Evening star., 1945-10-27
Gen. Woinwrights Own Story:
16en WoInWHghFs Own Story:
Hommu Refuses to 1ut Assault on Corregidor
Unless All Troops in Philippines Surrender
(Twenty-hrst OF a Series.)
BY GEN. JONATHAN M.
WAINWRIGHT.

1t. Gen. Masaharu Homma, con-
queror of my starved and depleted
forces, kept me and my staff officers
waiting for hours at the appointed
surrender house on the shores of
Manila Bay, that unforgettable
night OF May 6, 1912. When he did
arrive he did so with a flourish.
He drove up dramatically in a
beautiful shiny Cadillac, f1anked by
three overdressed aides. Behind
the Cadillac was a car filled with
staff officers and following them was
a car for Jap war correspondents.
Gen. Homma stepped out of the
car, and I think all of us were a
little astonished by his size. He
stood nearly feet tall, was heavily
built and must have weighed nearly
200 pounds He wore an olive drab
tropical uniform, with a white shirt
open at the neck. He had on the
regulation small cloth cap of the
Jap officer. He was bedecked with
several bright rows of decorations
and campaign ribbons, and carried
the inevitable sword. How they
worship those damned swordsl
Gives Look Of Contempt.
He stood there moment, giving
us look of bored contempt, then
idly saluted, brushed past us and
walked up on the porch. We fol-
lowed him, silently.
A long table had been arranged on
the porch. He took a seat in the
center and motioned for his two
principal staff officers to sit on either
side Of him. His three aides, with
their brilliant yellow shoulder
sashes, stood rigidly behind his
chair.
I was beckoned into the seat fac
ing Homma from across the table
Brig. Gen. Lewis Beebe sat on my
left. Col. Johnny Pugh on my right,
Maj. Bill Lawrence and Maj. Tom
Dooley on the flanks. Sergt. Hubert
Carroll stood behind me.
Homma stared through me. I
took my formally signed surrender
document out of my pocket and
lidlluCd ~ W itIill. ne SOulO IcdO
and speak English perfectly, but ne
would not so much as glance at the
paper. He turned it over to his in
terpreter, 1t. Nakamura, who read
it aloud to him in Japanese.
Then he spoke sharply to Naka-
mura, with look or two at me.
Gen. Homma replies that no
surrender will be considered unless
it includes all United States and
Philippine troops in the Philippine
Islands" he asserted.
Doesn't Command Ali Forces.
''Tell him I command no forces in
the Philippines other than the har-
Dor defense troops and small de-
tachments in Northern Luzon,"
answered. Tell him that the troops
in the Visayan Islands and on Min
danao are no longer under my COM
mand. They are commanded by
Maj. Gen. William F. Sharp, who in
turn is under Gen. MacArthur's high
command"
Homma muttered sharply for a
moment.
Gen. Homma says that he does
not believe you." the interpreter
spoke up. He says that it has been
reported many times by the United
States radio that you command all
troops in the Philippines. He will
not accept any surrender unless it
includes all forces"
repeated that I did not command
Sharps troops. Homma shrewdly
asked me when I had released Sharp
from my command, and I replied,
several days ago." though it had
been only matter of hours,
Besides" I added, "even If I did
command Gen. Sharp's troops have
no means left for communicating
with them. I have destroyed my
radio equipment"
Send a staff officer to Sharp. I
will furnish a plane Homma
answered, through 1t. Nakamura.
Delivers Ultimatum.
We argued back and forth for sew
eral minutes, until Homma said
very sharply:
"Hostilities against the fortified
islands will be continued unless the
Japanese surrender terms are
accepted"
I was desperately cornered My
troops on Corregidor and the other
III ~ ri