Evening star., 1945-10-25


Gen. Wainwright and a felle
Burris jenkins, watch as jar
platoon of Marines on Corregie
reverse and then struck by emerg-
ing shells.
Order Is Misinterpreted.
I did not know it at the time,
but in the terror and confusion Of
the scene my order to destroy
larger guns was, misinterpreted by
Col. Howard's Marines. They be-
gan destroying their small arms, and
thousands of others followed suit
before we could stop them.
Promptly at 10:30 a IN. Gen. Beebe
stepped to the microphone of our
little radio station, which Mac
Arthur had named THE Voice of
Freedom. His voice was clear:
Message for Gen. Homma-
Message for Gen. Homma," he re-
peated, "or the present commander
in chief of the imperial Japanese
forces on Luzon." This he also
repeated, then added, with other
repetitions:
ANY one receiving this message
please transmit it to the commander
in chief of the imperial japanese
forces on Luzon.
For military reasons which Gen.
Wainwright considers sufficient, and
to put a stop to further sacrifice of
human life, the commanding gen.
eral will surrender to your excel
lency today the four fortified islands
at the entrance to Manila Bay to-
gether with all military and naval
personnel and all existing stores and
equipment.
"At II noon, local daylight saving
time, May 6, 1942, white flag will
be displayed in a prominent posi-
ton in Corregidor, at which time
all firing from the harbor forts
will cease unless a landing by Japa-
nese troops in force is attempted
without flags of truce, in which case
they will be taken under fire.
"If all of your firing and aerial
bombardment has ceased at IL noon,
local time, the commanding general
will send two staff officers by boat,
flying white flag, to the Cabcaben
dock to meet japanese staff Off
Ger, whom the commanding general
requests that your eXcellency have
there, empowered to name the time
and place for the commanding gen.
eral to meet your excellency in or
der that he may make the formal
surrender and to arrange all details.
Upon the return of his staff Of
ficers the commanding general will
proceed by boat accompanied by
some of his staff to such place as
may be designated by your excel
lency. The commanding generals
launch will fly a white flag and his
party will consist of five or six per-
sons. He requests that motor trans
portation meet his party at the
landing point designated by you"
SHeiilnS SOHtlnucS.
The surrender message was then
rebroadcast in japanese. We waited.
The shelling continued without
letup; the Jap line approaching the
east end of the Tunnel inched for
ward in heavy fighting. At II am.
I had Beebe repeat the surrender
message, and again at 11:45, but
the vigor of the Jap attack remained
unchanged.
And during that period I COM
posed my last messages to President
Roosevelt and Macarthur. I could
not go to face the Japs without
saying goodby to these true friends
Or surrender without some sunma-
ton of my position. The message
to the President read:
with broken heart and head
bowed in sadness out lot in shame
I report to YOUR excellency that to-
day I must arrange terms for the
surrender of the fortified islands of
Manila Bay.
With many guns and antiaircraft
fire control equipment destroyed,
we are no longer able to prevent
accurate bombardment from the
air. With numerous batteries of
heavy caliber emplaced on the
shores of Bataan and Cavite the
enemy now brings devastating
crossfire to bear on us, outranging
our remaining guns.
Most of my NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.,
antiaircraft and field-have been
put out of action by the enemy. I
have ordered the others destroyed
to prevent them from falling INTO
enemy hands. In addition, We are
now overwhelmingly assaulted by
Japanese troops on Corregidor.
There is a limit of human en-
durance and that limit has long
since been past. Without prospect
of relief I feel it is my duty to my
country and to my gallant troops to
end this useless effusion of blood
and human sacrifice.
Have Upheld Traditions.
eff you agree, Mr.. President,
please say to the nation that my
troops and have accomplished all
that is humanity possible and that
we have upheld the best traditions
of the United States and its Army.
May God bless and preserve you
and guide you and the Nation in the
effort to ultimate victory.
with profound regret and with
continued pride in my gallant
troops I go to meet the Japanese
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