Evening star., 1945-02-24
By RUSSELL BRINES,

ny hUSSELL 0hlNES,
Associated Press War Correspondent.
SANTO TOMAS INTERNMENT
CAMP, Manila, Feb. . Delayed
There Is q graveyard within this
camp today for the first time. Its
plain wooden crosses are q stark re-
minder Of = cruel epilogue to the
camps story.
The Japanese who imprisoned
Americans and other United Ma
tions civilians here for three years
had used the Manila cemeteries in
which to bury those internees who
died OF disease, infirmity or starva-
ton.
But the last to die never left the
internment which they SO often
prayed would end. They died in the
shellfire turned upon the camp by
the Japanese after 1t was occupied
February by American forces.
Manila was battle-ground, SO y
cemetery for the shellfire casualties
had to be made in a corner near the
camp hospital, within the view OF
others who were still fighting for
life.
The tragic phase of the liberation
began before the first jubilation OF
the internees had ended.
800 Held as Hostages.
Approximately 800 men and boys
got q foretaste of that tragedy when
they were held by the Japanese as
hostages in q brief battle which de-
veloped as American tanks entered
the camp compound.
The plight of these hostages
touched and frightened the remain
ing internees, but the exhilaration
Of release was SO strong that few
read warning in it. They had
fought starvation and hopelessness
so long that the sight of American
soldiers overwhelmed other consid-
erationS.
The cannonading began to come
close on the second day Of liberia
ton, but the internees ignored it
Shells landed in the camp area on
the third day. Two missiles ripped
through the already SCARED Educa-
ton Building.
The next day the enemy artillery
opened in earnest. For most of three
days and infrequently during the
intervening nights the camp was
under bombardment.
Fathers Building Hit.
The first few shells slashed
through the fathers building, ther
unoccupied, near the center of the
camp. Then heavier artillery found
the range of the crowded main build
ing. in which nearly 1000 internees
lived. Some were killed in theil
rooms. Others were badly wounded
Others were manned rs they huddled
In the shanties they had built fol
themselves on various parts OF the
compound.
Hundreds hocked to the rear OF
the main building. where there wa,
comparative safety.
Internee and Army doctors, in.
termed Army nurses, internee anc
soldier volunteers worked until ready
to drop. BY candlelight they patched
the broken bodies Of victims. All the
while, with deadly regularity, the
shells kept falling.
They hit the gymnasium where
many older men were too befuddlec
to move. Some just sat on the edge
OF their cots, waiting silently.
Main Building Struck.
The shells drilled new holes In
the main building, catching some
internees who had returned to the
only place they knew as home.
For two nights, hundreds huddlec
behind and on the east side of the
main building. They slept on cole
concrete in sharp raid or dropped
hunched, over nearby dining tables
They jumped at each new sound
The youngsters were brave tykes
clinging silently to parents.
There was insufficient transporta.
ton for any immediate evacuation
officers explained Some itnernee!
were too weak for any sustained
journey.
These people had braved hunger
so acute that they ate more thar
900 dogs and cats. They ate leaves
roots, shrubs. They bartered miser'
ably with arrogant japanese guard
for food, often trading a $50 watch
for two pounds Of rice.
Many whose ribs stuck out lik
lattice work were shocked anew b.
the merciless effects of the Smelling
One man who was gummone,
quickly when his wife was badl,
MANNED was helping to carry he
from her smashed room when an
other shell landed and killed him.
Boys Orphaned.
There were twin boys, 16 year
old, who wanted to be baseball
players. A week before liberation
their father died of starvation. Hi
saddened wife remarked to me tina
it was too bad he could not hav,
lived to see freedom. The next da.
she was killed by shell. Her boy
are alone now.
/ There were other casualties
among internees, among soldier
trying to help them. And amonl
Filipino laborers seeking to earn
money to buy food.
/ The ordeal tried the nerves of ever
the stoutest Of the newcomers, bu
the internees, with no reserve physi
cal strength, no emotional fortiflca
ton, weathered the crisis with
amazing success. Those who's,
nerves weakened were a small mi
nority.
AS this is being written, no SHELF
have dropped within the camp fo
two days, although some shrapne
has fallen. But nervousness persists
On the earth mounds marking tn,
new graves are flowers fresh from
internee gardens. They express tn,
feelings of the surviving internee
toward those who lost by an un
expected turn of fate after puttini
up such valiant fight to live.
Rescue