These guards groups changed often, probably handed off to a different unit by sector. For the first few days, prisoners were subjected to searches at any time, often more than once per day. The group I marched with totaled about one thousand at the beginning, but varied with passing areas. The conquering troops provided no food or water for the first five days of the march. This occurred on the stop just before San Fernando, Pampanga Province.
Water is always a great concern to troops on a march.
Although most of the flat land route had numerous Artesian wells operating, the Japanese guards prevented marchers from using them. The guards, at times, played games on the marchers, when one guard would encourage a prisoner to go for water, he and the other guards would use the prisoners for target practice. On two occasions, when we stopped for the night, we were allowed to use the wells. It was the dry season, the sun was hot and the average temperature was 105 degrees, during the day. Some of the prisoners were without headgear.