Prisoners of War Bulletins

A list of American prisoners of war, containing about forty names, as sent by the Japanese Government's Central Information Bureau at Tokyo to the Central Agency for Prisoners of War in Geneva

Red Cross workers packing contents of packages of food for prisoners of war abroad


The contents of an American Red Cross standard food package

A volunteer of the Red Cross Motor Corps, at the loading of the Gripsholm, painting
the destination on boxes of clothing, food etc. for prisoners of war in Japan and the Far East

"The Government of the United States also desires to state most emphatically that, as the Japanese Government can assure itself from an objective examination of the reports submitted to it by the Spanish, Swedish, and International Red Cross representatives who have repeatedly visited all places where Japanese are held by the United States, the United States has consistently and fully applied the provisions of the Geneva Prisoners of War Convention in the treatment of all Japanese nationals held by it as prisoners of war or (so far as they are adaptable) as civilian internees, detainees or evacuees in relocation centers. Japanese nations have enjoyed high standards of housing, food, clothing, and medical care. The American authorities have furthermore freely and willingly accepted from the representatives of the protecting Powers and the International Red Cross Committee suggestions for the improvement of conditions under which Japanese nationals live in American camps and centers and have given effect to many of these suggestions, most of which, in view of the high standards normally maintained, are directed toward the obtaining of extraordinary benefits and privileges of a recreational educational of spiritual nature."

/ s / E. Tomlin Bailey.

/s/ David H. Scull
Notary Public in and for the District of Columbia
By commission expires July 14, 1946.

TELEGRAM SENT

December 12, 1942

HULL

A Protocol on the treatments of American and Filipino
prisoners of war after the termination of the Bataan Campaign.
____________________

The Central Committee of Investigation
for the investigation of matters concerning prisoners of war

(1) The American and Filipino troops who surrendered at Bataan were forced to walk ninety miles long up to the O'Donnell Camp, in spite of their fatigue, illness, and wounds. During the walk the diseased and wounded who dropped behind were left by the roadside helpless and unattended.

(2) Even after arriving at O’Donnell, both the diseased and the healthy alike were not provided with [cooks? socks?] for 36 hours and were not placed indoors for 3 long days.

(3) The Japanese authorities did not even try to care for the diseased but also refused the services of American and Filipino doctors and nurses and did not permit them to enter the camp.

(4) As a result of this negligence the death rate ran up to twenty-five percent.

(1) While walking from Bataan to San Fernando, Japanese snatched shoes belonging to American officers who were forced to walk without shoes.

(2) Despite the fact that these prisoners of war were constantly suffering from lack of drinking water, canteens belonging to some of them were taken away.

(3) The condition of health of the prisoners of war in the Philippines is pitiful. At San Fernando in April, 1942, the American and Filipino prisoners of war were inside a settlement which was surrounded by wire entanglements, and the place was so heavily crowded that it was practically impossible for them to sleep or rest. Moreover, many of them were sick, but no one received any medical treatment. The place also was full of their discharges.

(4) The cruel treatments at San Fernando which is more than 100 miles away from Bataan cannot be explained because of the conditions of the battle at that time. The prisoners of war were mercilessly driven to walk this distance for seven days. Many of them, dropping behind, were shot or bayoneted by the guards. They also were left under the heating sun even when they were able to gather under shades. It was discovered that American and Filipino prisoners of war were buried alive along the roadsides, and further information revealed that those who tried to creep out of their graves were knocked down by shovels and buried alive.

(5) Reliable reports reveal that the treatment at the O’Donnell Camp was so bad that more than 2,200 Americans and 20,000 Filipinos died within the several months period after they have been camped. If the Japanese authorities had given the least necessary amount of medical treatment most of those dead could have been prevented from dying. The so-called hospitals there did not care about situations there and those sick prisoners were left to die nakedly on the floor, without receiving any medical treatment, and without being able to take care of their own discharges. Since the hospital was crowded over capacity, the Americans were left to lie on the ground outdoors exposed to the hot sun. American doctors at the camp were not given medicine or even enough water to take care of the patients discharges. Though thousands of them were suffering from malaria, when they were given any supply of quinine it was only enough to cure 10 patients. Out of 300 prisoners at O’Donnell Camp who were sent to Batangas for labor, more than 200 died.

(6) At the O’Donnell camp during 1942, many of the men were made to live at places without shelters. In a certain case, 23 officers were taken into a temporary barrack, which was only 14 ft. wide and 20 ft. long. There was such a scarcity of water that they had to wait in lines for more than 6 hours to 10 hours to get a cup of water. Officers could not take a bath during the first 35 days until they were given only one gallon of water per each to bathe in. All they could get, for kitchen wares, were a cauldron and a drum can with the capacity of 55 gallons. Sweet potatoes were boiled in the cauldron and smashed up by a stick and only a spoonful per each were distributed to them.

(7) Many were tortured by the Japanese guards during their march from Bataan to San Fernando. The guards struck down some prisoners who tried to drink water. One of them, trying to save one of his comrades who was hit by a Japanese truck was struck on the head by a stick. When a Colonel found a can of salmon on the roadside and demanded that it be given them as their food, a Japanese officer threw the can into his face thereby cutting his face. Another Colonel was struck in the face, when he tried to place a member, who was unable to walk on, to a cart belonging to a kind Filipino.

1. A letter to the Swiss Ambassador, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, from the Imperial Japanese, Foreign Minister, dated April 24, 1944.

2. A letter to the Swiss Ambassador at Tokyo from The Japanese Imperial Foreign Minister, dated [month missing] 28, 1944.

A. The prisoners of war were forced to walk long distance under difficult conditions.

B. Many had died after being sheltered in O’Donnell.

Concerning this matter, the Imperial Japanese Govt. has explained in its reply that although it is regrettable, it was inevitable under the prevailing circumstances. We shall further inform you all the matters in detail.

(1) The transportation of the Prisoners of War after the Bataan operation American and Filipino prisoners of war were moved from Bataan to San Fernando on foot and from there to O’Donnell by train. The provisions, sanitation, and emergency rescue during the transportation of prisoners of war on foot and train were conducted under various difficult conditions and were unsatisfactory. As a result it might be mistaken that, the prisoners of war were cruelly treated intentionally, but that is not the case. However we regret deeply what has happened.

(2) Let us explain the various difficulties during that time.

(1) The organizations and equipment of medical corps of the Japanese Army in the Philippines were very poor and constituted the greatest cause for the deterioration of the health of the Japanese Army and American and Filipino war prisoners. Units which participated in the Bataan operation were the 4th Div., the 16th Div., the 65th Brig., the Nagano detachment and other units under the direct command of the Army Hq., however, these units which had medical organs were the 4th and 16th Div., only. There was tremendous shortage of medical units and temporary medical parties were formed by local natives or natives from Formosa. It was even necessary to dispatch members attached to the Army Hq. to front line units.

(2) The medical facilities of the Japanese army also were insufficient and prior to the beginning of the second Bataan operations, the Medical officer who was serving at the Army Hq. and who, at that time, was in charge of the entire distribution of medical supplies, died as a result of a nervous breakdown caused by worries over the shortage of medical supplies. Medicine for Malaria was especially lacking and the supply of preventative medicine for malaria which was provided was not effective enough. There also was a shortage of transportation facilities, lowered the nutritious conditions of the Japanese troops in the front to such an extent that there were many who showed symptoms of extreme malnutrition, dropsy, loose bowels, heart palpitation and others. As there were no medicine for cure coconuts were squeezed in order to obtain supplies of vitamin "C". Despite every effort that has been made nothing could be made to fulfill the requirements. Certain units following what natives taught them boiled and drank bitter tasting barks in place of quinine. It was also extremely difficult to send the patients back to the hospitals, therefore, medical organs proceeded near the front to provided medical treatments. The conditions were such, however, that many died in shelterless hospitals.

(3) In the middle of April many malaria patients were discovered among Japanese Forces in Luzon, especially among these troops attacking Corregidor, and within ten days of so later, the number of patients totaling 25,000, while up to the end of May, 50,000 patients were discovered at one time. Moreover, during the latter part of April because of the mass outbreak of malaria stricken patients it was feared that the Corregidor operation may have to be suspended for some time, however, this threatening situation was settled only after doctors and medical supplies were urgently sent by air from Japan proper and Formosa.

(4) As mentioned in the above, in view of the mass outbreaks of patients, all hospitals were overcrowded; for instance, a certain clearing hospital was established at the front and took in over more than 5,000 patients, in spite of its capacity of 1,000 and suffered under lack of medicine and poor food supplies. Speaking of medicine, “Atebulin” for drinking was used for injection and table sugar was injected into veins as inverted sugar; but such emergency measures could not fill up the lack of medicine. The number of deaths therefore from malaria rose to a large number presenting a miserable state of affairs. This miserable situation as closely connected with the shortage of food supplies and, as the general situation improved, it gradually turned to the better from around Sept. 1942, however, the after-effects were recognizable up to the end of 1943.

(5) The miserable sanitary conditions of the Imperial Japanese Army was as stated in the above. At that time, for the purpose of accomplishing the operational aims of the Japanese Army, it was a matter of necessity to use most of the medical units and medical supplies for the Japanese Army itself. It is most regrettable that, as a result of this, satisfactory treatments could not always be given to the American and Filipino prisoners. In this connection attention should be made of the fact that during the hundred or more days from their withdrawal from Manila in January up to April, the American and Filipino troops entrenched themselves at Bataan peninsula which was a malaria infected place where there were not enough facilities. From a sanitary point of view this exposed them to a very dangerous situated and it was an established fact that there were many malaria stricken patients before the surrender as was stated clearly in the previous reply of the Imperial Japanese Govt. However if this fact had been notified to the Japanese Army immediately before their surrender more attentions could have been made in transporting and nursing of patients which could have prevented in easing the miserable outcome. The very fact that the Japanese army accepted the offer of the American Field Hospital in Cabadbaran to suspend its removal to some other place despite the fact it caused many inconveniences in the course of carrying out the Japanese Army’s operations serves to prove the case.

(6) The sanitary conditions of the Prisoners of War were not entirely satisfactory during the beginning but with the progress of the operation in general and the improvement of supply together with the efforts made by various organs concerned the sanitary conditions gradually improved.

Note: According to the report to the Central Authorities by the Chief of the Philippine Prisoners of war Camp Sept. 13, 1942, “patients during the 8 months period totaled 8,755 persons (namely 60%) while 303 persons died (2.5%). However, now with hospitals being established and efforts being made to place them in hospitals the number of patients are gradually decreasing. The main patients are those who have malaria, dysentery and malnutrition. In Aug. medicine for malaria were fully supplied and the death rate among prisoners decreased remarkably. It is considered that dysentery was of the “Amoeba” type: Due to the scarcity of good medicine for dysentery patients, the death rate was about 35%. The army dispatched epidemic-prevention squads and endeavored prevent epidemics. Also in a report dated Sept. 19 it was stated that the death rate at present of Americans decreased to about 10 persons per day. At the O’Donnell Camp, as is described later, because of the efforts by various organs concerned and especially by the earnest endeavors by the chief of the camp sanitary conditions there gradually improved as a result the number of dead decreased.

(1) After the occupation of the Philippines by the Japanese forces, due to uncertainty of public peace, lack of communications and etc., the collection of the transportation of rice was efficiently carried out. As a result, the difficult food condition which existed even during peacetime in the Philippines, became more acute; and the army as well as the populace in general were disturbed by food shortage. The army planned to import approximately 100,000 tons of Saigon rice, however because of shipping shortage, the supply was not enough to meet the requirements.

Especially the food problem at Mindanao Island was in such a critical stage that, although army food supplies were sent by air it was not enough to ameliorate the shortage.

(2) That the condition of food supplies for the prisoners of war was not entirely satisfactory during the beginning as is stated in the above. Preparations, therefore, to receive prisoners of war were not completed and the situation was such that it was a matter of impossibility to collect food supplies for prisoners of war which amounted to more than that needed by the Japanese forces at Bataan.

Moreover another factor that hampered the feeding of prisoners of war was the lack of kitchen ware dishes and plates. The Japanese army headquarters in the surrender leaflets which were dropped from airplanes stated that those surrendering should bring table ware with them.

(3) As was explained in the above foodstuffs for prisoners of war during the beginning were very poor. However, with the gradual restoration of public peace after the latter part of 1942, the situation began to look brighter as measures for the improvement of food were being put into effect and the release of certain prisoners reduced the number of those requiring food.

(1) As it was explained previously during the early period the situation was such that satisfactory treatment and administration could not be given prisoners of war.

Especially, during the first month administrative affairs were handled by a small number of personnel headed by a reserve army Captain, therefore there may have been some cases of negligence.

The reason why such a small number of personnel was ordered to handle the administration of the camp can be explained as follows: At the time all units, which were engaged in supply service, had to arm all their men who were capable of carrying rifles for the purpose of guarding various areas or for mop up operations against Fili-American guerrilla forces, aside from those engaged in supplying military goods or those handling administrative affairs of the P.O.W. camps. The condition was such that there was a shortage of men behind the front lines.

(2) After the end of the Corregidor operations and after the basic disposition of the troops had been finished for the occupational campaign for the entire Philippine Islands in the middle of May, staff officers of the Army Headquarters inspected the O’Donnell Prisoners of War Camp and recognized the administration for P.O.W. were in a very serious condition. They immediately took steps for its improvement. The first of these steps were the appointment of a capable commanding officer with the rank of Lt. Colonel (one having a good command of English as well as an excellent character) to be the Chief of the Prisoners of War Camp, and also the increase of necessary administrative personnel.

Therefore, the new commanding officer of the P.O.W. camp, with utmost efforts, endeavored to improve the accommodating and sanitary conditions, and above all did everything possible to eliminate death among the P.O.W.

(3) Improvement of food.


(4) Improvements on living facilities.


(5) Improvements of sanitary facilities.

In the beginning there were no sanitary facilities as such to speak of, therefore, efforts were made to improve hospital facilities, medical supplies, and enforcing of disinfection, and many other amelioration measures.


(6) Preparation of records of the deceased.

Special files were prepared with the death of every American or Filipino prisoner and records of the conditions of the deceased were made clear with the cause of their death investigated upon for the purpose of taking steps to reduce the death rate.

Death rates during the initial period was of a high percentage, with the establishment of hospital facilities and the improvement of housing and food, there was a remarkable decrease.

(7) Facilities for recreation.

Musical instruments and sporting goods (for baseball and others) were supplied to be utilized for the purpose of amusement and to lift up the spiritual and physical strength of the P.O.W.

(8) Miscellaneous matters.

Graves for each American and Filipino dead were cleaned and well taken care of for the purpose of consoling the souls of the deceased. All efforts were made for the realization of the above, and it was noticeable that good results were gradually being attained.

(1) American P.O.W. were transferred to Cabanatuan successfully. In July a proper organization for administrating P.O.W., headed by a Major General, the members of which received special education for their business, was sent from Tokyo; and it commenced the administration of American P.O.W at the Cabanatuan and other places from August 1st on.

(2) Release of Filipino P.O.W. were commenced, from about June successively from those with definite references first.

(3) In order to lighten the burden and to improve further the administration of P.O.W a great number of them were removed to the barracks at Stotsenburg, where they were trained physically to some extent and were educated on professional matters by those members additionally sent from the Military Administration Section; and then were released from there.

(4) In the above mentioned course, all Filipino P.O.W. were released in January of 1943, and in the same month the camps at O’Donnell and Stotsenburg were closed.

And it may be added that potential malaria patients were given some quantity of Quinine when released.