The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1944-02-10
Jap Torture
(Confinued From Page One)

ragged American workers included the
March of Death" that began when
thousands of battle-Spent, hungry ana
malaria ridden American prisoners
were herded together at MariveleS air
field on Bataan, April 10, 1912, and
were forced to march 81 miles. without
food or water, to Il prison camp.
Colonel DyeSS was one of the thou
sands who made that march He made
it in six days. During that time he was
given one mess kit of rice to eat.
Though beaten, hungry and tired
from the terrible last days of combat
/ on Bataan, though further resistance
was hopeless, our American soldiers
and their Filipino comrades in arms
would not have surrendered had they
known the fate in store for them,
Colonel DyesS said.
The sun 1realment,' which Colonel
Dyess said consisted Of forcing pris-
OnerS to sit entire day in the boiling
sun without water or cover, caused
many of the prisoners to go mad. Some
of these men died. THE Japanese
dragged out the sick and dpliriouS,
Colonel DyesS said He didn't say what
happened to all of them, but here 5
what happened to six of them:
Three Filipino and three American
soldiers were buried while still alive.
Many Americans and FilipinoS We're
beaten during the march. Others were
| nj, ia rl
along the road in the Province of
Pampanga there are many wells" the
colonelS report said. "IIalf-craZed with
thirst six Filipino soldiers made II
dash for one of the wells. All six were
killed As we passed LubaO we march
ed by Filipino soldier gutted and
hanging over IL barbed-wire fence"
. Commander Mccoy and Colonel
Mellnik were not on the March of
Death" Captured at Corregidor, they
We're among l2,OOO prisoners who were
concentrated in Il former balloon sta
tiOn known as the kindley Field Gar
age area. \ patch of concrete about
100 yards square, with one side eX-
tending into the salt water of the bay
There was no room to lie down and all
Of the wounded who were able to walk
We're kept on this concrete floor for Il
week without food. There was only on,
water Spigot for the 1000 men and Il
12-h hour wait to fill Il canteen was the
usual rule
After seven days, the men received
their first rations-one mess kit of rice
and Il can of SardineS.
Forced to jump out of the bargcs
which brought them over 10 Manila on
May %, 1912 while they were still lW
yards from shore, Colonel Melnik said
1--WE were marched through Manila
presenting the worst appearance pos
siblc--wet. bedraggled, hungry, thirsty
could hardly stand"
Commander Mccoy said that tn,
japanese purpose of making this Il
triumphal victory parade was fruS
tratcd by the friendlinesS of the Fill
pino civilians towards the Americans
"All during the march through
| Manila" said Commander Mccoy, 9Th,
heat was terrific. The weaker ones il
our ranks began to stumble during tn,
first mile These were cuilcd back int,
the line and made to march until they
dropped. If no guards were in the i'm
mediate vicinity, the Filipinos along
lhr route tried to revive the prisoners
with ices, water and fruit. These Fill
pinos were severely beaten if caught
by the guards
The death rate at Camp ODonnell
where they were held, the Amcrical
officers said, was 20 Americans and 15l
l"ilipinos II day during the first week
After two weeks, the death rate in
creased To 80 Americans and 800 Fill
pinoS Il day.
: When men strong enough to ds
graves could be found, the dead Were
buried In shallow trenches which hel,
10 bodies each.
The building the .Japs called tn,
"hoSpital' was II dilapidatcd structur,
in which hundreds of men lay nake'
on II bare floor without covering of an,
} kind. They were given no medicine an,
! wash human waste from their patients
Some afflicted with dyScntcry remain
! ed outside near the latrneS until the.
died.
Men who normally weighed 2Gl
, pounds dropped to 80. They had N
: buttocks. They were human skeletons
1T was plain and simple starvation.
) Colonel DyesS' statement reads. Il
= was difficult to look at man lyin;
: still and determine whether he Wa
dead of alive
The japanese promised medicine
. but never delivered them. Once the,
: allowed the Red Cross at Manila L
= bring in qunine, but the JapS didn'
? issue enough to cure ten cases O
7 malaria and there We're thousand
, afflicted.