The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-04-24

Charles p would have
Stewart been calculated
to inform them.
The United Nations strategists
agree, however. that they'd have
supposed the Mikados policy would
have been TO keep the affair
hushed up as long as possible, too.
instead Of which his publicity outfit
was the initial source Of informa-
ton.
II vas enough Of a puzzle 10
make capitals like Washington and
London rather doubtful. for awhile,
of the Jap reports truthfulness.
Still, it wasn't easy TO see any good
reason for Tokyo 10 fake the story.
One detail in Nippons account Of
the event was recognized as giving
ii a distinct ring of probability.
That was inclusion of the item that
most Of the raids damage was
done to schools and hospitals"
That's exactly what AXIS spokes-
men invariably say when a demo-
cratic thrust at their forces has
been particularly devastating.
Why Not Earlier:
The fact is that there has been
considerable wondering why the
United Nations planes haven't
been busy over Japan a good deal
sooner than now.
The island chain is within an
easy hop from the Aleutians or
from Russia's Asiatic mainland,
not to mention its availability to
aircraft carriers off its coast from
all points Of the compass.
The island empire is so vulner-
able an object that it's been hard
to see why it hasn't been raided
earlier. Some flyers are bound to
be shot down, of course, but no
country was so perfectly made
to order to be rendered absolute
~ uninhabitable by the surviving
skymen Its houses and mercantile
Adjustments and factories and
everything, barring about a frac-
ton of per cent Of structures, are
built Of bamboo sticks and wallpa-
per. Blowing EN- up with high ex-
plosives wouldn't be necessary.
Dropping lighted matches on EN-
would approximately do the busi-
ness.
II would be barbarous, certainly.
1t would involve the hospital pa
tients and school children that the
Japs refer to, and women and other
miscellaneous noncomba.ants.
It would work, though.
Jap invaders, elsewhere. would
not last long with no home reser-
voir Of supplies to rely on, home
government shot full Of holes, and
no place to go home to, either. Talk
about morale, Mercy!
You have to have lived in Japan
to appreciate how vulnerable it is.
The Mikado's headquarters, in
Tokyo, is palace, with a big,
walled park around ii, and the En-
perial hotel. where foreigners stop,
is a handsome shack, but you can
knock the average house or store
down with your fist If you feel like
it. Yokohama and Kobe are equally
fragile.
I'm not so darned sure Of the
average Japs reliability, from the
government standpoint, either.
There Is Discomfort
The hereditary military crowd
are dependable to the extent OF a
willingness to commit suicide If re-
quested to commit it. but they're
comparatively limited in number.
The hoi-polloi aren't so contented.
When l was hanging out in To-
kyo, as an American news corre-
spondent, I had a business alliance
with a concern called the Nippon
Dempo Tsusin Sha. meaning the
Japanese Telegraphic News COM
pany, Of which an old bird named
Mitsunaga, who's figured in recent
dispatches, was managing editor.
One day Editor Mitsunaga asked
my wife, What's especially i'm
pressed you about our country?"
Well. in Japan, when you want
bit Of local transportation, you
don't call a taxi or a horse cab.
You requisitlon q jinricksha-a
wee little phaeton. with a human
being running between the shafts,
hauling you-same as in China.
Said my wife, answering Mr..
Mitsunaga. The main thing that's
impressed me is the spectacle Of
men, on two legs, functioning as
four-footed critters"
Lady" cried the Nippon Dempo
journalist you put your finger on
the very thing that's the curse Of
this nation. It's the terrible degre-
dalton Of our masses"
II didn't sound to me as II the
Japs we're thoroughly contented
with their system.
My bunch is that they might
easily rise UP against the govern
ment.