The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1943-05-14
WHILE

also Colonel Wong. They knew about
the Chinese trip because the Ad-
miral had authorized them to 60
with us. So we told them yes, we
were still going to China, but we
didn't know when-maybe not for a
long time-and advised them If they
had any other chance to get out,
by all means to take 1t. Mean
while we kept on the boats all that
landing-gear equipment we had as
sembled for the China trip-so II
any hint of it had leaked out to the
crew, they would think it was still
on.
Meanwhile Macarthur had told
Bulkeley that Bataan would fall
shortly, and Corregidor would 60
soon after-if it didn't get help from
the States Immediately. No help
was being sent. Apparently it
couldn't be gotten to US. Then the
Japs could mop up the southern
Philippines.
''It was a grim picture for us.
But here was our last big job. Mac
Arthur was the brains of the organi-
zation-the only general who could
take that territory back. The whole
allied defense depended on getting
him to Australia.
"Bulkeley was reporting to him
every other day, but Macarthur re-
fused to set date for leaving-he
wanted to stay as long as he could.
At this time the boys on Bataan were
back in their strongest positions
also their last-ditch defense line
and the Japs had had about all they
wanted monkeying with this line, and
were waiting for reinforcements. But
when news came that their General
Yamashita was on his way with
many transports, Dragging he would
capture Macarthur within month,
our departure date was set for
March Is.
''But to keep the men occupied
and also to keep our secret, we went
right on with plans for developing
our shore base at Sisiman Cove. We
installed a good cooks galley, fixed
up the mess hall, screened in every
thing, as though we hoped to live
there for months.
'We even took all our clothes off
the boats and moved them into the
nipa huts ashore.
son the fourth Of March there
came nice break for me. Peggy
got me word that she had been
transferred to Little Baguio hospital
on Bataan, relieving one of the girls
who had been working too long UNI
der fire, and got the idea of invit-
ing her down to our base for chow
and to spend the evening. DR.. Mel
son, who had been looking after my
hand, was also on Little Baguio, and
I invited him and his girl friend, too.
"You should have seen my ship
perk up when I told them. The skip
per was going to bring a girl
aboard! They had the ship all spit
and polish, ready for the big event.
My cook, Reynolds, and the Fill
Pine mess boy were tickled pink.
They were going to show the army!
"You see the week before I'd gone
over to Little Baguio-I'd had only
breakfast and arrived on foot late
in the afternoon for my dressing, to
spend the night and walk back. But
they told me, regretfully of course.
of a new ruling: rations were tight
ening-they were down to dried fish,
plain rice, and one slice of bread
so absolutely no visitors could get
food at the hospital. So I went to
bed supperless, got up, watched them
eat breakfast-they said how sorry
they were they couldn't offer me
any-hiked back all those miles over
the hills, and at nine O'Clock, sit
ting at our own mess table, ate sew
enteen hot cakes as fast as Rey-
nolds could turn them out of the
pan.
CHOW their one idea was to show
the army what real navy hospitality
can be- It's true Peggy brought the
coffee--we were out of that-but they
rustled the rest. It started off with
fruit cocktail, then real pot roast of
fresh meat with brown gravy, and
in this whole can of mushrooms,
which they'd been boarding for some
big occasion. Then rice and canned
peas and beans, a delicious apple
pie, and then coffee like only we
can make in the navy. There was
never such a dinner. Then we sat
and talked, while the little
waves Tapped along the cove.
IT told Peggy I wanted to see her
again, and soon. She said they were
keeping her very busy, but she
might get night off on the fifteenth
or before. There was no way !
could call her, so she said she'd
get to the signal-corps field tele-
phone and ring me up about six
o'clock on the eleventh, when we
could make a definite date.
81 asked her if she couldn't make
it sooner, and she said of course
she wanted to, but didn't see how
she possibly could. l wanted to tell
her why wanted it sooner. Then
l stopped myself. Because in war
you don't tell anybody. Not any,
body. And if they have any sense,
and Peggy had plenty, they UNDER