Evening star., 1942-07-27
Japs Deny Charges
OF Mistredtment Of
Enemy Nationals
Broadcast Manila Story
Quoting American on
Comfortable Conditions
b TIE Associated Press.

b the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, July 27.-The Toxic
radio broadcast an implied denial
today OF charges that Japan mis-
treats prisoners OF war or other
enemy nationals who fall into her
hands.
1t quoted this passage from an
editorial In the Japan Times and
Advertiser, the English-l Language
newspaper controlled by the Toxic
foreign ONCE:
In wartime we must be prepared
for all kinds of false accusations
and malicious vituperations being
fiuag against us by our enemies
This is especially so as our enemy
countries are notorious for the in
vention and dissemination of can
ards of the vilest nature for the
express purpose of discrediting their
enemies in the eyes of the world"
The editorial said Japan has not
been free from accusations by her
enemies of harsh treatment of cap
tives and added that "the most ef-
fectual way to dispel false impress
sions created by such accusations Is
to let nationals of enemy countries
who. according to propaganda. have
been victims of maltreatment de-
clare voluntarily that they have
been and are being treated by the
Japanese authorities with every con-
sideration permissible in the cir
cumstances.
This broadcast followed wide
spread publication in the United
States and Britain of dispatches
from American correspondents new
ly freed from Japanese detention
describing brutalities inflicted by
the japanese on their captives.
Many Of these reported harsh pres
sure on prisoners when the Jap
anese tried to obtain statements
that the victims had been well
treated.
Broadcasts Comments
Domei, the Japanese news agency,
today broadcast Manila dispatch
In which r. P. Cronin, jr.. who was
chief of the Associated Press Bureau
at Manila when the war began,
is quoted as saying that the lot
OF Americans interned there, while
mot a bed of roses, could have
been much tougher"
The dispatch purported to give
Mr.. Cronin's comments at some
length on conditions at Santo To-
mas University, Manila, where 5000
United States, British and other
United Nations citizens have been
interned since the fall of the city
January 2.
The Domei broadcast quoted Mr..
Cronin as saying that "the grum-
blings heard are directed against
the Central Committee governing
body of the internees) and not
against the Japanese"
The broadcast continued:
He said that subsequent to the
formation of the Central Commit
tee other committees. including
those on sanitation, food, morals,
police, religion, education, enter
tainment and release were quickly
organized to take over complete su-
perWsion of the camp life.
1000 Outside University.
"Cronin revealed that more than
1000 Allied nationals now are liv-
ing outside (of Santo Tomas most
ly because OF old age or sickness,
while mothers and babies are stay
Ing at Holy Ghost. Convent
Mr.. Cronin was quoted as saying
the sickness rate was below that of
the average American village Of 5000
persons while there had been no
deaths during the entire first half
year Of internment. Fourteen babies
have been born to internees in out
side hospitals, it was said.
"In case of serious illness regular
outside hospitals are available,
thanks to the Japanese. Mr.. Cronin
was quoted. The broadcast added:
Life at the camp is normal and
comfortable, Cronin emphasized. de-
claring that Catholics and Protes-
tants hold regular services while
education goes on with classes from
kindergarten to specialized college
courses"