Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-09-23
BY w. r. WALTON,

Managing Editor. South Bend Tribune.
SOUTH BEND, Ind, Sept. "a a.
How big q force will it take to
occupy Japan? ...
The furore started early this week
when Gen. Macarthur. Allied SUI
preme commander, said he could do
it with 100000 men.
To this writer, his announcement
came as no surprise, because Gen.
Macarthur outlined his plan to
three of us over the luncheon table
In his Yokohama residence two days
after the surrender ceremony on the
battleship Missouri.
We were a little startled, too, and
raised inquiring eyebrows. but when
the supreme commander had mn
ished, we were Fundamentally with
him. At that time, however, we
couldn't tell the world about it be-
cause the general was talking of
y the record and insisted he had to
remain loyal to the more than 100
other correspondents.
Occupation Called Gamble.
1t seems that many Americans are
willing to criticize the general for
not being more ruthless from the
start.
l wonder how many of them real
lie just what gamble America was
taking that day when less than
10000 Marines and Bluejackets
scrambled ashore at the Yokohama
naval base, while air-borne troops
were landing at Atsugi airbase out
side Yokohama.
They were invading country
which had a fully armed and unde-
feated army of 100000, at least
l,000000 of whom were on Honshu
Island. No one knew-not even
Gen. Macarthur or Admiral Nimitz
what the reaction would be. They
had been assured by the imperial
government that the occupation
would be without resistance. But
Japan is filled with fanatical young
men-like those who piloted the
kamikaze planes. That army is still
being disarmed.
No Sympathy Voiced.
He went on to discuss his plans
for Japan. There was no pity or
sympathy in his voice. To put it
simply, he means to incapacltate
Japan so far as war Is concerned
for generations to come.
He means to bring every Jap back
from China, and there are 1000, 900
of them, he says. In the future
they're going to live on the four
main Japanese islands. We asked
II he thought the islands could sup
port such an increased population.
We'll. they can die, can't they
Gen. Macarthur replied.
That didn't strike me as the
words of a man who intends to be
soft.
Again, while driving through the
ruins of Yokohama. he pointed to
areas with such comments as I'VE
killed thousands in that section. ?"
He might Just as well have been
speaking Of cabbages.
To Avoid Hatred.
From what Gen. Macarthur told
us, it was apparent he does not
want to build up hatred in the
japanese for Americans. He intends
to break the military caste that has
had Japan in its grip. He wants
the people to have taste OF de-
mocracy, to break down SOME OF the
age old traditions.
He told us of his plans to extend
suffrage to the women of Japan, who
heretofore have raised their sons
for one purpose only-that Of serv-
ing in the armed forces.
He spoke of plans for handling
the prisoners of war and they fit
into the general pattern he has laid
down. He said the Foreign Minister
expressed incredulity at the atrocity
stories told by Allied prisoners. Gen.
Macarthur promised to provide con-
elusive proof.
May Use Jap Courts.
The general said he was consider
ing having these prisoners tried in
Japanese courts by japanese judges
and juries. In that way the Japa-
nese would punish themselves and
they could bear no grudge against
the Allies. I got the idea, However,
that punishment would be severe.
We had an opportunity to observe
the japanese for ourselves. No one
could deny that the Japs were docile.
that they were whipped. What else
was lurking behind their poker faces
we could only guess.
But one thing was certain: From
now on they're going to take their
orders from the headquarters Of
Gen. Macarthur. And so is
Hirohito. If Gen. Macarthur says