Evening star., 1942-11-16
Ma|aya
Ruled With Iron Hand
u. S..0bserver Saws
Penalty for Trespossing
In Forbidden Zones
Is Death Without Trial
BY the Associated Press.

japanese military authorities were
reported by an American Official
observer today to have imposed an
iron rule on the Philippines and
Malaga, shooting without trial any
one who ventures into forbidden
, zones.
Summarizing in the military
review of the Army's Command and
General Staff School observations
during the fighting on Luzon, the
observer, who went nameless, said
the mere presence of a civilian on
cleared road meant death.
1.-TWO Filipino truck drivers in
volved in collision at a crossroads
at San Fernando Philippines) were
shot by Japanese officer because
their damaged vehicles obstructed
the road and delayed the passage of
tank platoon" said the observer.
civilians found in the vicinity of
Japanese transport parks, head
quarters, munitions dumps, military
telephone lines, unless they have a
specific authorization, are shot with
out examination or trial." he said.
Pedestrians, Cyclists Shot.
"Malayan and Filipino civilians
found walking, cycling or motoring
on roads which had been ordered
cleared for the passage of Japanese
troops or transportation were sum-
marily shot 1t is reported that
groups of civilians as large as hun
dred or more were thus dealt with.
ut is the japanese attitude that
a civilian exposes himself to these
extreme penalties by merely circu-
lating in the combat zone.
After the capture of large cities in
British Malaga and Luzon the Jap
anese military authorities instructed
the civilian law enforcement agencies
to continue to function. In Manila
the japanese military authorities in
formed the civilian law enforcement
agencies that they would hold the
latter responsible for attacks on
japanese parachutists or other
troops.
They also instructed the civilian
law enforcement agencies that they
would hold them accountable if bolos,
pistols or other weapons were found
in the hands or homes of civilians.
1t may be presumed that the imme-
diate heads of the civilian law en-
forcement agencies would be shot If
any weapons were found in the pos
session of civilians after these in
structions had been issued"
Bears Out Other Reports.
The Army publications report
tended to bear out other reports that
American prisoners taken on Bataan
and Corregidor were forced to march
long distances regardless of their
weakened condition.
japanese transport is meager and
prisoners are marched great dis
tances day after day, and seldom
transported by vehicles" the OBJ
server said Motorized and armored
troops Immediately turn over all
prisoners taken by them to the near
est infantry units.
There is evidence that. Japanese
motorized and armored troops are
liable to kill, instead of capture, small
enemy groups which fall into their
hands,"
Army Stragglers Shot.
During their examination pris-
oners are given no food or water
and allowed no rest," the observer
said, but added wounded prisoners
first receive medical treatment.
In the Japanese Army, struggling
was said to be military crime
Captured Japanese testified, in
Malaga and Luzon, that stragglers,
who were not sick or disabled, were
sometimes shot," the observer said.
This refers to stragglers in combat.
There is very little struggling on
the march in the japanese Army, as
it is considered q disgrace for q
soldier to straggle. and there have
been instances where exhausted men
have destroyed themselves rather
than be picked up as stragglers."