Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-09-16
Homma and ; Others
Put Behind Bars in
Yokohama Prison
BY the Associated Press,

TOKYO, Sept. 15.-Lt. Gen
Masaharu Homma of Bataar
death march" infamy and three
other suspected war criminals
surrendered to United State.
Army authorities tonight anc
were locked up in Yokohama
prison.
The notorious commander OF
Japan's Philippines invasion pro.
feSsed surprise" to find his name
on Gen. MacArthur's list of posi-
BILE war guilty who may be forced
to face courts martial.
With Homma were 1t. Gen
Shigenori Kuroda, his successor in
the Philippines, and these two
others on Gen MacArthur's want
ed" list: Col. Kingoro Hashimoto, a
Black Dragon Society leader who
ordered the bombing of the U. S
gunboat Panay in 1887, and Yoshi-
taxa Ueda, suspected secret leader
of the imperialistic geo-political
bureau.
File Into Prison Grounds.
They apparently had spent q
leisurely day within Kanagawa pre-
fectural police station. Shadows
were frightening over the three
story new concrete prison on the
edge of Yokohama when Homma
led the three others past steel
helmeted American MPs.
They filed into the prison grounds
In order of rank with Kuroda second
and Ueda last.
Admiral Shigetsro Shimada, for
mer navy minister who ordered the
attack on Pearl Harbor, and pos
sibly others wanted for questioning
already were confined in Yokohama
prison, 1t was understood.
Homma, who as a victor in the
Philippines once refused to talk to
Gen. Jonathan M. Wainwright
commandy on Corregidor, because
of his then inferior rank, was es-
corted from the police station to the
prison by American soldiers, the
highest ranking of whom was a
second lieutenant, 1t. w. B. Carrow
Pear Valley, Tex.
3 Hours in Police Station.
After spending three hours in the
police station, Homma and Kurods
emerged at 6:45 pm. on the arriva
Of soldiers from the headquarters
of the United States 9th Army pro.
vost marshal.
The soldiers sent word up to the
second floor of the police station
where the japanese were waiting
and then Homma came downstairs
He and his party were stern OF
face when they joined the soldier!
for the 10-minute drive to the
prison.
Jail" snorted Kuroda in con-
tempt for his destination as he
walked down the stsirs.
With Lit. Carrow were Sergt. Win
field Freeman, Brooklyn; TI5 Johr
j. Fitzgerald, Valley Stream, Long
Island, N. Y, and Corpl. Thomas E
. Callahan, ir., Lenmore, N. Y Among
those on guard at the prison gates
whena4thea Japanese party, arrived
was Pfc. Chester F. Majka, Chicago
Denies Ordering Death March.
Homma denied he had ordered the
death march, in which American
and Filipino troops were beaten anc
stragglers killed by their japanese
guards. He said, Il don't think il
was such tough march"
But in an interview Homma sale
he was ready to take full RESPONSE
bility" for the acts of his subordi-
mates.
Kuroda. who became commander
of japanese forces in the Philippines
in May, 1913, after Homma was or
dered home and retired, said 10000
American prisoners were held ir
the islands during his tenure, tc
September, 1914 When asked about
atrocities against the prisoners, Ku-
roda replied:
Il never heard of that-never."
Prepares Own Defense.
On arriving in Tokyo Homme
went Immediately to his home tt
prepare his own defense to the wal
criminal charges He said the prepa.
ration would take several hours.
In the final assault on Corregidol
the japanese lost g of their so land.
ing boats, Homma told Associated
Press Correspondent Al Dopking.
The defense of the fortress wa.
30 vigorous he was about to admit
japanese failure, he said, when the
white flag appeared The Ameri
cans would have won" had they
been able to take the offensive then
he declared
Homma, however. admitted thai
the Corregidor defenders were ex'
hausted after weeks of concentrated
pounding when the japanese start
ed their final amphibious attack or
the fortress, which surrendered
May 6, 1912.
Expected Shorter Bataan Battle.
Homma said he had spent "grea
deal of time" in England, had beer
in India and twice had visited tn,
United States. He gave his version
of the early Philippines fighting.
The battle for Bataan. which fel
April 9, month before Corregi
dor. took much longer than he hat
expected, he said. The American
estimate of the number of Japa
nese troops surprised him.
Actually, I landed with two di
visions-weI, one division and
mixed brigade" he said, not dis
closing the strength of the fore
that followed the original Japanes
landings!
What about the Bataan dealt
march atrocities? he was asked.
Il did not see anything like thai
and no American officers complaine
to me- I know they had to marc
because of lack of conveyances, bu
I don't think it was such a toug
1,