Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-07-08
BY VI. X. REYNOLDS
Init News Service stan Correspondent

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BY VI. X. REYNOLDS
Int'I News Service stan Correspondent
Copyright 1912 international News Service
WASHINGTON, July Sim
mediate steps by governmental
authorities and relief agencies to
rush vitality needed food. clothing
and medicine 10 American prison.
ers of war in the Philippines were
welcomed today by Lieut.. Col.
Warren j. Clear OF the army gen
eral staff corps.
Himself veteran of Bataan and
Corregidor, Lieut.. Colonel Clear
spent many years in the Orient
prior 10 the present war and is one
OF this country's leading authorities
on the Japanese army.
Because of his knowledge OF
japanese psychology and military
traditions, he is confident that
negotiations now in progress can
be concluded with the japanese
government by the international
Red Cross TO enable supplies to
reach the prisoners in ample guam
titles from this country by ship
and airplane, though such negoti-
atoms are temporarily stynied-
SPEED PARAMOUNT
Colonel Clear stressed that
speed is the paramount factor.
eff at all possible" he said
"somc OF the vitality needed
foods and clothing should be
sent by plane"
When our forces in Bataan and.
Corregidor surrendered, he pointed
out, many of the men had been
badly reduced physically. ravaged
by weeks of malnutritlon.
Because OF long lack of neces-
sary vitamins. some could not see
more than 200 feet ahead Of them.
Necessary medicines. such as
Quinine. were depleted. and the
incidence of disease had risen until
as many as SO per cent OF an or
ganization had malaria and 30 20
40 per cent had bacillary or
amebic dysentery.
II saw two men struggling to
lift a small lOckcr-trunk that
either Of them could have
thrown up on his shoulder n
h.
Clear said.
JAP RATIoNs LOW
"To speculate on the japanese
treatment Of these men IL tn he
academic. II IL imperative that
We do everything within our
power, rs soon as possible, to
ameliorate the condition Of those
Of our men who were In such a
deteriorated state when they be-
came prisoners Of WAT"
Colonel Clear pointed out that
Japan. while adhering 10 interna-
tional conventions. could limit food
and living conditions for our men
10 what she gives her own troops.
(which would be below the mini
mum desirable in the case OF
Occidcntals.
I'VE must 60 on the assump-
ton" he explained. that funds
NAV have To he supplied for
proper housing and heating. IL
II reported that many Of our
officers and men have been re-
moved from Bataan To Baguio,
which has n salubrious climate
but IL n mile above sea level and
extremely cold at night.
Furthermore, II. IL not un-
usual for 40 inches Of rain tn fall
there In - hours. Obviously,
raincoats are essential.
CLOTHING IN RAGS
"Shoes, underwear and uni
forms were I'm rags or nonexist-
ent when the men surrendered.
Socks were unknown by the end
Of March In Bataan. All these
are needed In large quantities.
Long-sleeye sweaters would he
one Of the most useful of all
items Of clothing at Baguio.
medicines and surgical dress
ings for still suppurating wounds
are needed. Quinine and sulfa-
nilamide should he included.
Fruits and other foods should
be canned, as refrigeration will
probably he lacking. Canned
pineapple is valuable. Vitamin
tablets should also be included.
when we send supplies Of
vitality needed foods, medicines
and clothing 10 the prisoners,
the amounts must he ample TO
care also for the critical needs
of the thousands Of Filipino
troops who comprised the hulk
Of our forces during the figh-