Evening star., 1945-09-09
Wainwright
On West Coast;
SeesSon, Sister
Voices Satisfaction
With Surrender
Of Arrogant Foe
Ey thu Associated Press.

Gdlilc llOIIle tOudy ana VOlCeO
his grim satisfaction at having
watched the japanese bow their
once-arrogant heads in sur
render.
But the hero of Corregidor, all
most speechless at his enthusiastic
welcome at Hamilton Field, was
mute about the treatment he re-
ceived from the enemy during his
AZ months imprisonment.
He told how his valiant troops OF
Bataan and Corregidor were sub
jected to the most intense artillery
bombardment in history.
With my men battered and over
whelmed, further resistance was
useless the general told a press
conference. so I surrendered to
M. Homa, the Japanese general.
Shoe on Other Foot.
"A few days ago it was my turn.
The shoe was on the other foot.
was present at Baguio in the Philip
pines when Gen Yamashita was
obliged to bow his head in surren-
der"
Hundreds of military personnel
and scores of civilians greeted the
Big C-54 transport plane which
brought Gen. Wainwright from
Honolulu, en- route to REPORT to Gen.
Marshall at Washington.
This morning at ITO I dropped
out of a heavy cloud bank just
above San Francisco" Gen. VAIN
wright said.
For many weary months I had
thought of that mpment-when I
would see the Golden Gate again"
The big plane settled gently on
the Hamilton Field runway. The
hatch was opened and the gen.
erals grey-thatched head popped
out. He took three steps down the
ladder and suddenly came to a stiff
military salute.
Hundreds Return Salute.
The Western Defense Command
band broke into the stirring strains
of "Semper Fidelis," or Always
Faithful"
The general held his salute for
nearly a full minute while on the
big runway hundreds of officers,
soldiers. WACS and WAVES re-
turned it.
Followed by his chief of staff.
Brig. Gen. L. C. Beebe, Gen. VAIN
wright then walked forward to the
stirring strains Of The Generals
March .-s..
A grey-haired woman. the gen.
erals sister. quickly rushed forward.
He was taken completely by sur
prise, as he had not been informed
that Mrs. Frederick Mears of Sc
attic would greet him.
Old Injury Causes Limp.
This is good, this is awfully
good" he said softly as he en-
braced his sister again and again.
The general walked with cane.
but Gen. Beebe explained the limp
was caused by an old injury re-
ceived years ago while playing
polo
Maj. Gen. Henry c. Pratt, COM
manding general of the Western
Defense Command, grasped Gen.
Wainwright's hand.
Hello Skinny" Gen. Pratt de-
clared. God bless you!'
Gen. Wainwrights mouth moved.
but the words just wouldn't seem
to come. He took out a big hand
kerchief and mopped his face.
Then his husky son. Con1dr. j. M.
Wainwright, V, of the Merchant
Marine, known to his intimates as
Captain" met his father and
nearly bowled him over as he
grasped him in his arms.
Dad, I was worried, but thank
goodness you don't look as bad as
you did in your pictures" the COM
mander exclaimed.
Thanks, son, thanks" the father
replied.
Filipino Veterans There.
A group of Filipino officers who
had fought under Wainwright, re-
splendent in their bemedalled uni
forms, awaited anxiously for the
first view of their former leader.
The little group, headed by Col.
Macario Peralta, edged forward
quickly when Gen. Wainwright
stepped toward the waiting throng.
ITO say I am happy to be home
after five years abroad, would be to
gild the lily" he said with quiet
feeling in a later broadcast. Il
never realized I would receive such
a welcome"
Gen. Wainwright said he deeply
regretted that My wife was unable
to be here and share in this great
welcome with me, but did not want
her to leave her elderly mother"
The press conference was brief,
with Gen. Wainwright standing
erect. His numerous campaign
badges stood out on his new olive
drab blouse.
Only two days ago, Maj. Gen.
Albert N. Jones said in San Fran
cisco that the japanese had slapped
and beaten Gen. Wainwright.
No Questions on Treatment.
HE shouldn't have talked about
that" Gen. Wainwright commented
gently during an interview in Homo
lulu.
III have plenty to say on that
subject when I get to Washington
officially, I mean"
But today no questions were al
lowed, and there was no further
elaboration on just what kind of
treatment the general received at
the hands of his captors.
Tomorrow, Gen. Wainwright will
ride at the head of a military parade
in his honor, and then from the
stand with Mayor Roger Lapham
will review the marchers.
When the marching feet are stilled
Gen. Wainwright will leave for
to make his official
report on just what happened in the
tsee WAINWRIGHT, Page A-2J
Radio Prooroms Pr CO