fold-out maps. ... Read more

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EMBRACING OUR WAR WITH THE FILIPINOS IN 1899; TOGETHER WITH A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THOSE ISLANDS FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES TO THE PRESENT; AN AUTHENTIC HISTORY OF THE SPANISH WAR ; PREPARED FROM OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT REPORTS OF OUR ARMY AND NAVY OFFICERS, PRESENTING ALL THE FACTS FOR THE FIRST TIME; THE HISTORY OF CUBA, PORTO RICO, THE LADRONE AND THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS FROM THEIR DISCOVERY TO THE PRESENT TIME
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An Excerpt from the book-

Don Luys de Velasco, knight of the Order of Sanctiago,
viceroy-lieutenant of the king our sovereign, governor and
captain-general of Nueva Espana, and president of the royal Audiencia
and Chancilleria established therein, etc. Whereas Doctor Antonio de
Morga, alcalde of criminal causes in this royal Audiencia, informed me
that he had written a book and treatise on the Events in the Filipinas
Islands, from their earliest discoveries and conquest until the end
of the past year six hundred and seven, and requested me to grant him
permission and privilege to have it printed, to the exclusion of all
others doing the same for a certain period; and whereas I entrusted
Father Juan Sanchez, of the Society of Jesus, with the inspection
of the said book, as my proxy: therefore, I hereby grant permission
to the said Doctor Antonio de Morga, so that, for the period of the
next ten years, he, or his appointee, may freely have the said book
printed by whatever printer he pleases; and I forbid any other person
to do the same within the said time and without the said permission,
under penalty of losing--and he shall lose--the type and accessories
with which the said impression shall be made, and the same shall be
applied in equal shares to his Majesty's exchequer and to the said
Doctor Antonio de Morga. Given in Mexico, on the seventh of the month
of April, one thousand six hundred and nine.
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Customer Reviews (1)

A historic account of Spanish Colonization
History of the Philippines Vol. I and II examines the most pivotal part of the Philippine Island's history when the Spanish explored the Southeast Asian corridor and sought the spice islands situated within the coast of Molucca, Malaysia, and Indonesia.Dr. Antonio deMorga, a Counsel for the Holy Office of the inquisition, recorded his observations while on the islands for eight years drawing the islands' connections to Spanish Colonization from 1493-1603, Nueva Espana, and her political and religious settlement, which covers the first volume.The second volume introduces and reflects on the culture and customs of the Filipino people and how religious assimilation and conversation took place.Having been published in 1907, this is historically and significantly important, over 300 years after the arrival of the Spanish and ten years or so after the end of the Empire's presence on the islands.And one of the interesting elements about his accounts is how he includes a few hints of the Spanish's impression towards Asian traders, Chinese and Japanese, and the competitiveness that existed during this historic era.

The book is extremely helpful with brief introductions of each chapter, but the only thing lacking within this edition is a reader-friendly, practical to navigate table of contents and index page. But overall, the Kindle electronic-book edition is insightful and enlightening, especially for readers who have a curious eye to better understand the early history of the Philippines.
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Out of print for more than a decade, the ground-breaking Philippine Postcolonial Studies is now reissued for the benefit of scholars, both young and old, who are interested in using this postcolonial paradigm to interrogate the more traditional approaches previously applied to the study and teaching of cultural practices. Though still controversial, the critical insights proposed in these essays remain valide today, and like Philippine Postcolonial Studies itself, this book has produced "insightful critical texts, foregrounded hitherto marginalized literary and cultural practices, and ...contributed to a better understanding of our own society." ... Read more

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Long ago, beginning in the New Stone Age, a people that included the ancestors of the Malayo-Polynesian people, known as the Nusantao, spread news of the world's center to the far reaches of the globe.

A great churning of the ocean, a major volcanic eruption had left clues convincing these ancient navigators that they had discovered the axis mundi, the link between the three worlds of old mythology.

Author Paul Kekai Manansala searched deep into arcane archives, museums and other repositories to uncover the mysteries of these ancient argonauts. ... Read more

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This is an OCR edition without illustrations or index. It may have numerous typos or missing text. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from the publisher's website (GeneralBooksClub.com). You can also preview excerpts of the book there. Purchasers are also entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Original Published by: Boston and London, Ginn ... Read more

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It has been more than a century since the American conquest and subsequent annexation of the Philippines. Although the nation was given its independence in 1946, American cultural authority remains.

In order to locate and lend significance to the relics of American empire, Joseph McCallus retraces the route Gen. Douglas MacArthur took during his liberation of the country from the Japanese in 1944 and 1945. While following MacArthur’s footsteps, he provides a historical and geographical account of this iconic soldier’s military career, accompanied by a description of the contemporary Philippine landscape. McCallus uses the past and the present to explore how America influenced the country’s political and educational systems and language, as well as the ramifications of the continued U.S. military presence and the effects of globalization on traditional Filipino society. He examines the American influence on its architecture and introduces to the reader the American expatriate business community—people who have lived in the Philippines for decades and continue to help shape the nation. The MacArthur Highway and Other Relics of American Empire in the Philippines is an absorbing look at how American military intervention and colonial rule have indelibly shaped a nation decades after the fact.
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Customer Reviews (1)

The Low Road
Aside from the many annoying typos that plague the work, the author, a professor at an unremarkable state university in the American South, seems to lose the plot and instead of providing an account of the America's role in the Philippines, he engages in a number of outrageous insults of the Philippines and Filipino people.Rather than portraying the Philippines as the proud emerging market that it has become and the role that the US has played in that remarkable story, the author states that the Filipino people are largely dishonest and that an entire generation of women between the ages of 18 to 24 are prostitutes.

There can simply be no excuse for such writings. Thousands of the women who he wrongfully claims are working on their backs are actually working in call centers throughout the country.The Philippines is the number one outsourcing destination in the world and it has surpassed India as the number one location for call center work.Remarkably, his poorly researched book does not even mention this billion dollar industry or the American companies that are locating in the Philippines to support this industry.Somehow the author must have missed the tens of millions of square feet of class A office space that is currently under construction in the city to expand this industry.While he claims to be a friend of the Philiipines, with friends like this I would hate to see the country's enemies. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Must Read
An insightful look at the war that captures the spectrum of the various U.S.approaches to the situation in the Philippines.Must read for serious student.

Thorough history
This is a thorough history that almost seems to have been written contemporary with the events.A very insightful account it examines in a chronological way the American interest in the Phillipines and the way in which the U.S Was dragged into an anti-insurgency campaign that it won handily.Although the problems and rebellion would drag on in the south of the country into 1908 this was a classic war against guerillas and people could learn much from it today.The Phillipines was a diverse country with Chinese, Spaniards, mixed people and Muslims.The Americans helped restore order and provided incentives for the people to abandon the insurgency.It also was a training ground for American soldiers who went on to serve in the Great War.

Seth J. Frantzman ... Read more

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American missionaries Henry Roy Bell and his wife Edna had been teaching in the Philippines at Silliman University for twenty years when the Japanese invaded the islands after the attack on Pearl Harbor. This is the story of their guerilla war against the Japanese, from the time they took to the hills until they were secretly evacuated by submarine three years later. At first willing only to provide food to the young men covertly fighting against the Japanese, Bell eventually became fully involved in the Filipino resistance movement and rose to the rank of major in an island-wide guerrilla army. With a price on his head and his capture eminent, Bell, his wife, and two teenage sons were smuggled across the island and, on February 6, 1944, escaped on board a cargo submarine delivering arms and ammunition to the guerrillas ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A true account of survival and courage
As Professor Bell's grandson, this account was inevitably interesting to me. The taciturn grandfather I knew only in the tamer settings of Kansas and Pennsylvania visits later in life did not reveal much of the reluctant leader he had once been. A portrait of part of my origins, the book cross connected some of the family lore of this time. I wish I had been more conversant about these experiences while Professor Bell still lived.

Readers who have a tie to the World War II context, to the Phillipines, or to the Bell family, or even to the general category of survival during war and occupation, are likely to find the book interesting. The work is professional, scholarly, but not literary in a way that most readers would find gripping.

Despite somewhat awkward narrative, the account itself, a true account of survival, of spirit, brought tears to my eyes in the closing chapters. I have to thank Scott Mills, and my uncle Don Bell, who encouraged Scott to illuminate this passage.

Thomas (Kenneth (Professor H. Roy Bell))

Valuable Contribution to American Participation in Guerrilla Activities in the Philippines in WWII
This is the story of Roy Bell and his wife Edna who taught at Silliman University on the Philippine island of Negros, and who became involved in the guerrilla movement on that island after the fall of the Philippines to Japanese forces in the spring of 1942.The author has built his story mostly on conservations with the Bells' son Don, and their unpublished manuscript of their time during the war.As such, this story adds to the somewhat sparse literature of the Philippine guerrilla movement during World War II.

I purchased this book due to my friendship with Wendell W. Fertig, commander of all guerrilla units on the island of Mindanao during the War.He had contact with Bell, meeting him at least once, and regularly communicating with Bell by radio.Roy Bell became something of an expert in radios, even repairing Fertig's radio while visiting him on Mindanao.It was Fertig that arranged for the Bells' escape in January, 1994 to Mindanao and their travel on the submarine Narwhal to Australia and safety in February.I was a little taken aback that the author apparently did not use John Keats' "They Fought Alone", the story of Wendell Fertig that mentions Bell more than once, in particular concerning the message Fertig received from Bell that MacArthur had stupidly named Marcario Peralta commander of all the guerrilla forces in the occupied Philippines.That order was later rescinded, and Bell and Fertig cooperated for the entire time Bell was in the Philippines.

The story of the almost two years the Bells lived on Negros hiding from the Japanese and of their guerrilla operations makes for thrilling reading.Almost constantly they were in danger of being betrayed to the Japanese, and yet they did good work helping Filipinos and damaging the Japanese.In many respects this book is better than the stories of Ramsey and others who fought on Luzon, as they were single men and military officers.Bell was a professor, and his wife was with him.He also was confronted with limited territory in which to hide, although after the summer of 1943 he could travel to Mindanao if necessary.

In short, I recommend this book as an example of what civilians can be confronted with in a war and when under occupation by the enemy.In the Bells' case, they would have been executed upon capture, although no doubt subjected to torture first.Their active resistance to the Japanese meant that their lives were forfeit is captured.This is something for the reader to contemplate -- surrender was not an option.

I do not understand the title of this book "Stranded in the Philippines" as if it was somehow the fault of the U.S. that the Bells were not evacuated from Negros when the Japanese attacked.The Navy's capacity to evacuate civilians from the Philippines was extremely limited, and War Plan Orange did not envision maintaining supply lines to the Philippines under Japanese attack.The Bells were not stranded -- they were simply there in the Philippines when the Philippine and American forces surrendered.And then they took up arms against the Japanese, risking their lives every day.Otherwise, I have no criticism to offer -- the writing is crisp and the reader understands that the dialog is not purported to be 100% accurate.The scholarship only extends to clarifying what the Bells wrote and said, although the references are generally good.

I recommend this work to the relatively limited readership (like myself) to whom it will be attractive.
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The First Colorado Regiment enlisted in 1898 to fight Spaniards in Cuba, but ended up fighting in the Philippines. Before they could join the campaign in Cuba, Commodore George Dewey's United States Navy squadron destroyed the Spanish fleet at Manila in May 1898. Dewey lacked the infantry necessary to seize the city itself, so the Colorado militia was rushed to the Philippines. The Colorado troops led the assault on Manila, seizing Fort San Antonio de Abad and raising the first American flag over the capitol city.

With the Spanish-American War over, the Filipinos expected independence. When it was clear independence would not be granted, tensions between the Filipinos and the Americans mounted until they escalated into battle in February 1899. The Coloradoans fought against the Filipinos in what came to be called the Philippine Insurrection. The war to free Cubans from Spanish rule had become a war to subject Filipinos to American rule.

The First Colorado Infantry represents the expectations and experiences of citizen soldiers in America's quest for empire at the end of the nineteenth century. In his study, Geoffrey Hunt includes charts that document the reorganization of the Colorado National Guard during the late nineteenth century, the U.S. Army command structure in the Philippines, 1898-1899, and the volunteer regiments' members' deaths in the Philippines. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great insight into a little known part ofthe Spanish American War
While images of Roosevelt, Dewey and Maine are the most recognized images of the Spanish American War, Geoffrey Hunt provides some very interesting insight into lesser known actions of the war and the subsequent problems of dealing with an insurrection.Further, I found it interesting to see how much the members of the Colorado Volunteers were responsible for sowing the seeds of what would become the largest organization for Veterans, the VFW.

Covers a Period Change between the Civil War and WW I
This is an exhaustively researched investigation into the the First Colorado Regiment. These troops enlisted in the army in the aftermath of the descruction of the battleship Main in 1998. They had just finished training and were assembled with other units in San Francisco when Admiral Dewey destroyed the Spanish fleet at Manila in May 1981. Having a shortage of infantry, these units were rushed to the Philippines rather than to Cuba.

At the end of the eighteen hundreds the Americans were beginning to think of building an empire like those of the European powers. The First Colorado was put to fighting in the Philippines to take over the Spanish colony. They then found themselves as conquerors of the Philipine people and were fighting to subject them to American rule.

The Spanish American war occurred at a time when the world was in a period of dramatic change. The American Army was still following the mentality of the Civil War, while the technology of quick firing artillery and machine guns were rapidly changing the battlefield. This new book covers a little reported, little understood part of American history. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (9)

Excellent Read
Great book, just an awesome read. Written very well, I would recommend title to anyone that is intersted SE Asian Studies.

Brilliant - a timeless masterpiece!
Well researched and written with a bold perspective.Historical and captivating.I've bought a couple copies to distribute to people who are well versed in the region and all said the same.This one will remain on my bookshelf for years to come and Mccoy earns 5 stars on this one.Bravo!!

Compelling analysis that shouts clearly from the pages
A must read for anyone interested in not just Se Asian but America's presence elsewhere on the globe, now and in the future. Mccoy manages to craft his factual narrative to ensure compelling thoughts seem like they came from your own mind, just before he answers them succinctly for you not a second later.

Outstanding
Wow! Im was very impressed with this. An all round interesting read. Some of McCoys best work yet!

Phenomenal Historical Perspective
This was so compelling I could not put it down. I have recommended it to all my students. After reading this I have further insight into the US democratization and colonialization of the Phillippines. The modern day parallels between the Phillippines and our current wars are striking and McCoys book helps contextualize this. ... Read more

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Filipino martial artist Amante Marinas Sr. brings the seldom-seen origins and techniques of a dozen weapons of the Philippine Islands together in one place in Pananandata: History and Techniques of the Daga, Yantok, Balisong, and Other Traditional Weapons of the Philippines. Not since Dan Inosanto's out-of-print classic The Filipino Martial Arts has one book encompassed so many different aspects of the arts of the Philippines. Marinas uses clear instruction and step-by-step photos to teach readers the fighting techniques of such weapons as the dikin (ring), hawakan (Philippine tonfa), latiko (whip), blowgun and tabak toyok (nunchaku), tracing these weapons from their origins as tools in the rural farmlands and demonstrating their deadly effectiveness today. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (11)

Captured:An accurate and detailed review of American civilians held in captivity
I was a child in the Baguio/Bilibid group that the author describes.I also had family in Santo Tomas.The author gives a comprehensive view of the camps and carefully weights the credibility of her sources.This was a great book!

An Encyclopedia of Internment Life
Frances Cogan's book Captured is about American civilian life in the Philippines before, during, and after World War 2. Cogan discusses topics such as American life before the Japanese invasion, internee work during their camp years, and even what happened to the internee's after the war. Cogan also delves into the stories of specific families from different camps. Ensuring the reader understands the setting, no expense is spared on discussing topics such as Japanese administration and treatment, the guerrillas who hid during the war, and battle plans for camp liberations by the US military.

The books theme is about several controversies surrounding civilian internment. For one, Cogan claims that overtime as the Japanese began to lose in the war; their treatment towards the civilians became harsher. The book also discusses Japanese administration and how each camp was controlled by, "the personality of the commandant and the location of the camp" (112). Another issue surrounding camp life involved how the Japanese did not follow international regulations in regards to food, health, and safety for the internees. As Cogan suggests, "during those earlier months, the internees, left to their own resources... forced to finance, find, beg, or sign IOUs for food to feed them and for medical supplies" (151).

The value of this book is extraordinary. Not only does Cogan focus on using many first hand accounts from both internee's, guerillas, and soldiers alike, she points out the contradictory accounts and pieces together an accurate story of what happened. Cogan uses, "government documents, modern historiography, a variety of accounts now published, access to a number of unpublished manuscripts and diaries" as resources for writing a thorough history of the Philippines (5). By explaining the background history, Cogan is able to help the reader imagine the thought process, feelings, and emotions of all involved. One example is in the first chapter when Cogan explains the relationship between Filipinos and Americans. This gives the reader a good understanding about why many Americans were able to survive camp life. Another major topic discussed was the rescue of the Los Banos camp by the US military. Cogan does not disappoint when describing this dramatic situation. Using both soldier's and internees first hand accounts, one gets a feeling of what is was like to be in the camp during the rescue.

There are problems with the writing style. Many times throughout the book Cogan fails to deliver an appropriate transition when changing subjects. On page 223, Cogan abruptly switches subjects in the chapter focusing on shelters and living space. When comparing the different camp living spaces, Cogan stops cold and switches to a new subject, "The July addition of 520 missionaries" (223).

Other problems include her use of sources. Though her large amount of research provides plenty of info, at times the use of so many sources confuses the reader. For example, in chapter 1 explaining the days before the Japanese invasion, Cogan uses too many people's perspectives. It seems as if every new page introduces a new character. It takes until the 3rd or 4th chapter to realize which families Cogan decides to follow for the rest of the book. Another problem is the feeling that there are too many sources quoted, which makes the reader feel like the book is just a book describing other books. In chapter one, the reader can find seven large excerpts from other books. These problems make the book feel unoriginal.

A final problem with the book is its organization. In the introduction, Cogan explains that the subject of each chapter will be based on topics such as shelter life or administration. This however is not the problem. The real problem is that many times throughout this book Cogan will go off into tangents that have little to do with the intended purpose of the chapter. One instance relates back to the discussion of missionaries during the shelter chapter. This misplacement devalues the theme of the chapter. Another problem with the organization is that on Cogan's whim she will break the chapters up into different sections. Again this is not bad but the fact that she uses it only on some chapter's makes the chapters weak. A last note on organization, both chapter 6 and 7 are discussing relatively the same topic, food. In reading chapter 7, I felt as if it was only an extension of chapter 6.

Cogan's work describing the lives of civilian internees in the Philippines during World War 2 is rich both in detail and in analysis. Using many primary first hand accounts, Cogan puts the many controversies during the time in the spotlight and tries to explain what happened. The reader can almost envision what it was like to be in the internment camps in the Philippines. However there are problems. Cogan fails to deliver clear transitions between topics. There are also too many sources, the reader becomes confused and has to re-read sections to remember specific characters. For anyone interested in learning about civilian internment camp life in the Philippines, I would highly recommend this book.

Captured:the japanese internment of american civilians in the philippines1941-1945
A wonderfully informative book about a hitherto unknown event during the second world war in the far east.Highly recommend this book for all who are interested in this venue.

Very fair approach to the subject
Captured by Frances B. Cogan proves to be a well written and well researched book that reflects on the experiences of the American civilians living in Philippines after they were interned by the Japanese military during the Second World War. The author managed to find a keen balance in telling the history of the American civilians under Japanese rule and the considerable hardship it imposed upon them. However, the author take this approach with unexpected fairness and unbaised writing. While the Japanese military can hardly be considered to be a kind and caring people, nor were they monsters in uniforms. The author clearly pointed out that cultural, racial and military differences between the two sides make the American civilians internship that much more harder.

The book take a balanced look at different internment camps, experiences of individuals and their interpersonal relationship with each other as well as with their guards. A look at the privilage life prior to the war gives a good understanding of their mindset as they fell into captivity. The book also gives an good insights to what happened after they were released, not only to the Americans but to their native friends they left behind. I was bit surprised that she was bit critical about the Los Blancos raid when she wrote that it was good for the Americans but terrible for the native people who paid the price of Japanese anger.

The author on the other hand, is no great admirer of Douglas MacArthur. In some ways, she think MacArthur did more harm then good toward the internees by their experiences. She also take a curious turn when she try to compared the internment of Japanese-Americans to the American civilians in the Philippines. Maybe she forget that there's a massive difference between being interned by your own government in your own country and being interned by a hostile foreign military while living in a foreign land.

Overall, I found this book to be pretty important in telling the overall story of the American civilians in Philippines during World War II. The book come highly recommended for anyone interested in this subject matter.

An Important Part of The Pacific War
Frances Cogan provides interesting insight on another event during World War II that has been somewhat buried amongst the military battles that occurred in the Pacific theater of the war.CAPTURED:THE JAPANESE INTERNMENT OF AMERICAN CIVILIANS IN THE PHILIPPINES, 1941-1945 reveals the forgotten hardships that 5,000 American civilians had to endure while imprisoned by the Japanese army in one of several regions within the Philippine islands, such as Baguio.

Cogan derives her information from both primary and secondary sources.She tells a brief description of the Philippines, and what attracted Americans to live and work in the Islands.The most revealing part of the book is the internees' experiences.With much detail.Within her examination, Cogan attempts to integrate what was happening on the war front, the Bataan Death March and criticism ofGen. MacArthur's plans in the Pacific theater, as well as conditions within the prison walls, such as how food was distributed and how internees endured and occupied their time; the most interesting aspect is how the Philippine people helped to provide food and medical aid to the internees despite the conditions.

The only weakness of Cogan's examination is her very brief description of Filipino internees.They too had suffered under the Japanese occupation, and experienced extreme casualties and brutal treatment.Their experience is merely noted within a few pages near the conclusion of the book. In addition, the American internees suffered fear and unbearable experiences during their ordeal, but their stories appear briefly between the quantitative details.

Nevertheless, CAPTURED is a fresh perspective of the conflict in the Pacific during World War II.With Frances Cogan's historical narrative, readers will understand how this little know event in Social history relates to one of the most examined periods in 20th century history.
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