1941-03-29 — Page 13

Saturday,

HONGKONG TELEGRAPH

March 29, 1941.

FEAR OF JAPANESE

FELT

The Filipinos are nervous over recent events in Asia. The duration of the Com- monwealth is at the half- way, only five more years remaining before complete independence in 1946. And at this stage many Filipinos fear they may lose the com- parative ease. and security they have been enjoying for forty years under Américan tutelage and protection.

Broadly, they fear that war will touch their peaceful shores. Specifically, they are apprehen- sive of Japan's designs upon their country. Her assumption of guardianship over Greater East Asia has given new mean- ing to apprehensions which had largely lain dormant, like some- thing too far in the future to do anything but let some one else worry about.

six

Five

ago-even years months ago--few took seriously the idea that the United States and Japan might actually be- come involved in war in which the position of the Philippines would be decidedly exposal. But now increased numbers are' giving way to the fear of sen blockade, of bombings of unpro- tected cities and peaceful towns, of invasion and conquest, relega- tion of Filipinos to the humblest jobs in government and business, and death to independence as- pirations.

Some Act In Fright

BY

FILIPINOS

THE SHADOW OF JAPAN FALLS OVER

C

THE PHILIPPINES

BURMA

Kunming

Changings

THAI-

LAND

CHINA

Manila.

Jagon,

OCCIDE

ATRA

AVALAY TAND

LITATES

400 MILES

BORNEO

CFLEGES

NETHERLANDS,

yre The Philippines Will Japon and

of penetration

SMINDANAO

THE PHILIPPINES AREA. 114,400 SQ MI. POPULATION:16984,247

By H. Ford Wilkins

to fight except for guns and am- munition and equipment, of which they do not at present have enough to go around. Whether with the assistance of the United States Flect and some 5,000 American officers and soldiers of the Philippine De- partment, United States Army, they could effect a successful de- fence of sprawling islands is n military, question.

Quezon's Reassurance

Offcially the Filipinos, do not believe this contingency will oc- cur. When one says "officially" in the Philippines concerning matters of national policy, it is to quote President Manuel Que- zon. If Mr Quezon shares the fears of his more unlettered countrymen concerning war and devastation, he exhibits none of it. In order to allay fears he has adopted an attitude of levity.

"Bombs," he said recently, "might do Manila some good. Our streets are too narrow. Destroy some of our old build- ings and we'll have a chance to build a real city, with broad streets and boulevards and grent xtores. Our people don't "need. to be afraid of bombs. We can get out. Look at the broad fields where we can go and be saved from bombs. We can have plentes.".

The President's attitude served to calm the people-until the papers published news about American women and children being advised to leave Japan and China.

Economic Effect Feared

use this fact as an argument that which, although used commer- their economy and their com- cially, is marked as a landing mercial goods are better suited field for Air Corps use. to the Philippines than the high- standard products of the United In the rich sugar Province of

What the President really States, especially to a country Philippines, there is acute alarm effect upon

Occidentul Negros, In many sections of the pro- which has accepted the prospect among the Filipinos. The infil. However, it does not seem in- central fears from war is the economic the Philippines vinces there is

near pic of comparative penury after in- tration tactics so successfully conceivable to the Filipinos that Those with a little knowledge of what is happening are worse off

dependence.

used in Davao are becoming more they might obtain certain bene than those who cannot read the Filipino suspicion of the and more prevalent The Japan. fits from the situation that con- newspapers. They are with- Japanese is founded more upon ese marry Filipino women and ac fronts them, benefits in the form drawing their money from their overt actions as a nation quire lands in the names of their of further economic and military banks, taking their children out than upon subversive actions as wives, evading constitutional assistance from the United of schools, gathering their rela- residents of the Philippines, provisions against the ownership States. What they would like is tives and possessions with brood The invasion of China and the of land by aliens. The children an extension of the Common- instinct to wait and tremble for partial occupation of Indo-China of these unions are Japanese in wealth adjustment programme the worst, Scarcely a day passes created a more profound impres- outlook. In one Negros barrio for another ten years. They that does not include a call to sion than has any local maps or the Japanese have built a "base- want suspension by the United Manila from some provincial infringement, upon coastal wa- ball field" of such generous pro- States of tariff applications and centre asking if it is true that ters by Japanese fishing craft. portions that the Filipinos are quota, restrictions until after Japan has declared war upon At the same time increasing note convinced it could serve as an peace is established in the world. America, or vice versa.

has been taken of such activi- airplane landing field, tios

Near An Airport

They wish an immediate formal conference on these things, pre- sumably-in-Washington-

Suspicion and fear of the United States-military-authori--Filipinos is one of unquestioned in late months, both by The official attitude of the Japanese are based partly on the ties and by the Filipinos them loyalty to the United States. presence of some 30,000 Japan- selves.

In exchange for these hoped- ese in the country whose actions

They have offered in case of for benefits from the United are now being closely watched.

trouble all their resources in States they offer a. continued The conviction is spreading that

manpower, all the assistance of tariff-free market for American every Japanese is a potential

their Army, now half way goods in the United States' spy, regardless of whether he has Japanese are reported to have gramme under General Douglas But they see no reason for aban- In the Province of Albay the through its development pro- seventh best overseas market. been a peaceful. and law-abiding leased sizable tracts of land close MacArthur, one of America's doning the plan for political in- resident of the Philippines for to the Associated and Standard most ten or twenty years.

distinguished soldiers. dependence in 1946 and would Oil installations, one plot being They can place 160,000 or more like to go through with that part That the infiltration of more just below the local airport, trained men in the field, ready of the programme, Japanese in recent years has been purposeful and planned seems evident to the Filipinos. The islanders met the situation]

in part last year with an immi- gration law, approved by the United States Government, re-

WAR-TIME

WIT

stricting to 500 annually the shelter in Edinburgh hangs yelled a spectator. "You're not "And what will you do when the

N the door of an air-raid side. "Never mind, chum," could speak fairly good English.

number of aliens of any one

"Ach," said Fritz, "I will have a tour all round Germany on my Footballerowds are hard to bicycle." beat for real humour. Not long

nationality who might enter the the notice, "If your knees are the only people who can't beat war is over?" he inquired. Philippines. This figure is a re- knocking, kneel on them." Be- them!" latively small proportion of the low this some way has added, Japanese who have been enter-"If your teeth are chattering. ing the country during the last take them out." five years. The Japanese re- sented this restriction and madef

ago, one of the teams visiting what will you do in the after- "Yes," said his captor, "but formal protests to Washington.

Some members of a certain Tynecastle turned out in white Home Guard company had been jerseys, shorts, and stockings.

noon?". Centred In Mindanao supplied with rifles, others had As they trotted out from under

not. The commander was isst the stand,

•

looked

tively and talked for a while to his fosterparents, "Well," he

In connection with the issue said at last, "if I'd known this

voice yelled, The littlo ovacuee The principal region of Ja- ing instructions to this com- "Hurrah, chaps, here come the round his new home apprecia panese penetration is the large pany prior to a route march and Finns!"" and rich island of Mindanao, was heard to say, "Those with The southeast corner of this arms will swing the right arm; island, near the Dutch-owned those with no arms will swing Celebes Islands and British

both." North Borneo, is already Ja- He was a bashful young cadet, the application form or reference panese in all but title. Here, in wearing the white band round leaves as they are called. One the city and Provinces of Davao, his hat which signified that he Indy wrote on her card, "Have decided to consult a doctor about live and prosper 17,888 Japan- hoped to become an officer. As no Identity Card. ess. They control the hemp-ho approached,

•

the

growing Industry, have their saluted, him smartly. own schools, their own stores, plantations and Japanese style homes.

J

of new ration books the Ministry was such a nice place and that of Food officials are often you were so straight, I'd have amused at remarks appearing on brought my watch with me."

•

A sailor home on short leave

Pongo has sentry eaten it." Another lady gave him. After an Inspection, the a sore throat, that was troubling the year of her birth as 1777.

doctor said, "You had botter try gargling with salt and water.”

"What, again!" said the sailor. torpedoed three

"I've

"Oh, it's all right," said the cadet shyly, "You need not It is amazing, how people can Davao is a mature nucleus of saluto me. I'm not an officer make so many mistakes in fill- Japanese civilisation.

yet."

ing in

a simple form. They here the Japanese are spreading

times," Came the reply, "Och, yo're simply do not trouble to read the gradually into the central and guld enough tan practise on instructions, yet they can fill up

football

From

醾

trouble.

been

coastal parts of Mindanao. Ja- onywey."

"Hi," shouted the corporal coupons with. little who was distributing the post. panese chain stores spring up

On yet another card "Is this letter for, you? The overnight, to the consternation There was a football match was the apologetic remark. namo is obliterated.”. of Chinese tionda owners, whose between Brentford and the "Picase excuse Roman letters. I goods they undersell. They can R.A.F. The R.A.T, won, 2-1. A can't do block lettera.” even more easily undersell few minutes before the end one

American goods, even over pro- of the Brentford men, made a

The British Tommy, was chat-

"No," said can't be Murphy.'

tectivo tariffs. The Japanese last despairing effort for his ting to his German prisoner, who

-

the private, "It mo. My name's

AMY JASON

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66 This

is all

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But H.B.'s all right!”