Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-12-27
US. Expected
Japs' Attack
80 Years Ago
Feared Philippine Blow
Before Canal Opened
BY HUGH 5. JOHNSON

IT is strange sitting here and
casting back over memories
OF more than 30 years 10 see in
the news names OF Filipino
towns that / knew as we'll as
do Chicago or Red Bank. New
Jersey-and never expected TO
hear about again.
1t is stranger still to realize
that-instead Of the unbelievably
sleepy little barrios they were
where it seemed that nothing
of real Importance COULD ever
happen-they are being swarmed
over by tens Of thousands OF
little yellow men and that our
men and a new type OF Philip
pine soldier are being slaught-
cred in what almost seems a
desperate cause.
II wasn't that we did not eX-
pect something Of that sort
shortly even then. That IS
what we were there for. II was
in the days when Teddy RooSe-
welt was sending the fleet around
the world for a fight or irollC,
THE Japanese were expected
l. 10 strike before the Panama
Canal could open. 1t was in part
the Job OF my regiment TO eN-
plore the country 10 find--Well
10 find the very routes Of the
present japanese advance.
Our new Notifications AT
Olongapo were being rushed
under forced draft and all the
younger officers had 10 take
their tours Of mapping duty
not so much 10 discover the
main possible military routes.
They had been known for CEN
turtles. One job was 10 find un-
suspected trails through the
almost impossible mountains
some of which We did find. Some
are being used now.
was stationed al and became
very familiar with the country
of Union Province, Baguio and
Pampanga, from The strange
volcanic peak OF Ararat over 10
the sea at Olongapo and down
the valley 10 Florida Blanca
1t is strangely beautiful
country, especially in the noun
tains but. TO me It's beauty held
something forbidding and sin
iSter.
YOU imagine the low lands A
L grassy plains and so they
are. But the grass is II 10 Ii
feet high and. off the trails YOU
can get through only with a
guide. and then with great diff
culties.
The mountains are cut in great
parallel gaShes-chaSmS some
times thousands OF feet deep. so
inaccessible that, IN the old DAYS
tribes Of husky mountaineerS tof
the same people, from one
valley, didn't speak the language
/ OF the Sub-tribc IN the next and
had little interest in them except
10 lurk along the trail sides and
Top off their heads yes and the
heads OF any strangers who hap
pened along
II was lust an old custom OF
Z the country
As an example Of another
aspect. Al Baguio which IS the
- summer capital built az the up-
per end OF one of these valleys.
YOU have 10 build fires and sleep
under blankets
THE pine trees and The soil
Il are much like Georgia..
But in daylight. YOU can stand
there and look down a slope OF
many thousands OF feet Of tan
gled vegetation from { ma {
small Georgia sample ~ the top
to Seb-tropicaFegetation AT the
bottom.
In all the books. Of course.
that ought 10 be a country easy
10 defend and 50 would II be
except for the terrible new de.
vices Of war planes. bombs and
parachuteS and except also for
the m any Sneak-entranccS OF
which | have spoken little
suspected beachheadS opening
on rough trails outhanking the
main defense in the broader val
leyS
As II is. General Macarthur
with insufficient equipment and
so few trained troops. has one
OF the hardest military problems
ever put upon commander who
must rely mainly onISoldiers OF
another race.
Our prayers should be with
him to rs great an extent rs We
ever gave them TO 2 belcagucred
son of our race IN desperate
situation.
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