Evening star., 1945-09-18
Wainwright Describes
Beatings by laps;
Asks Long Occupation

Gen. Jonathan M. Wainwright
last night told for the first time how
he had been struck repeatedly by
Japanese captors and once knocked
fiat as a pancake" during his three
and half years of internment in an
enemy prison camp.
The general gave an intimation Of
the indignities he suffered, during an
interview with Morgan Beatty over
the NBC network. He pointed out,
however, that he could only touch
on cruelties of the enemy in his
broadcast and that the full story Of
what happened to him while he was
In the hands of the enemy would be
told soon.
Gen. Wainwright said his life would
be dedicated to two purposes: Keep
ing the United States strong and
alert against a repetition of Pearl
Harbor and urging firm treatment of
the Japanese, with 20-year occu-
patton of Japan.
Recalls German Occupation.
II remember the last war" he
said. Il think we were supposed to
occupy Germany for 10 years. Well,
it didn't work out that way. The
War Department ordered me home
from Germany after two years.
I'VE should occupy the japanese
home islands for about 20 years
And in those 20 years, we should
deprive the Japanese of any in
dustry, of any business, that would
make it possible for them to beat
their ploughshares into swords
The hero of Corregidor said he
believed Gen. Macarthur would be
able to handle the Japs and make
them obey his orders.
There is nothing soft about him, y
he said. If Gen Macarthur is left
alone, the japanese won't have a
japanese chance to start war again
-certinly not in this generation .
Struck Numerous Times.
Describing his treatment in the
prison camp, Gen. Wainwright said
cruelties were practiced by the Japs
TO show their superiority over their
captives. The general said he hao
been struck number of times.
One night a japanese private
struck me five times and ther
knocked me as fiat as pancake BY
hitting me on the jaw with his fist.
/ He said all high-ranking prison.
ers. including governors of large
British ands Dutch colonies, were
forced to perform manual labor
The prisoners were instructed tc
clear ground for a farm and were
told they could raise their own food
We'll, we cleared the ground
We got the project going" he said
But we never got to eat a single
mouthful OF that food they prom
ised us
Made to Herd Goats.
Then they decided TO become
really generous and magnanimous
in conquest Because of our high
rank-both the civilian governors
and the senior generals in our camp
it was decided to give us unusual
consideration. We were given the
job Of herding goats"
Gen. Wainwright said the Jap
anese military authorities deliber-
ately practiced every form Of
cruelty.
Their torture was as much
mental as physical" he said. And
it all had a cunning design behind
it. That's the important thing"
He said they ordered privates to
strike generals because that fits
into their pattern of thought"
1t was their way of showing us
that they were not arrogant, merely
superior he said
He said Allied prisoners were even
instructed not to think bad things
about the Japanese He quoted
from the instructions received the
day he arrived at prison camp at
Karenko, Taiwan on August IT, 1912
The Americans and the English
are not allowed to hold the naughty
attitude over the peoples of Asia,
or to look them down. which has
been their common sense for a long
time. If there is any such attitude
at all on your part. you shall be
severely dealt wit h "