The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1944-02-11
By CLIFTON FORESTER

Inc majority or the FlllplnOS
are with us at heart. I know
because l saw Manila under full
scale japanese occupation.
Months after the Rising Sun
replaced the Stars and Stripes
on every flagpole, and bayonets
backed up press, radio, and
Quisling speakers promises of
heaven-now to all those loyal
to the dogma of Asia for the
Asiatics," the people of Manila
still showed o-American feel
ing.
How long will they stay on
our side if we do not counter
japanese psychological warfare
more effectively? / could not
help asking when I saw the
Japs operating with free hand
frantically, viciously, often
impressively.
Twice during Fl months in
ternment / got out Of concentra-
ton camps-once TO visit my
sick father, and again when /
was ill. / managed to mingle
with the Filipinos, and what l
saw was good for my morale.
Filipino farmers many times
gave us foreigners the V-salute,
under the eyes of Japanese
guards. Both arms were raised
in v, and if the Japs noticed,
the gesture could be converted
into yawning stretch. Others
would come up, eye me sympa-
thetically, and put two fingers
forming V, against an ear. If
Jap got nosey about it, the
Filipino would be merely
scratching his head.
ENCOURAGEMENT
T hey sometimes hummed
their sentiments. A few, passing
Americans under guard. would
look straight ahead while hum
ming a few bars Of God Bless
America. 1t nenplussed the
Japs, who didn't know the tune
but realized something was up.
I even heard Filipinos whistle
a measure of "The Star Spang-
led Banner" within earshot of
Jap soldiers.
Japanese American Filipino
relations were delicate from the
start. After months in the sad
die, the Japs now rigidly con-
trolled public expression, and
disported. themselves as captors.
The Army Navy clubs outdoor
pool I'd used was filled with
Jap officers. Their commander
occupied the former residence
of the American High Com
missioner. The Bay View Hotel.
where we lived prior TO the
occupation, had been taken
over by General Saito and his
array of Japanese intelligence
and propaganda officers - and
they were in there pitching.
They took over the English-ed-
ition Tribune instantly, and
used it effectively. although for
all their talk about Americans
suppressing Filipino national
culture and language, tn ey
kept printing in English instead
of Filipino Tagalog.
So-called "neighborhood as
sociations" did their part. They
kept roll of everyone and
checked them on attendance at
parades and m SIS meetings.
The business organizations or
dered their employees to march
in the parades and carry the
Jap flags.
TALKED SELF-RULE
Quisling politicos constantly
harped on self-rule. Within a
month after arriving, the Japs
set up complete Philippine
puppet ADMINISTRATOR, ana Oh
course nothing ever was heard
Of President Quezon's and
Washington's work toward or
derby completion Of the estab-
lishment Of Philippine indepen-
dence by 1916.
A honey-voiced gal got on
their radio with promises and
threats. She talked self rule
too. But she said blood would
be shed if unpleasant Incl
dents" didn't cease. That was
addressed to the working people
of San Pedro Makati district.
They had greeted the Japs with
potshots, and overnight had
made many "Crush the Anglo
Saxon" poster read, Crush the
JAP" The radio girl played