The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1942-04-23
LIEUT.. KLIEWER IS
MENTIONED IN JAP
RADIO BROADCAST
Former Bluffton Youth, Prison
er of War, in Good Health,
Says Announcer
Broadcast from Tokyo is Heard
By Friend of Kliewer Fam
lily in Oregon

Lieut.. David Kliewer, formerly of
Bluffton, who is now a prisoner of
war in hands of the japanese was
mentioned in a radio broadcast from
Tokyo recently which was heard in
this country, according to word re-
ceived here the first of the week
from Lieut.. kliewer's father, Rev.
P. A. Kliewer of Albany, Oregon.
Rev. kliewer was a former pastor
of the Ebenezer Mennonite church
west of Bluffton.
The japanese broadcast was heard
in Salem, Oregon, on the night of
April by friend of the Kliewer
family and telephoned to them in
Albany the following morning, Rev.
Kliewer's letter stated.
The Tokyo broadcast stated, ac-
cording to the report, that David d.
Kliewer is in a concentration camp
in Japan and that he is getting three
meals daily and is feeling well. He
requested that his parents pay his
insurance premium from the Hawaii
an bank.
Jap Broadcast
The Japanese announcer said that
Kliewer's fathers initials were p. A.
and that he lived in Albany, Oregon.
The broadcast continued that if the
announcement was heard in the
United States Kliewer's parents
should be notified at once. Also it
was stated that Kliewer requested
his insurance premium be paid thru
the Hawaiian bank.
Recent press dispatches have re-
ported that American officers in the
concentration camp at Zentsuji island
of the Shikoku group are permitted
to send personal messages to their
families in America but are not per-
mitted to receive answers.
Lieut.. Kliewer who served in the
Marine air corps, is among the 366
United States prisoners of war who
were captured on Wake, Gilbert and
Guam islands and taken to the
prison camp at Zentsuii which lies
east of the southern tip of Hondo
island, largest of the Japanese
group.
Caution Urged
While his family and friends were
delighted with the news in the
broadcast, press dispatches have
pointed out that all such broadcasts
should be accepted only with reser-
vations. Being broadcast by the
Japanese propaganda bureau, it is
possible that the radio messages
might be broadcast with a hidden
motive, it was stated.
A recent report, however, made by
an agent of the International Red
Cross indicated that the 366 Ameri-
can prisoners at Zentsuji were be-
ing well treated, fed adequately and
had good housing conditions.
The report was made public by
Rep. White Cd. Idaho) following
receipt of a cablegram from the
agent of the Red Cross organization.
Impressions Good
There was no complaint made at
| the camp on the matter of treat
ment with the discipline and CO.
operation was reported as excellent.
| The commanding officers were found
to be competent and friendly. The
prisoners were sensible and the gen.
eral impression was good, according
to the report made.
Kliewer graduated from Bluffton
High school in the class of 1885 and
| was valedictorian of his class. He
| enlisted in the Marine Air Corps in
1889 and was stationed for a time
at Hawaii where he was an air
corps instructor.
Word from the marine corps last
January was the first announcement
| that he was stationed on Wake
island at the time of the japanese
attack.