No Friendly Hand Yet For
The Inhuman Japs
Memories of 1942 and 1943
A SECTION of American public opinion, led by General Douglas MacArthur, appears to be in favour to a “forgive and forget” policy in relation to the Japanese.
A non-Communist Japan could be a valuable barrier between the United States and the onward-sweeping power of Communism in Asia, which now has the Americans somewhat bothered. One sympathises with their viewpoint.
But the idea has not been well received in Australia and New Zealand, and the islands of the South Pacific. Some events of 1942 and 1943 are much too fresh in the memories of all of us. We have not forgotten;— • How the Japs massacred the young Australian servicemen at Tol plantation, in New Britain. When the Japs came down in overwhelming numbers upon Rabaul, a few handfuls of Australians got away westward into the jungle. The majority escaped, but a considerable num ber were rounded up, exhausted and help less, at Tol, and simply butchered. • How 22 men —17 New Zealand service men and five civilians—were massacred at Tarawa, in the Gilbert Islands. The Japs had held them prisoners. American planes, one day, attacked the Jap fortress at Tarawa. The immediate reaction of these sub-human creatures was to march their 22 helpless prisoners out, and butcher them. • How ten Anglican missionaries were massacred by the Japs in Northeast Papua. One was beheaded even while he was celebrating Communion at Gona.
Two young European nurses were taken out into a plantation, where a grave was dug, and slaughtered. Who can forget the report of Mr. W. R. Humphries, who later investigated this horrible occur rence? • How a hospital ship was sunk off the Queensland coast, with tragic loss of life. • How helpless Australian servicemen and women were massacred at Ambon, East Indies. • How the fiendish cruelty of the Japs caused the deaths of many, many hun dreds of Australians who became prisoners at Singapore.
There is no end to the foul record.
Those merely are cases which spring to the memory of this writer.
We may perhaps forgive the Germans They introduced some fiendish forms of war, and the way in which the Nazis mas sacred Jews is one of the blackest blots on history’s pages. But they did not murder military prisoners.
Our friends the Yanks will perhaps understand if we of the South Pacific show a certain unwillingness to resume civilised relations with the most un civilised and inhuman enemy we ever
encountered.-
R.