Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-08-14
Remember the Philippines

Remember the Philippines
THE great city Of Manila in the Philippines which fell
l by conquest to American arms 45 years ago today
unhappiy is not an American city any more even
Philippine city.
For nearly Al years the prosperous and important
city of Manila thrved under the American Gag and had
i protection and Of the truly great cities of
the world and its people made great strides in self
government and in self.respect
Since Jan ,, 1912 however Manila has been occupied
by the Japanese and its people have been ensaved by
the Japanese.
Moreover there than $4,000 Americans
soldiers and civilians in Manila and elsewhere in the
Philippines prisoners and virtual slaves of the Japanese
So the anniversary Of the fall of Manila to OUR
is not recalled with pleasure but with stunning of
humiliation.
c TILL is very important for us recall that
- anniversary
We assumed many obligations to the people of the
Philippines when we occupied their homeland and lived
up TO them in most respects.
Manila was miserable and filthy city long oppressed
by Spanish rule when took IT
1t had no sewer system, and its only water supply
was along the banks of which 10000 people lived
and polluted the waters
Four thousand lepers roamed the streets The insane
chained to stakes Cholera became epidemic period
icay and frequently and whole villages were decimated
Under American occupation, Manila quickly and
almost magicay made clean city and, Of course,
healthy city addition health human decency dignity
respect restored the peepeor rather given
them for the very first time in all their experience.
Hence, our occupation most wholesome and
beneficial
HOWEVER, failed to meet obligations to the
/ people of Manila and the Philippines in one vital
respect-and that most grieveously.
We did not safeguard them, although we
tnually warned, against the rapacious japanese.
And in consequence of shameful failure these fine
people for whom we have such obligation and affection,
are cruelty oppressed-and thousands of people
are being Systematically tortured and starved and of
course OUR FLAG HAS BEEN TRAMPLED AND
INSULTED.
Thus it is not satisfying and gratifying anniversary
have today it for many years, but chal-
longing and accusing anniversary.
TOR the more than year and half we have been at
war with Japan, and the Philippines have been under
the ruthless besa heel of the japanese conqueror
the only thing starving and dying people IN that un
happy land have had left is HOPE.
But have done tragically little TO sustain that
hope.
We did not organize relief for them while
Bataan and Corregdor still stood
At no time since have we undertaken any mission of
relief
We have built up the greatest war machine in the
history of our nation any nation
We have conducted brilliant and successful military
campaigns in many parts Of the word-but all remote
from the Philippines.
M EANWHILE, Manila has sunk back into filth and
wi misery than endured for centuries and is
being crushed by malignant tyranny worse than
kind has ever endured beforehand the people of the
Philippines and thousands of Americans nclud
Ing and children, mired and all but abandoned
and forgotten in their despair.
A small part of the military resources now have
h,,+d have az he RIO time
the Philippines
small part of the vast military establishment
have in action elsewhere in the world concentrated
against the Japanese in the Pacific, would the
Philippines.
Still, unhappy people in the Philippines have
FAITH in us.
When are we going to KEEP that faith?
When going to give them something more SUBJ
stantial than HOPE to sustain them?
When are we going to recognize that the with