Evening star., 1943-02-05
japanese Morale

out of Guadalcanal is the voluntary
surrender of a group Of japanese
soldiers. The group was not large
and it contained 10 officers. yet the
event marked the first known break
in the iron Japanese military code of
resistance to the death.
Hitherto, both the Japanese land
and sea forces have obeyed that
grim code to the uttermost. In
dividual prisoners have been taken,
but such captures were of men rem
dered senseless Or badly disabled.
Cornered japanese often have shot
or drowned themselves rather than
submit. This has been universally
true of officers. On the other hand,
the code does not apply to labor
battallOnS, who seem to have an in
ferior status and surrender unheroi-
cally.
The circumstances of that first
capltulation are interesting, since
they appear to mark the limits of
japanese military morale The pris-
oners are picked shock troops from
a veteran regiment with long and
distinguished service in China, Ma
laya and the Dutch Indies before
being sent to Guadalcanal, where
they arrived early in the campaign
Then followed some five months of
tough fighting with increasing hard
ships and privations. Food supplies
dwindled to starvation rations, their
uniforms became rags and tatters,
and disease took a heavy toll.
Promised reinforcements did not
materialize. Hope gave place to
discouragement verging on despair
In this pessimiStic mood, the be-
leaguered japanese were subjected to
a psychological attack shrewdly
launched by their opponents. Ameri-
can airplanes flying overhead
dropped leaflets printed in their Ian
guage, while loudspeakers set up in
the American lines descanted about
bountiful hot meals and abundant
cigarettes awaiting all who would lay
down their arms. These alluring
suggestions had an extraordinarily
softening effect upon the hungry,
tobacco starved listeners. AS the
spokesman for the prisoners put it:
MY actions were prompted by
thoughts of hot food, tobacco and
relief from the unending shelling.
Finally, my feelings as a true
Japanese soldier disappeared So
the group emerged from their jungle
hideout, arms raised in surrender,
and walked to the American lines.
However, most of their comrades
did not follow their example, pre-
ferring to fight to the death. though
the idea of surrender had been
generally discussed. And those who
did surrender had no illusions as to
the consequences for their personal
futures. To quote the spokesman
again: II will never return to
Japan. I am disgraced. When the
wal 40 OSCi IiOpC W SO W AIIlellCd,
learn to speak English, and build
houses" The man is young car
penter by trade.
The japanese soldier is disclosed
by all this as subject to the same
basic emotions and appetites as other
men. Yet the hold of tradition,
training and discipline upon him
is very strong. Only under pro-
longed pressure and in the direst
circumstances does he prove recreant
to his code of truly Spartan self
immolation to his God Emperor and
his country. The very fact that this
small scale surrender is note
worthy event emphasizes the fam
atical temper of our japanese foss.
They can be counted on to fight with
a stubborn endurance and disregard
of personal consequences rare among
troops of other nations.