Evening star., 1945-09-11
Generals Held by Japs'
Treated as Coolies,
Wainwright Says

WAINWRIGHT GETS squared
away" at Pentagon today.
Page B-l
American generals held by the
japanese as prisoners were COM
PEELED to labor like any Chinese
coolie," Gen. Jonathan NJ VAIN
wright told a press conference late
yesterday at the Pentagon.
Immediately after the fall OF Cor
regidor he was held hostage for one
month on Luzon until all his troops
had been surrendered, he said. After
two weeks in prison camp in
Northern Luzon, he and the gen.
erals and colonels of his staff were
moved to Forn1osa.
There the conditions were far
form pleasant. and there even the
highest ranking officers were re-
quired to perform manual labor like
any Chinese coolie, and other in
dignities were heaped upon u.s." he
declared.
Gen. Wainwright declined to give
details about the Jap treatment.
Troops Poorly EQUIPPED.
The troops he commanded lin
Northern Luzon before the retreat
to Batsan, he said. were partially
trained. partially equipped, undis-
ciplined troops"
He said the japanese troops and
equipment were too much for the
| Philippine Army at that time" The
Filipino is an excellent fighting man
when properly trained and equip
ped, the general said, but they had
not yet, except for the scout regi-
ments, reached the proper state OF
training.
Gen. Wainwright said he was held
in Formosa for two years and three
months and then moved to Man
churia. He first learned of the Jap
surrender from an enlisted man who
had heard the news from an in
terpreter.
He was introduced to the confer
ence of $50 correspondents and of1-
GERS by Secretary OF War Stimson,
who declared Gen. Wainwright rep
resented the hallowed memories
Of our sons with whom he suffered
during those dark days while victory
was in doubt"
Text Of Addresses.
Following. are the texts of the
speeches by Secretary Stimson and
Gen. Wainwright:
Secretary StimSon:
Ladies and gentlemen of the press
and radio of America:
We have waited three years to well
come the gentleman who is our guest
TODAY. He symbolizes the loftiest
spirit OF Bataan and Corregidor. In
him we are honoring the everlast-
ing glory of that historic battle. He
represents the hallowed memories
of our sons with whom he suffered
during those dark days while victory
was in doubt. l am very proud to
! introduce to you Gen. Jonathan M
Wainwright.
Gen. Wainwright:
Mr.. Secretary, ladies and gentlemen
Of the press and motion pictures:
/ There is no doubt in my mind that
this day marks the high light of my
whole life. In the first place, as l
stepped from that plane this morn
ing at the National Airport, the first
person to greet me was my beloved
wife. l have waited for many long
months, nearly four and one-half
years, since I have seen her, and
have waited for that moment.
! High civil and military officials
have done me great honor today.
First I was received by the Secre-
tary of War and then was the prin-
cipal guest at the wonderful re-
ception given for me at the Monu-
ment grounds at which many, many
thousands of people were present.
then had the distinguished honor
Of being received in the Senate
chamber and on the floor of the
House of Representative, after which
had the greater honor of being re-
ceiveo by the President of the
! United States. and by him was pre-
sented the Congressional Medal of
Honor.
Possibly all that is ancient his
tory to you. You probably knew all
about it before.
| 1t might be of greater interest
to you if I said a few words of
what has become of me in a very
general way since the beginning
of the war with Japan.
1 Sought to Stem Tide.
During the early days Of that war,
commanded the troops in North
ern Luzon and attempted, with
very, very partially trained, par
TALLY equipped, undisciplined troops,
to stem the tide Of japanese in
vasion. But it was too much for
! the Philippine Army at that time.
and I make no disparagement of
the Filipino as fighting man. The
Filipino when trained, as were our
Regular Army Filipino scouts, is
splendid fighting man, which was
amply proved by those wonderful
scout regiments. But the Philippine
Army had not reached that stage and
therefore we were forced to with
draw pursuant to Gen. MacArthur's
order. to the peninsula of Bataan.
There, for over three months, we