British and Australian prisoners of war arrive in Seoul and Incheon on September 25, 1942

 

Notes: For the best experience, I recommend also reading the first-hand accounts of the Allied prisoners of war to get the perspectives of both sides.

Some links that I found showing the first-hand stories of the Allied prisoners of war in Korea:

Keijo Camp | RFHG (fepowhistory.com)

familyhistory-markkirk - AlfKirk1916 (google.com)

Microsoft Word - PAC-JINSEN CAMP (axpow.org)

In his blog, Professor Akizuki Nozomi of Meiji Gakuin University identifies the former location of the former Seoul (Keijō) Prisoner of War Camp at present-day Singwang Girls High School (신광여자고등학교) at 서울시 용산구 청파동 3가100: (Google Maps Link: https://goo.gl/maps/U2dmKCo5U7XvBBTK8)

His blog entry in Japanese: Part 1: https://ameblo.jp/onepine/entry-12449283025.html Part 2: https://ameblo.jp/onepine/entry-12449507571.html

Below is the route that the Allied prisoners of war took during their march from Yongsan station to Keijō Camp (credit to Professor Akizuki):

Why am I posting this kind of content? Read my reasons here: https://tpjv86b.blogspot.com/2021/11/nostalgia-for-imperial-japan-and-its.html

(Translation)

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) September 26, 1942

British prisoners of war in disgrace
Alas, their walking pace tends to be unsteady

Having dreams on the first night in the prison camp

British prisoners of war with faces as if they had swallowed lead marched in four lines from Yongsan Station to the Seoul (Keijō) Prisoner-of-War Camp in Aobachō at midnight on the afternoon of September 25. The streets were packed and lined with spectators who had come to see the living spoils of war, the British prisoners of war, walking from the train station along Hangang-daero, turning at Samgakji and then toward Kyōmachi, and then walking from Motomachi 1-chōme to Aobachō 3-chōme.

Protected by military guards and honorable POW monitors of Korean descent, the prisoners of war walked with the same disheveled gait as on the day they were defeated on the Malaysian front. For a while, the crowd gasped upon seeing the varied appearances of the prisoners of war, whose eyes were unashamed and unabashed: neatly trimmed faces, shaved heads, curled up mustaches in the shape of the Chinese character for eight (八), carrying rolled up blankets and military packs resembling rucksacks on their backs, messy clothes and demeanor, stylishly dressed Australian soldiers. "Oh my! You see, we must not lose the war," the crowd whispered to each other here and there.

The prisoners of war arrived at the prison camp at 1:30 p.m., and a military-style internal affairs team was immediately organized in the camp yard. British officers and enlisted men, and Australian officers and enlisted men were selected in separate groups, and the enlisted men joined their respective groups. Their movements were extremely slow, and in contrast to the disciplined demeanor of our Imperial troops, there was no sense of bravery to be found in the soldiers.

At 2:00 p.m., after the division of the prisoners had been completed with an interpreter, all the prisoners lined up for the solemn announcement and swearing-in ceremony by Colonel Nagano of the Seoul Camp. Lt. Col. Cardell (the highest ranking officer among the prisoners of war) received the title of commander and gave the order "Kiwotsuke! (Attention!)" which he had already learned. Then he saluted Colonel Noguchi with a "Kashiranaka" salute.

Colonel Noguchi, the Director, stood on the center stage and gave the following instructions in a solemn tone through the microphone. Simultaneous interpretation was provided.

"The following is an admonition to you on the occasion of your internment in this Korean prison camp. In the first place, the United States and Great Britain have oppressed East Asia and attempted to invade and overrun a billion people. At this time, the people of our nation of 100 million rose up springing into action. In less than a few months, the Imperial Army, the sons of the gods, defeated the United States and Great Britain with valor and fury, achieving unprecedented results in the world.

This is a testament to the fact that the heavens favor the righteous. You have been defeated by the divine army. It is a natural consequence of your actions. You have lost the power to fight now, but you did face us once. You must well understand that your defeat was by the divine army.

Some of you may still be troubled by your defeat. But since you surrendered to us, you must clear your mind of hostility and follow our rules. You must endure being placed in a different environment and experiencing inconvenience due to different customs. If you　do not wipe away your hostilities today and obey us, we will give you the warm treatment prescribed by our excellent, world-renowned Bushido (the Japanese way of the warrior)."

Upon listening to these words, they realized that tides of the Greater East Asia War were turning decisively, since their own British military was defeated on all fronts in the fighting to the south, and their moods thickened with resignation. Dark shades appeared on their faces for a moment, as if they were more troubled by homesickness than by thoughts of their country's military strength.

After the admonition, they signed an oath that they would not flee and would obey all orders. It was three o'clock in the afternoon when everyone had completed the forms. Then they went to the internal affairs team. Each person was provided with four warm blankets. The prisoners of war assigned to the cooking team worked diligently to prepare dinner. Brown-haired hands began to chop the vegetables that filled the aluminum dishes. There was also a liquor store. The signs here and there were written in both Japanese characters and English letters. Nervous Korean monitors were working actively.

A rare sight: "soldiers in women's clothing"

Headed to Incheon Camp in silence

Incheon Telephone Report: Defeated prisoners of war numbering (redacted) people, who had no courage in the face of our righteousness, arrived at Sangincheon Station by special train at 2:15 p.m. on the 25th. This marked the first step in their march to enter the camp. From the square in front of the station and from the second-floor windows, they were gazed at by the proud Japanese people. Prisoners of war numbering (redacted) people lined up in four rows and columns under the command of our Imperial Army, remaining silent under the "white flag of silence".

Some of them were carrying bags with the numbers "B42" or "B52" written on them, and some were carrying backpacks with water bottles and lunch boxes hanging from them. Some wore navy blue and red women's clothing, perhaps given to them as mementos of their wives, and some even wore red flowers in their hats.

There was also an old prisoner of war who looked like a tourist in khaki shorts and hat, carrying a large trunk with labels stuck all over it. There were some wounded soldiers who were carried away in trucks. This was the pitiful state of the British prisoners of war, who had always been proud of the British Empire with their immorality and cruelty. They marched from the train station for 40 minutes, and then entered the camp in front of the Port train station (Photo: Prisoner of war unit on its way to Incheon Camp)

Three photos of the British prisoners of war: [Top] Director Noguchi's speech, [Middle] Entering the camp headquarters, [Bottom] Signing an oath with tattoos exposed

Surrender is the only known gesture

A glossy note to be preserved for posterity

The British prisoners of war, who we can only assume had been educated to believe the motto, "If our enemy is strong enough, we should surrender, then our lives will surely be spared," were sent here with facial expressions that almost looked as though they had never been involved in war. The words and deeds of these captives, who were uneducated and had a false worldview imbued in them, were full of bittersweet smiles from ignorance. Here are a few glimpses that we caught at the landing scene.

The prisoners of war afflicted by ringworms were dangling canvas bags resembling first aid kits on their backs and in front of themselves, clinking aluminum lunch boxes and thermos cups made out of coffee cans clink, and carrying flour bags under their arms. A young military doctor disinfected them with a sprayer at the bottom of the ramp as the prisoners of war with the ringworms walked about. The young military doctor then made a hand gesture instructing them to show him the palms of their hands, but instead they let go of their luggage under their arms and raised both hands. It seems they were only taught to surrender.

Then came material inspection. Every playing card they showed us was soiled and worn. These were the tools of gambling. There were many letters sent from the delinquent young women at the ports. Their blue eyes were darting desperately throughout all this.

The whole city of Busan was filled with hundreds of thousands of spectators. When they saw the wartime Japanese national uniforms, the perms, the Korean chima skirts, and the Korean durumagi overcoats, their blue eyes lit up and they innocently asked their captors if they were charging admission fees.

Chasing the dream of history

Surprised by their conceit

Private First Class Funakoshi, who graduated from the University of Washington and returned to Japan in 1939 with dual nationality, is working as an interpreter for the British prisoners of war. He recounted the following regarding his first time interacting with the British.

This was the first time I had come in contact with the British people, and I was surprised at their strong self-esteem. They must be having dreams of history. The reason why the British and Americans are so confident of their final victory is that they say that the military power of the United States is increasing day by day, while the military power of Germany is getting weaker day by day, which is inconceivable. Among the British officers who said such things, many are of noble extraction. The Australian soldiers were generally pure-hearted.

To the farming villages at harvest time
Sending soldiers home

Reinforcement personnel for bereaved family farmers

(Tokyo Telephone Report) The Army and Navy are very concerned about securing food supplies during wartime, and have decided to give some of the enlisted troops in Japan proper some leave time to return to their villages during the harvest season this year, when a good crop is expected. They are taking some really precious time off to return home while the Army is extremely busy defending the homeland during the Greater East Asia War as well as taking care of affairs for the departed troops. We request that ordinary farmers take this point into consideration and work with an awareness of themselves as a collective of warriors, while not falling into useless dependency.

In addition, the Army and Navy will provide active support and cooperation to the farmers of the families of fallen soldiers.

The authorities of the Army and the Navy will soon issue a memorandum to each corps under their control regarding this matter.

Young Pioneer Corps

Visited Seoul on the 29th

One hundred and forty-eight members of the Manchurian Pioneer Youth Volunteer Corps, who had undergone intense training at the Naepo Pioneer Training Center in Gangwon-do for one month and at the Naewon Training Center for three months, respectively, gathered in Seoul at 10:00 p.m. on the 29th. At 9:00 a.m. on the 30th, a send-off party was held in front of the main entrance of the Governor-General's Office with Commissioner Tanaka in attendance. They will take the 8:10 p.m. train to Manchuria.

The Youth Volunteer Corps will enter the Ning'an Training Center in Mudanjiang Province, where they will undergo a refresher training for three months before constructing a model pioneer village in Manchuria.

Source: http://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1942-09-26

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) September 24, 1942

Defeated British prisoners of war
British POWs land in Busan
Arriving in Seoul tomorrow

The living spoils of the Imperial Army

The living spoils of the Greater East Asia War... British prisoners of war from the Malaysian front numbering (redacted) people have finally landed at Busan on the morning of the 24th. This will mark their dramatic first step in the Korean peninsula, the military logistics base of the Asian continent, showcasing our transport team's globally top-ranked iron wall. In the past, British troops were running rampant in the world, treating it as if they owned it, but once the Imperial Military arose, they raised their white flags and surrendered for their lives. Now, with their defeated bodies, they are clearly showing their defeat to the eyes of the 24 million people on the Korean peninsula. On December 8 of last year, upon receiving the Imperial Rescript, the Imperial Military conquered the Pacific Ocean in just nine months. The gratitude and excitement of the Korean peninsula in receiving the souvenir of victory grew even more intense, and the resolve to complete the Greater East Asia War was inflamed to the utmost.

On this day of excitement, the port of Busan was completely ready to receive the prisoners of war, and everywhere you went in the city there were stories about them. It was the first time that they were seen on the silver screen of the news programs. And although they had heard about the prisoners of war and wondered what they would look like, they were filled with the joy of being able to see them with their own eyes one night later, their imaginings now turned into reality.

At the Arai Ryokan (guesthouse) in front of the station, where Colonel Atsuchi of the Korean military press office was stationed, groups of newspaper reporters, photo crews, and news cameramen came and went, busy communicating with each other so that the excitement of the announcement of the landing of the prisoners of war on the 23rd would be known behind the front lines. The port of Busan was filled with the excitement of the century that night. (Censored by the Korean Army)

Source: http://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1942-09-24

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) March 1, 1943

Prisoners of war who arrived in Korea

Demons! Behold the raw remains of the U.S. and Britain's insidious defeat!

Published on March 8

Greatly Moving!

The day of rejoicing is coming for our 24 million compatriots!
Two great cultural films by Korean Films!

(Censored by Imperial General Headquarters, edited by Ahn Seok-yeong)

1944

Recommended by the Governor-General of Korea

Directed by Kenjiro Morinaga, supervised by the Korean Military Command and the Governor-General of Korea
Kenjiro Morinaga, Director
Akira Seto, Cinematography

Korean Film Distribution

March 1, all Korean red and white films are released simultaneously

Source: http://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1943-03-01

(Transcription)

京城日報　1942年9月26日

うらぶれの英人俘虜

哀れ歩調も乱れがち
収容所に第一夜の夢を結ぶ

鉛を嚥んだような面持ちの英人俘虜が四列の隊伍を組んで龍山駅から青葉町の京城俘虜収容所への市街行進に移ったのは二十五日の午後零時半、駅頭から漢江通、三角地を京町へ迂回し元町一丁目から青葉町三丁目までの俘虜通過の沿道は活きた戦果の英人俘虜たちを見んものと押しかけた観衆でギッシリと埋まっている。

警衛の兵隊と誉れの半島出身俘虜監視員に護られ、マレー戦線で敗れたその日を姿で歩調も乱れがちに往く俘虜の眼は恥ららいもなく臆する色もない綺麗に刈り込んだ顔、坊主頭、尻をピンと刎ねた八字髭、リュックに似た背嚢に巻いた毛布に肩にした雑然たる服装と風態、小粋な恰好をした濠洲兵ととりどりなこの俘虜の姿に観衆はしばらくは声をのんでいるが、”ああ！矢張り戦争は敗けてはいけない”とそこでもここでも囁き合っている。

俘虜たちが収容所に到着したのが午後一時三十分、収容所の営庭で直ちに軍隊式な内務班の編成が始められた。英人将校、下士官、濠洲人の将校、下士官が別班に選び出され、下士官班にそれぞれの兵隊が編み込まれる。動作は至極緩慢で、わが皇軍の規律ある態度と打って変わってどこを押しても勝ち目のない勇ましさの感得出来ない兵隊である。

通訳つきで班編成が終り、午後二時一同整列して京城収容所長野口大佐の諭告と宣誓式が厳粛に行われる。カーデル中佐（俘虜中最高官）が指揮官の名を受けて早くも覚えた”キヲツケ”の号令をかける。そして野口大佐に対し”カシラナカ”の敬礼を捧げる。

中央壇上に立った所長野口大佐はマイクを通じ荘重な口調で諭告をなす。逐条通訳が行われる。

汝らを朝鮮収容所に収容するに当り諭告を発す。そもそも今回の戦争は米英が東亜を圧迫し、侵略を企て十億の民を蹂躙せんとした。この時わが皇国一億の民は蹶然起ち上がった。神の子たる皇軍は勇猛を揮って米英を撃破し、数ヶ月を出でずして世界未曾有の戦果を挙げた。

これはまさに天は正義に与することを物語っているのだ。汝等は神軍に敵してしかして敗れたのである。当然の帰結である。汝等は今戦う力を失っているが、しかし一度はわれに立ち向かったのである。汝等が敗れたるは神軍に敵したことをよく了解しなければならぬ。

敗れてなは悩み続けている者もあろう。しかし、われに降伏した上は敵意を清算し、われの規定に従わなければならぬ。習慣の異なるため不自由なる環境に置かれることこれは我慢しなければならぬ。敵性をきょうこの日払拭して従いなば、われは世界に優れたる武士道によって規定されたる温かき取り扱いを与えるであろう。

と諄々と説けば自国英軍が南方各戦線でことごとく敗れ去り大東亜戦の戦局は既に決定的であることに気づき諦めの色が濃く動く。祖国の戦力のことを思うことよりも、望郷の念に虜われるのが重いのか暗い陰が一瞬顔を斑どる。

諭告が終ると次いで『逃亡を為さず総ての命に従う』宣誓書へのサインが行われる。全員が記入し終ったのが午後三時。それから内務班に入った。暖かい毛布が一人に四枚宛支給されている。炊事班にそれぞれ割り当てられた俘虜はせっせと夕食の仕度にかかった。アルミの食器に埋まる野菜が茶色の毛の手で切り始められた。酒保もある。そこここの標識には日本文字と英字が併記してある。緊張した半島出身の監視員が活発に動いている。

珍景”女服の兵隊”

黙々、仁川収容所へ

【仁川電話】わが正義の前には勇を語らぬ敗残捕虜〇〇名が二十五日午後二時十五分特別臨時列車で上仁川駅に到着。収容所入りの第一歩を印した。駅前の広場から二階の窓から射るような誇りだかい『ニッポン人』の視線を浴びて〇〇名の捕虜がわが皇軍の指揮にしたがい、四列縦隊に整列、”白旗の沈黙”をまもってなにも語らぬ。

彼らの中には『B四二』あるいは『B五二』の数字を記入したバッグを手に水筒、飯盒をぶらさげたりリュックサックを背負っているものもあり。また妻の形見に貰ったのか紺に赤の女服を着て帽子には赤い花までつけている。

またレッテルのべたべた貼りつけられた大きいトランクを提げてカーキ色の半パンツに帽子という観光客のような捕虜のじいさんもある。中にはトラックで運ばれる負傷兵もあった。これが不倫非道をかつてほしいままにし、大英帝国を誇った英捕虜のあわれな姿であった。駅前に四十分市中を行進。港駅前収容所に入った【写真＝仁川収容所に向かう俘虜部隊】

英人俘虜の三態：【上】野口所長の訓示【中】収容所本部に入る【下】入れ墨を覗かせて宣誓文にサイン

降伏しか知らぬ仕草

後世大事に守る艶文

”敵は強ければ降伏するのだ。命だけは確かに助かる”と教育されて来たとしか思えない英軍俘虜たちは凡そ戦争とは縁遠いといった顔つきで送られてきた。無教養な上に誤れる世界観をつめ込まれている俘虜たちの言動には無智からくる微苦笑ものの数々がある。これは上陸風景の中から拾い上げた一つ二つ。

救命袋のようなズックの袋を前後に吊るしコーヒー缶の湯呑、アルミの弁当箱をからから鳴らし小脇にメリケン袋を抱えた田虫だらけの俘虜がタラップの下で噴霧器の消毒を受ける若い軍医さんの消毒の恰好に田虫の俘虜は一廻りする。若い軍医さんが更にハンドという、手のひらを廻せばよいものを小脇の荷物を放って両手を挙げる。彼等は降伏することだけしか教えられなかったらしい。

物品検査だ。出されるどのカードも手垢でよれよれだ。これが賭博の道具なのだ。港の莫蓮女から送られた沢山の手紙。こればかりはと碧眼をきょときょとさせて必死である。

釜山市中は数十万の観衆で埋まった。国民服をパーマをチマをツルマキを見て碧眼がぱちり、入場料でもとっているのかとは俘虜の偽らざる質問。

歴史の夢追う

自惚たっぷりに驚く

ワシントン大学を卒業し、昭和十四年帰国した二重国籍をもつ船越一等兵は英人俘虜の通訳をしているが、同一等兵は英人にはじめて接して左の如く語る。

英人に接するのは今度はじめてだが、自尊心の強いのには驚いた。歴史の夢をみているのだろう。英米が最後の勝利を確信しているその理由に彼等は米国の軍事力が日毎に増大するのに反し独逸の武力が日毎に弱くなっているとあられもないことをいう英人将校には華族的素質を持つものが多い。濠洲兵は概して純情だ。

刈り入れ時の農村へ
在営兵を帰郷さす

遺家族農家へも援兵

【東京電話】戦時下食糧の確保に重大な関心を寄せている陸海軍当局では今年豊作を予想される刈り入れ時の農村へ内地在営下士官兵の一部に特に休暇を与え帰郷させることとなったが、陸軍としては大東亜戦争下国土防衛、留守業務など極めて繁忙な中から真に貴重な時間を割いて帰郷させるものであり、一般農家として、この点をよく考慮し、徒な依頼心に流れることなく農家自体が総力戦士としての自覚をもって活動するよう要望している。

また陸海軍としては出征遺家族農家の刈り入れに対しては特に積極的な援助と協力を示すことになっている。

なおこれに関しては近く陸海軍当局から管下各団隊に通牒が発せられる。

開拓の若人隊

二十九日に寄城

江原道洗浦開拓民訓練所で一ヶ月内原訓練所で三ヶ月それぞれ猛訓練を受けた満州開拓青年義勇隊百四十八名は二十九日午後十時京城着列車で集合。三十日午前九時から総督府正面玄関前で田中総監臨席して壮行会を挙行。同午後八時十分発列車で渡満する。

青年義勇隊は牡丹江省寧安訓練所に入所、三ヶ月間の再訓練を受けて満州に模範開拓村を建設する。

京城日報　1942年9月24日

敗残の英軍俘虜
港釜山へ”白旗上陸”
京城へはあす到着

皇軍の生きた戦果

【釜山にて大山、須山両特派員発】赫々たる大東亜戦争の生きた戦果．．．マレー方面の英軍俘虜〇〇〇〇名はいよいよ二十四日朝釜山に上陸。世界に冠たる我が輸送陣の鉄壁を誇示して大陸の兵站基地半島に劇的な第一歩を印すのだ。嘗ては世界も我もの顔に横行していた英軍がひと度起った皇軍の前に命欲しさに白旗を掲げて降伏。いま敗残の身を提げて凋落の表情を我が半島二千四百万の目の辺りにはっきりと見せるのだ。昨年十二月八日畏くも大詔を拝してより皇軍の征くところ敵なく開戦僅かに九ヶ月にして太平洋を征服。勝利の土産を迎える半島の感謝感激はいよいよ昂まり、ここに大東亜戦完遂への覚悟を爾が上にも煽らせるのである。

感激のこの日の玄関釜山の港は俘虜を迎える態勢全く成って街のどこへ行っても俘虜の話で溢れている。ニュースの銀幕に初めて観た。そして聞いた俘虜ではあったが『一体どんな恰好をしているんだろう』その想像もいまや現実と化して一夜経てばこの眼で見られる嬉しい感激で一ぱいだ。

朝鮮軍報道部厚地大佐が陣取っている駅前の荒井旅館には二十三日俘虜上陸発表の感激を銃後に知らせるようと新聞記者団、写真班、ニュース・カメラマンの群が足しげく出入りして連絡に忙しい。釜山の港はこの夜世紀の感激に更けて行った。（朝鮮軍検閲済み）

京城日報　1943年3月1日

朝鮮に来た俘虜

鬼畜！米英のうらふれた敗残の生々しき姿を見よ！

三月八日公開

大いなる感激！
二千四百万同胞の上に喜びの日は来る！！
炸裂する朝映二大文化映画

（大本営検閲済・安夕影編）

昭和十九年

朝鮮総督府推薦

朝鮮軍司令部・朝鮮総督府　指導
森永健二郎　演出
瀬戸明　撮影

朝鮮映画配給

三月一日全鮮紅白一斉封切

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/korea/comments/skrzm3/british_and_australian_prisoners_of_war_arrived/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

Part 1 - Thousands of young Korean men were recruited to guard Allied POWs, and guards were told to teach the POWs to "recognize the superiority of the Japanese people and to make them respect the Japanese Empire from the bottom of their hearts"

 

Notes: Some 3000 young Korean men were recruited by Imperial Japan as civilians to work as civilians to guard Allied POWs in Southeast Asia. The prisoners were mostly forced to build airstrips and railways for the Imperial Japanese military. These included the 415-km Thai-Burma railway, which was made famous with the movie "The Bridges on the River Kwai". One of the more notable Korean guards working on the Thai-Burma railway was Lee Hak-rae, the last surviving Korean Class-B/Class-C war criminal from World War II who died in Japan last year in March 2021. 

One term that was hard to translate into English in this article was gunzoku (軍属), which I translated as "civilian members of the military", but this classification refers to the lowest ranking civilian employees in the service of the Imperial Japanese military. So, the status of the ethnic Korean prison guards was quite low in the Imperial Japanese military hierarchy. A lot of former prison guards argued this fact before the war crimes tribunals with varying degrees of success.

This Asia-Pacific Journal article is a good overview of Lee Hak-rae's story.

(Translation)

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) May 23, 1942

Direct cooperation in the Greater East Asia War
Thousands of young Korean men are recruited to monitor American and British prisoners of war
The pride of the Imperial People is getting higher and higher

The government has decided to enact a soldier conscription system for our Korean compatriots and allow them to be recruited as soldiers starting in 1944, giving them an epoch-making honor in the governance of the peninsula. This time, it has been decided to send even more talented young Korean men to serve as civilian members of the military. Due to the brilliant results of the Imperial military in the Greater East Asia War, they have been assigned to monitor the American and British prisoners of war being held in various locations. At the same time, it has been decided to bestow upon them the great mission of making these arrogant and insolent people realize the superiority of the Japanese people. On the 22nd, the Intelligence Division of the Governor-General's Office announced the following:

Announcement by the Intelligence Division

At the request of the Army, several thousand young Korean men of merit will be recruited as civilian members of the military in order to monitor the American and British prisoners of war who are being held in various location as a result of our brilliant war accomplishments in the Greater East Asia War. In the meantime, large numbers of young Korean men have been recruited to work on urgent government projects in accordance with the National Conscription Order. It is not only a great honor for the young Korean men to have been assigned such honorable duties, but it is also a great honor for Korea to have had their qualities as Imperial subjects be recognized as sufficient to assume such honorable duties.

The duties of those recruited are not only to watch over the American and British prisoners of war, but also to teach them to recognize the superiority of the Japanese people and to make them respect the Japanese Empire from the bottom of their hearts. Since this mission is a serious one, the young Korean men who are selected to serve in such an important mission assume a great responsibility, which has an extremely deep significance in light of the current decision to adopt the policy of enforcing the soldier conscription system in Korea. 

The applicants will be carefully selected by the provincial governments and related county governments south of Hwanghae Province and Gangwon Province, and those who are selected will be trained for about two months in the military and then mostly transferred to the field (partly in Korea), where they will be treated with great care and preferential treatment.

Those of you who have been recruited are requested to bear in mind the spirit of the above, and to make every effort to do your best, so that you may truly become subjects of the Imperial State, and thereby perform a splendid job of manifesting the majesty of our Empire as the leader of East Asia.

We hope that the general public will be as sincere to those who have done this honor as they would be to a soldier, and that they will cooperate in the completion of their duties without fear of regret.

Source: http://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1942-05-23

Reddit Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/korea/comments/sbhogc/thousands_of_young_korean_men_were_recruited/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

(Transcription)

京城日報　1942年5月23日

大東亜戦に直接協力
米英人俘虜の監視に半島青年数千名採用
皇国民の誇り、愈よ高し

政府はさきに半島同胞に対し徴兵制を施行し、昭和十九年度からこれを徴集し得る如く決定、半島統治上画期的な栄誉を付与したが、今回更に多数の有為なる半島青年を軍属として現地に派遣し、大東亜戦争における皇軍の赫々たる戦果により各地に収容中の米英人俘虜の監視に当らせると同時に傲慢不遜なる彼等に日本国民の優秀性を認識せしめる大いなる使命を負荷することに決定。二十二日総督府情報課から次の如く発表された。

情報課発表

今般陸軍の要求に基づき大東亜戦争に於ける赫々たる戦果に依り各地に収容中の米英人俘虜の監視に従事せしむるため、半島に於ける有為なる青年数千人を軍属として採用せらるることとなった。裏には国民徴用令の発動に依り多数の青年が徴用せられて喫緊な政府の事業に従事し、今回又斯かる名誉ある職務を負荷さるるに至ったことは独り半島に於ける青年の光栄であるばかりでなく、斯くの如き光栄ある責務を担うに足る皇国臣民としての資質が其の有るがままに認めらるるに至った結果として朝鮮の大なる栄誉である。

採用せられた者の任務は単に米英人俘虜を監視するのみでなく、傲慢不遜の彼等に真に日本国民の優秀性を認識せしめて衷心より日本帝国に対する尊敬の念を抱かしむるよう指導するに在るのであって、其の使命は重く斯かる重要な任務に半島に於ける青年が選ばれて従事することは、其の責務弥々重大であると共に朝鮮に徴兵制度を施行する方針の決定せられた今日、其の意義極めて深きものがある。

応募者に対して黄海、江原以南の各道庁及び関係府郡庁に於いて慎重選考し、採用せられた者に対しては軍に於いて約二ヶ月間訓練を施した上、主として現地（一部は鮮内）に赴任することになるのであるが、其の処遇についても軍に於いて充分なる注意を払い、種々優遇の途を講ぜられるのである。

採用せられた者はよく叙上の精神の存する所を肝に銘じ愈よ精神努力して真に皇国臣民たるの実を挙げ以て東亜の盟主たる我が帝国の威容を顕現する立派な働きをなしとげられたい。

なお一般国民は斯かる名誉を担った者に対し兵士に対すると同様な誠意を以て後願の憂なからしめ其の責務の完遂に協力せられんことを希望する次第である。

Part 2 - Thousands of young Korean men were recruited to guard Allied POWs, who were called "masses of materialism with little spiritual cultivation" and "mentally retarded people" whom the guards had to "splendidly guide and subdue"

 

Notes: Some 3000 young Korean men were recruited by Imperial Japan as civilians to work as civilians to guard Allied POWs in Southeast Asia. The prisoners were mostly forced to build airstrips and railways for the Imperial Japanese military. These included the 415-km Thai-Burma railway, which was made famous with the movie "The Bridges on the River Kwai". One of the more notable Korean guards working on the Thai-Burma railway was Lee Hak-rae, the last surviving Korean Class-B/Class-C war criminal from World War II who died in Japan last year in March 2021. 

One term that was hard to translate into English in this article was gunzoku (軍属), which I translated as "civilian members of the military", but this classification refers to the lowest ranking civilian employees in the service of the Imperial Japanese military. So, the status of the ethnic Korean prison guards was quite low in the Imperial Japanese military hierarchy. A lot of former prison guards argued this fact before the war crimes tribunals with varying degrees of success.

This Asia-Pacific Journal article is a good overview of Lee Hak-rae's story.

(Translation)

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) May 24, 1942

Recruitment of guards for American and British prisoners of war
Mentally guide and subdue
Expectations for the applicants' mental readiness

Comments by Mr. Kuramo, Chief of the Military Press Department

As announced on the 22nd, the government has decided to recruit several thousand capable young Korean men to serve in the military to monitor American and British prisoners of war being held in various places. Mr. Kuramo, Chief of the Korean Military Press Department, issued the following statement on the 23rd:

Content of the Statement by the Chief of the Military Press Department

The number of American, British and Dutch troops taken prisoner by the Imperial Military in the Greater East Asia War was enormous. In the middle of all this, the colonial military forces, made up of indigenous people who were oppressed by the Americans, British, and Dutch under absolute discrimination, were sent back to their hometowns with a pledge to cooperate with the Imperial Military and its Divine Soldiers of Peace, and contribute to the establishment of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. The remaining prisoners of war of the American, British and Dutch forces were placed in prisoner-of-war camps in various places, where they were forced to work under the warm supervision of the Imperial Military.

It has already been announced by the Governor's Office that young Korean men were recruited as civilian members of the military to assist the Imperial Military in the camps for American, British and Dutch prisoners of war.

In view of the seriousness of their duties, these men were to be recruited as civilian members of the military and given about two months of preparatory training, most of whom were to serve in the south. Despite defeat, the Americans, British, and Dutch were still the ones who had ruled the world as if it had belonged to them. We must thoroughly train our mental readiness to deal with them. Winning the battles at long last, we must not let deficiencies arise in our management after the battles.

Although they may seem to be materially superior in some respects, they are actually masses of materialism with little spiritual cultivation, and it is no surprise that they were defeated in this war. In order for us to build a new order, we must absolutely denounce their European-American ideas.

Therefore, we should have the aspiration to splendidly guide these mentally retarded people and subdue them. For this reason, when selecting the personnel to monitor them, the emphasis should be placed on whether or not they have been trained in this mental readiness to deal with them. Other conditions should also be taken into consideration when asking them to proceed with seriousness.

We would like to focus on young people who are between the ages of 20 and around 35, and who have graduated from elementary school (National School). This is because they have at least learned Japanese etiquette and can speak their language well, which is the first factor to avoid being insulted by the British and the Americans. They will be treated as civilian members of the military, and when they go abroad, they will be given departure allowances and all the other benefits that come with being civilian members of the military.

Starting salaries are generally uniform across the board, but they are raised successively according to one's ability. They can rest easy about food, clothing, and shelter for an expected period of two years. Of course, enough considerations will be made so that they will not have to worry about family members.

We hope that you will consider these conditions carefully and apply for these positions, especially if you are a young man who has applied to become a special volunteer soldier but was not accepted, or if you are a young man who is eager to study Europeans and Americans with hopes of making great strides in the future. Don't miss out on this excellent opportunity.

The Chronicles of the Way of Japanese Wives

This is an inspirational read that depicts the noble way in which Japanese wives have protected and nurtured their families while hiding in the shadows of their husbands and children.　The serialization of this story in the June issue of Women's Club magazine has already been well received.

(The large slogan running vertically on the bottom left corner:) 

The Unification of Japan and Korea starts with the Japanese Language!

Source: http://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1942-05-24

Reddit Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/korea/comments/sbhogc/thousands_of_young_korean_men_were_recruited/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

(Transcription)

京城日報　1942年5月24日

米英人俘虜監視要員採用について
精神的に指導圧伏
応募者の心構え期待

倉茂軍報道部長談

政府は各地に収容中の米英人俘虜監視のため、有為なる半島青年数千名を軍属として採用することに決定。その旨、二十二日本府より発表されたが、右につき倉茂朝鮮軍報道部長は二十三日左の如き談話を発表した。

軍報道部長談内容

大東亜戦争において皇軍に捕虜となった米英蘭軍の数は莫大なるのである。その中、原住民によって編成されて米英蘭人から絶対差別待遇の下に虐げられていた植民地軍は平和の神兵たる皇軍に協力し、かつ大東亜共栄圏の確立に寄与することを誓ってそれぞれ郷里に帰らしめられたのであるが、残っている多数の米英蘭軍の捕虜は特に各地の捕虜収容所に入れられて、皇軍の温かい監視の下にそれぞれ勤労等に従事せしめられているのである。

さてこの度これ等米英蘭人捕虜の収容所において現地の皇軍に手助けして貰うため、半島青年を軍属として募集せられることになったのは、既に総督府から発表せられた通りである。

これ等要員はその任務の重大なるに鑑み、軍属として採用しはじめ約二ヶ月の準備教育を施し、その大部は南方において勤務せしめられるのである。彼等は敗れたりとはいえ、今まで世界をわが物顔に振り舞って来た米英蘭人である。これ等に対する心構えは余程練り鍛えておかなくてはいけない。折角戦闘に勝ちながら戦後に経営に欠陥を生じてはならないのである。

彼等は物質的には一部優れているが如く見ゆる点あるも、物質主義の塊りであって、精神的陶冶が薄いため、この度の戦争に惨敗したのは固より当然のことである。我々としては新秩序建設上、彼等の欧米思想は絶対に排撃しなければならない。

従って我々は精神的におくれた国民として彼等を立派に指導し、圧伏せしめて行くの抱負を持つべきである。故に監視要員の人選に関しては、先ずこの心構えに鍛えられているかいないかという点に重きを置き、その他の条件を考え併せて厳重にやって貰うように要求している。

現在二十歳から概ね三十五歳までの齢であって、小学校（国民学校）を卒業した程度以上の青年を主としたいのである。これは少なくとも日本人としての儀礼を習い、言葉も能く通じ、米英人等の侮を受けぬ第一要素であるからである。採用者は軍属として待遇し、外地に行く際には出発手当を支給し、その他総て軍属としての恩典を完全に与えられるのである。

なお初任給は概ね一律同様であるが、その能力に応じて逐次昇給せしめられるのである。又衣食住の点は安心してよく、期間は二年と予想されている。また家の方のことは充分心配ないよう考慮されることは勿論である。

これらの条件をよく考えて振って応募されたく、特に折角特別志願兵を志望しながら採用されなかったものや将来の飛躍を期して欧米人を研究しようとの熱意を持つ青年は、この絶好の機会を逃さぬよう希望する次第である。

日本婦道記

夫の蔭、子の蔭にかくれて、日本の家を守り育てて来た尊い姿を描いた感激読み物、夫人倶楽部六月号から連載早くも評判。

内鮮一体先ず国語から！

In 1942 Busan, Korean pastors and foreign residents (Russian Tatar family, English woman, Chinese consul) praise Imperial Japan as British POWs captured in Malaysia start arriving in the city

 

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) September 24, 1942

People on the ground asked about the captured prisoners of war landing on the peninsula

By Oyama (Korean surname: 'In') and Suyama, correspondents at Busan

Prisoners of war are coming, prisoners of war are coming! Prisoners of war who were captured in Malaysia have come to Korea in big ships. The British soldiers were once seen together in the midst of war, but on the 24th, [redacted] prisoners of war are to land in Busan, vividly showing the war achievements of the Imperial Military. Hearing the announcement of the Korean army, the 24 million people on the peninsula were filled with gratitude and excitement that they had been born in the Imperial Kingdom on this day and at this time. We would like to ask each of the 280,000 residents of Busan Prefecture, who are now looking at the crumbling remains of the British Empire with their own eyes, striving to complete the Greater East Asia War and learn wisdom from the follies of others, to give thanks for the announcement made today.

"Don't be arrogant after victory"

Shin'ichi Yamashita, Prefectural Governor of Busan

We have to win the war. The British prisoners of war who were defeated in the war also took up their swords for the sake of their country, but in the end they spared their own lives and exposed their own shame. The final decision and attitude of a person, not just a warrior, is important. I felt deeply that the saying in Hagakure's Analects, "A warrior must find it in himself to die," was true in all cases. It is only natural that they should be punished for their selfishness and injustice in East Asia before the war. No matter what kind of nation you are, you should never get carried away. Winning and not being arrogant about it is the essence of the Japanese spirit. Japan, as a victorious nation, must not make the same mistake that Britain, the home country of these prisoners of war, made. Photo: Yamashita, Prefectural Governor of Busan

The Joy of Living in Japan

A pro-Japanese White Russian family

By correspondent Takahashi

Mr. Baigudin Gusman (45), who has lived in Japan for 21 years and now runs a clothing business in Okura-machi 3-chome, Busan, has a very pro-Japanese family. He is a Turkish Tatar with the same red blood of the Orient running through his veins as ours. Mr. Gusman praised the greatness of Japan as follows.

"I think it is a natural judgment of God that the U.S. and Britain, which did not realize Japan's fundamental strength and underestimated its economic power, were defeated without a moment's hesitation and came ashore as pitiful prisoners of war. We are observing the one month Muslim fast since the eleventh day of this month in order to express our gratitude for the happiness of living peacefully and without inconvenience as residents under the grateful patronage of Japan. During this period, we will pray to God for the completion of the Greater East Asia War. On the day the fast ends, we will donate the living expenses we have saved during this period to the National Defense Fund and offer a small token of our gratitude". Photo: Mr. Gusman and his family

Mr. Bunkichi Sakata, a member of the Gyeongnam Provincial Council

The destruction of the Anglo-Saxon race is a self-inflicted wound. In contrast to their misjudgment of Japan's capabilities before the war, our country is well aware of the other side and is steadily making giant strides in building a new world order. We the gun-toting people must strengthen our determination to work together and be ready for tomorrow.

Comments by Reverend Minister Elder Yang 

"In all my dealings with the British and the Americans over the past few decades, they have never expressed their own faults or regretted them. I think it is because of their greed and contempt for East Asians. That is why they pretend to be sheep on the surface, but when you look deeper, you see that they are always two sides of the same coin. Although they are people who believe in Jehovah God, they have been using the natural resources and man-made treasures given to them by God for the purpose of exploiting East Asia, hiding behind the name of religion. In the Bible, it is said that 'God opposes the proud'. The fact that they were defeated by the righteous advance of the Imperial Army and are now prisoners of war who have arrived in Korea, I believe that God has taken away their blessings".

Heaven's Punishment

Comments by Elder Seo

"It is a great joy to be able to use the British and American prisoners of war from the Greater East Asia War for the construction of East Asia in Korea. Of course, they should be defeated if they extend the evil hand of aggression in the name of religion. That is the punishment that Heaven has sent down. I can remember when I was in church and they were preaching the way of God with their mouths, but their attitude was always one of contempt. I have no doubt that we, the people of East Asia, should strive for the construction of Greater East Asia with a Japanized Christianity". (Photo: Elder Seo)

Now I know the sins of my ancestral country

Englishwoman Maria's Story of Repentance

By correspondents Suyama and Aoki

Maria Yarmouth Debritt (21), also known as Keiko Suzuki, whose parents are both British, has been living in Japan for over 20 years and is now making her own living running a coffee shop in Busan, in order to live strongly in accordance with her strange fate. When it was announced that the prisoners of war would arrive in Korea on the 24th, she told her defeated ancestral country about her joy of living in Japan.

"I was born in Kobe and grew up in Japan, and I imagined my ancestral country as though it was an illusion to me. But now, with this reality in front of my own eyes, I know East Asia more clearly, and I have come to know Japan as a country with a strong sense of justice. The sins of my ancestral country over the past several hundred years have been thrown off the face of the earth, along with their mask hiding their aggression in East Asia. I am determined to live my whole life in Japan, offering my gratitude for this great unfolding history, in which a brighter world will be built together with Japan". (Photo: Keiko speaking)

Very moved to contribute to this country

Consul Zhou of the Republic of China

"By welcoming the British prisoners of war, we can clearly understand how bravely our friends of the Japanese military fought for the construction of Greater East Asia. Witnessing the capture of the British prisoners of war has become a splendid teaching tool for those who have little awareness of war, teaching them that 'the war is something that should be won'. All the peoples of East Asia must cooperate with each other as much as the heroes on the front lines, and push forward to complete the objectives of the war with all the strength of our alliance. I am pleased to have the honor of expressing my feelings today in the same spirit as the Japanese people, who are my friends". (Photo: Mr. Zhou Jiren)

Industrialization of Logistics in the South Pacific

The peninsula is the best place

Remarks by Mr. Hoshihiyoshi Konishi on his visit to Seoul

Naval Captain Hoshihiyoshi Konishi (51), a former researcher at the Planning Institute and managing director of the South Pacific Economic Research Institute, a foundation famous for its research on the South Pacific, came to Seoul on the 21st as a member of the Colonial Management Committee.

He visited Governor Koiso, and held various discussions on the issue of corporatization of South Pacific resources on the peninsula. On the 23rd, he visited his nephew Ukita at his lodgings in 46 Kitayonekura-cho, and we asked him about his visit to Korea. (Photo: Mr. Konishi speaking)

"I have a deep connection with Korea. Around the time of the Sino-Japanese War in 1894, my father came to Korea to advocate for the spread of the Imperial Way, and his relatives have lived here since then. That's why this place is very nostalgic for me. I had visited here when I was in the naval academy and last June, but this time I wanted to do a field survey on the economic partnership between the peninsula and the South Pacific.

First of all, I think that the goods that Korea needs from the South Pacific are wood, rubber and iron. In particular, Korea has made great progress in the rubber industry, which is ideal. We should bring both wood and iron and industrialize them on a large scale. Also, I think it is urgent to send more and more settlers from Korea to the South Pacific, especially to Mindanao and New Guinea".

Reporting about the situation on the ground

Association President Hada

To the Imperial Cooperation Conference

How is the total power movement in Japan proper becoming more active? How should the general movement in Korea make great strides in the future? With such aspirations for the management of the Association in mind, Lieutenant General Hada left Seoul at 14:40 on the 23rd on the Akatsuki train accompanied by Mr. Akita, Chief of the General Affairs Division, to attend the Central Cooperation Conference of the Imperial Rule Assistance Association and the Third Liaison Conference for the Imperial Supporters' Movement for Japan and the Colonies to be held in Tokyo from the 26th to the 29th as a representative of Korea. Before his departure, the President said that he would bring back many gifts and that he had the following aspirations for his trip.

"The Central Cooperation Conference, which includes the principals of national schools and even the principals of girls' schools, is truly a general meeting of the people. For this reason, Japan proper is a step ahead of Korea in terms of the total power movement reporting the situation on the ground to the higher-ups, and there is much to be heard.

Fortunately, I will be there as a representative of Korea, but I would like to listen to this conference from a Korea-centered standpoint, asking myself 'How should I apply this?' I am sure I will bring back many gifts. Representatives from Taiwan, the South Seas, Sakhalin Island, Kwantung Leased Territory, and other areas will gather at the liaison conference on October 1, and three representatives from Korea are scheduled to attend. The liaison conference has not yet reached the point where the various regions can come up with a comprehensive agenda and make it a movement at once".

The president is scheduled to return to his post on October 5.

All the above photos have been censored and the articles have been approved by the Korean Army.

Source: https://archive.org/details/kjnp-1942-09-24

Reddit Link: In 1942 Busan, Korean pastors and foreign residents (Russian Tatar family, English woman, Chinese consul) praise Imperial Japan as British POWs captured in Malaysia start arriving in the city : korea (reddit.com)

(Transcription)

京城日報　昭和十七年九月二十四日

俘虜、半島に上陸を現地に聴く

【釜山にて大山（寅）須山両特派員発】

俘虜が来る、俘虜が来る、マレーの俘虜が大きな船で朝鮮にきた。一度は戦火の中に相見えた英兵ではあったが、皇軍の生々しい戦果を物語る俘虜〇〇〇〇が二十四日釜山に上陸するのだ。朝鮮軍の発表をきき、半島二千四百万は此の日此の時こそ皇国に生を享けた感謝と感激の深念にひたるのであった。崩潰してゆく大英帝国の敗残の姿を今此の眼で眺め、前車の覆えるをよき戒とし、大東亜戦完遂に邁進せんとする釜山府民二十八万の各層に今日発表せられた感謝を訊く。

”勝って驕るナ”

釜山府尹　山下真一

戦争には勝たねばならぬ。敗戦英国の俘虜も一応は祖国のために剣を執ったのであるが、最後の場合に身命を惜しんで生き恥を曝してしまった。武人に限らず人は最後の決心と態度が大切である。葉隠論語の”武士は死ぬこととみつけたり”ということは、いずれの場合においても真実であることをしみじみ感じた。戦前東亜をわがもの顔で歩き、不義非道を働いた彼等であると思うと当然な酬いを受けたとも思われる。如何なる国民と雖も決して思い上がってはいけない。勝って驕らざるは日本精神の真髄である。戦勝国日本はこれ等の俘虜の母国である英国のとったような轍を踏んではならないと深く府民と共に感ずる次第である。【写真＝山下釜山府尹】

日本に住む喜び

グ親日白系露人談

【高橋特派員発】

日本在住二十一年いまは釜山府大倉町三丁目で洋服商を営むバイグージン・グスマン氏（四五）は大の親日家庭だ。その血管には我等と同じ東洋の赤い血が脈々と流れるトルコタタールだ。そのグスマン氏は日本の偉大さを次の如く讃えるのであった。

日本の底力を悟らず経済力を軽視した米英が呆気なく敗退して哀れな俘虜の姿で上陸して来ることは当然な神のお裁きだと思います。私達在住者が不自由なく日本の有難い御庇護で安穏に生活し得る幸福を感謝するため、去る十一日から一か月間、モハメット教の断食を続けていますが、この期間中私達は大東亜戦争完遂を神に祈願し断食の終った日には、この間に節約し得た生活経費を国防献金して感謝の微衷を捧げたいと話し合っています。【写真＝グスマン氏一家】

慶南道会議員　坂田文吉氏談

アングロサクソン民族の滅亡は自業自得といわねばならない。彼等が戦前日本の実力を見ることを誤ったのに反し、わが日本がよく対局に刮眼し着々建設の巨歩を進めていることは世界新秩序既に成るの感が深いのである。われわれ銃後国民は一致協力不退転の決意をいよいよ強固にし、明日への備えを固めなければならない。

長老　粱聖奉氏談

過去数十年間に亘って英米人と交って来たが、彼等は自己の過失を絶対に表明せず、それを悔いようとせぬ。それは東洋人に対する侮蔑と貪欲からだと思う。それだけに表面羊の如く装うが、一歩踏み込んでみると何時も表裏不同である。彼等はエホバの神を信ずる国民であるに拘わらず、神より与えられた天然資源並びに人為的財宝をもって東洋搾取のために侵略政策を宗教の美名に隠れて敢行して来たのである。聖書に「高慢なる者は退けよ」といわれた。皇軍の正義進撃に連敗し、今や俘虜の身となって来鮮したことは、神が彼等から祝福を取り上げたものと思う。

天の刑罰
徐長老の談

大東亜戦争の戦果たる英米人の俘虜を朝鮮で東亜建設に使役することは何より嬉しいことです。宗教の名の下に侵略の魔の手を伸ばす彼等は当然敗れるべきだ。それは天が下した刑罰です。今に思い当るが、教会で口に神の道を説きながら、その態度たるや何時も侮蔑そのものであった。我等東洋人は日本化されたキリスト教によって大東亜建設に邁進すべきだと信じて疑いません。【写真＝徐長老】

今ぞ知る祖国の罪

英人マリヤさんの悔悟談

【須山、青木両特派員】

父母を英国人にもつマリヤ・ヤルモデブリートこお鈴木圭子さん（二一）は奇しき運命に強く生きるべく在日二十年の生活を経て、今は釜山府内の某喫茶店に自活の途を辿っている。二十四日朝鮮に俘虜来るとの発表の報に彼女は日本に生きる喜びを敗戦祖国に告げるのであった。

神戸で生れ日本で育った私には祖国の姿が一つの幻想でもあったのですが、今この現実の眼の前にして私ははっきりと東亜を知り、正義に強い日本を知り得ました。祖国がなした過去数百年来の罪は東亜侵略の仮面と共に地球の外になげ出され、明るい世界が日本と共に建設されてゆくこの大歴史に感謝を捧げ、一生を日本に生きる決心です。【写真＝語る圭子さん】

親邦へ献ぐ感激

周中華民国領事談

英兵俘虜を迎えて友邦日本軍が大東亜建設のため如何に勇敢に戦い抜いたかがはっきり理解されます。この俘虜を目撃して戦争に対する認識の乏しい人々に「戦争は勝つべきものだ」ということを教える立派な教材にもなり、全東亜民族が前線勇士に劣らぬ協力の下に盟邦の総力を挙げて戦争目的完遂に邁進せぬばなりません。自分は中旦如親邦日本国民と同じ心持で今日の感激を表明し得る光栄を喜ぶものであります。【写真＝周済人氏】

南方物資の工業化

半島こそ最適地

小西干比吉氏来城の弁

前企画院調査官で南洋通りとして著名な財団法人、南洋経済研究所、常務理事、海軍大佐小西干比吉（五一）は今回拓務省委員として二十一日来城。

小磯総督を訪れ、南方資源の半島での企業化問題について種々懇談を遂げたが、二十三日宿舎北米倉町四六の令甥右喜太氏方に訪れ来鮮の弁を訊いてみた。【写真＝語る小西氏】

私は朝鮮とは深い因縁がある。明治二十七年ごろ日清戦争当時、父は皇道普及を提唱して来鮮したことがあり、その後身内もこちらに在住している。そんなわけで非常に懐かしい土地だ。それに海軍兵学校時代と去年六月に訪れたわけだが、今回は半島と南方の経済的提携に就いて現地調査をしたいと思い来たわけだ。

まず朝鮮へ南方から求める物資は木材とゴム、鉄等であると思う。殊に朝鮮はゴム工業では長足の進歩をしていることはうってつけだ。木材も鉄も持って来て大規模な工業化することにならう。それから朝鮮から今後どしどし南方、特にミンダナオ島やニューギニヤ地方に開拓民を送ることが急務だと思う。

下情上通を聞きに

波田聯盟総長

翼賛協力会議へ

内地の総力運動はどのように挺身しつつあるか。朝鮮の総力運動は今後どのように躍進するべきか、と聯盟運営の新抱負を胸に秘めて総長波田中将は来る二十六日から二十九日まで東京に開かれる大政翼賛会中央協力会議及び第三回内外地翼賛運動連絡会議に朝鮮代表として出席するため、飽田庶務課長を帯同二十三日十四時四十分京城発”あかつき”で東上することとなった。出発前に総長は沢山土産を持って帰るぞと東上の抱負を次のごとく語った。

”中央協力会議は国民学校の校長や女学校の校長までを網羅して真に国民総常会の観がある。それだけに総力運動としての下情上通には朝鮮よりも一歩前進したものがあり、聴くべきものも多いだろう。

幸いに私は朝鮮代表として臨席するが””如何に参考すべきか”という朝鮮の主体的地位からこれを聴きたいと思っている。きっと沢山な土産が持って帰れるだろう。十月一日に開かれる内外地連絡会議には台湾、南洋、樺太、関東州、その他の代表が集るが、朝鮮からは三名出席の予定だ。連絡会議はまだ各地が綜合的議題を出して一斉にこれを運動化するというころまでは行っていない。

なお総長は十月五日帰任の予定。

【以上何れも写真は釜要検閲済、記事ー朝鮮軍許可済】