Evening star., 1943-06-24
Japs Ignorant
OF i. S. Spirit,
Officer Holds
americans Superior
As Fighters, He
Tells S0rObfimiSfS

The greatest mistake ever made
by nation was that made by the
japanese on December 7, 1941, wher
they undereStimated both the abil.
ity and the courage of the American
people, 1t. Comdr. Edward C. Nc.
Larney, Navy Medical Corps, de-
clared yesterday.
Addressing luncheon meeting oi
the SoroptimiSt Club at the Willard
Hotel, the speaker, who has just re-
turned from 16 months in the Pa
ciflc area, said the japanese thought
they could learn about other people
by studying books but failed to read
between the lines of American his
tory
They neither know American ma
ture. the way in which we rebound
nor the courage of our people," he
declared.
The American people can pro-
duce more than the Japanese; can
do everything better than they, and
our men can fight longer and better
than their men," he continued.
Comdr. McLarney cautioned, how
ever, against Americans rN'ling the
same error as the Japanese by un-
dereStimating the Jap fighting abil-
ity.
The japanese is a worthy foe as
far as his fighting is concerned and
we must not make their mistake
and underestimate them" he said
Il don't mean that the Jap is su-
perman," he continued, but he's a
fighter, trained to fight in the jungle
and at night"
Comdr. McLarney quoted a Ma
rine officer who stated the japanese
had brought to modern warfare the
old methods employed by American
Indians.
He is a good fighter but we are
better" the Marine officer had de-
Clared.
Recalling some Of his experiences
AS a medical officer on the front
lines in campaigns at Tulagi and
Guadalcanal, the speaker told how
a sergeant of Marines had wiped out
an entire machine-gun nest after
being severely wounded in the leg
Later the sergeant submitted to al
operation without anesthetic, his
only worry being the ultimate saw
ing OF his leg and not the pain he
suffered.
He also told of decorations re.
celved by his medical staff. two O.
whom were under l8 years of age a
the time they were decorated.
You don't have to worry abou
American youth" he declared
They will not and cannot be de.
prived of the pleasure of repayin,
the debt incurred by that attack or
December 7. 1941."
In concluding. the speaker urgec
that letters to men at the front bt
cheerful and uncomplaining.
Don't groWl about rationing. thu
gas situation or not having enough
coffee, he said. When YOU are
sleeping in the mud among the ants
bugs and spiders, rationing doesn'
seem to be anything. Do your par
and the boys out there will dc
theirs" he concluded.
The speaker was introduced by
Mrs. Estelle Whiting. his aunt anc
a member of the club.
A brief appeal for recruits for tn.
WAVES, the SPARS and the Ma.
rines was made by 1t. d. g. S. V
Upton of the Naval Procurement
Once. 1t. Upton remarked that
John Paul Jones would do,lhtless
turn in his tomb if he could see
women wearing the uniform of the
Navy these days, but declared the
WAVES already have given such
valuable service that plans now are
under way to recruit $4,000 more
during the coming year.
Miss Mildred Clum presided
Guests included Mrs. Esther Lee
Bride, member of the St. Louis
CMo) club. and Mrs. Luella Kuhn
past president of the Atlantic City
IN, j. club.