sentences from the book expressing the appreciation of the internees [reading from the book]: While men and women of the camp were working 2 or 3 hours a day on community work for the camp, the doctors were toiling away 8, 10, and even 12 hours a day, answering sick calls at all hours in the midst of total blackout conditions. Feeling their way through stygian darkness in the crowded rooms, creeping along dark halls to find stairways and doors, trudging along unfamiliar paths through "darkness which may be felt" to find some sick one in the shanty area; and worse yet, taking a chance that a Japanese guard might shoot before he hailed, remember how doctors and nurses waded through the water up to their waists during that typhoon and flood of November 14 and 16, 1943; remember how the water came in on the ground floor of the hospital and the staff worked day and night to protect their meager supplies and to see that the patients were fed. What a splendid sense of loyalty did these doctors inject into those volunteer helpers in the hospital so that all of them acquitted themselves of their duties well and kept faith with the spirit of helpfulness! Doing their job with a smile. All honor to them-men, worthy disciples of Aesculapius, a credit to the oath of Hippocrates. Americans of whom we can be justly proud. Are there any further questions, gentlemen? Mr. HINSHAW. Yes, Mr. Chairman. The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Hinshaw. Mr. HINSHAW. Mr. Chairman, I think it would be important to the committee, in connection with the record being made here, if a proper roster of those who were interned or who were living in the Philippines at the time could be prepared for use in conjunction with this hearing, whether or not it is included in our record. Mr. MCGOWAN. May I say that the Department of State and the War Department has a complete list of all of those people you are mentioning. The CHAIRMAN. I think it would be appropriate at this time to make a part of the record the letter which I have received from Gen. Omar N. Bradley, the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs, under date of March 20, 1947, in reply to my communication to him in which he goes into many phases of the question of disability allowances, and so forth, based upon the Veterans' Administration set-up. It may be helpful in giving information to that member of the committee-I forget just how it was now-who made some inquiry that he listed the reply from the doctor that he was not in a position to personally express what should be the amount of compensation. I think maybe it was your question, Mr. Lea. Mr. LEA. I think it was Mr. O'Hara's question. The CHAIRMAN. I will insert this as a part of the record at this point. Hon. CHARLES A. WOLVERTON, VETERANS ADMINISTRATION, Washington 25, D. C., March 20, 1947. Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives, Washington 25, D. C. DEAR MR. WOLVERTON: This is in reply to the invitation of your committee dated March 12, 1947, to testify at public hearings on H. R. 873 and H. R. 1823, bills to create an Enemy Property Commission, to be held on Thursday and Friday, March 20 and 21, 1947, at 10 a. m. Inasumch as the Veterans' Administration would have no responsibility in administering the proposed legislation, it would not seem necessary that a representative of that Administration appear before the committee. However, inasmuch as claimants under the bills would also be eligible for benefits administered by the Veterans' Administration, based on the same cause of action, it is believed that the committee may be interested in the following comments. The purpose of both bills is the same, viz, "to create an Enemy Property Commission, to provide for the disposal of certain enemy property, and for other purposes." A principal difference is that H. R. 873 affects property of German, Japanese, and Italian Governments and nationals, whereas H. R. 1823 is limited to that of the Japanese Government and nationals. Such property is to be retained by the United States for the satisfaction of private claims for loss, damage or injury to persons and personal property which occurred since December 7, 1941, as a consequence of war. Another difference is that claimants under H. R. 873 may be military as well as civilian citizens of the United States whereas H. R. 1823 applies only to civilian citizens. The Philippine Rehabilitation Act of 1946 (Public 370, 79th Cong., April 30, 1946), which provides in title I compensation for war damage, prohibits payment thereunder to compensate for any loss or damage. * "(2) for which compensation or indemnity is otherwise payable, or has been paid, or is authorized to be paid, by the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines (Republic of the Philippines), or by the United States Government or by their respective departments, establishments, or agencies” (sec. 103, Philippine Rehabilitation Act), If H. R. 873 were enacted into law in its present form, those claimants who were members of the armed forces at the time they suffered personal injury, and the survivors of those who died, would be eligible for benefits administered by the Veterans' Administration, in addition to those of the bill. Some of these veterans' benefits are as follows: Compensation is awarded for disability resulting from injury or disease incurred in or aggravated in line of duty and not the result of misconduct during World War II, the rates ranging from $13.80 to $138 per month, depending on the degree of disability, with special rates or allowances for specific disabilities ranging as high as $360 per month. National service life insurance was made available by the Act of October 8, 1940 (Public Law 801, 76th Cong.) for persons in active service in the land or naval forces, and persons entering such service after that date, for not more than $10,000 or less than $1,000, upon payment of prescribed premiums. Any person in active service who on or after December 7, 1941, and prior to April 20, 1942, was captured, besieged, or otherwise isolated by the forces of an enemy of the United States for a period of at least 30 days beyond April 19, 1942, and at the time of such capture, siege, or isolation did not have in force insurance in the aggregate amount of at least $5,000 under the War Risk Insurance Act, as amended, the World War Veterans Act, as amended, or the National Service Life Insurance Act of 1940, is deemed to have applied for and to have been granted National Service Life Insurance in an amount which, together with any insurance then in force shall aggregate $5,000 of such insurance. This insurance remains in force, premiums being waived, during the period such person remains so captured, besieged or isolated and for 6 months thereafter. Such person may apply for continuation of insurance beyond that date under premium-paying conditions. Gratuitous insurance was also made available to service persons who, between October 8, 1940 and April 20, 1942, became totally disabled or died as a result of injury or disease incurred in line of duty. The surviving widow, child or children, and dependent parents of deceased veterans whose death resulted from disease or injury not the result of misconduct, incurred in or aggravated in line of duty during World War II are entitled to death compensation at the following monthly rates: Widow, with no child_. Widow, with 1 child (with $15.60 for each additional child). No widow, 1 child-- $60.00 78.00 30.00 No widow, 2 children (with $12 for each additional child, equally divided) 45.60 54.00 30.00 Vocational rehabilitation is provided for disabled veterans of World War II who are suffering from service-connected disabilities for which compensation is payable under laws administered by the Veterans' Administration. The purpose of vocational rehabilitation is to restore employability lost by virtue of a handicap due to disability incurred in or aggravated by World War II service. Such training is given for as long as may be necessary, but not to exceed four calendar years, except with the approval of the Administrator to restore employability, regardless of the length of the veteran's military service. While undergoing training the disabled veteran is paid (in addition to disability compensation) subsistence allowance of not less than $65 per month, if without a dependent, or $90 per month, if he has a dependent or dependents. Subsistence allowance is payable in increased amounts where necessary to provide in combination with basic compensation retirement pay or other benefit, a minimum of $105 or $115 per month, depending on whether there is a dependent. Additional amounts are payable for dependents, as follows: $10 a month for one child, $7 for each additional child and $15 for each dependent parent. When a veteran of any war, discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, dies provision is made by the Veterans' Administration for payment of burial and funeral expenses and transportation of the body to the place of burial, in a sum not exceeding $150. Under H. R. 1823 which is limited to civilian citizens, certain veterans' benefits might be awarded. For example, a veteran of the World War First who suffered personal injury under the terms of the bill might qualify for a nonservice-connected pension from the Veterans' Administration. Such pension is payable to any World War I veteran who served 90 days or more and who is suffering from permanent total disability not connected with military service and not due to the person's own willful misconduct or vicious habits. The rate of pension is $60 monthly, increased to $72 monthly if he has been in receipt of the pension continuously for a period of 10 years or reaches the age of 65 and is permanently and totally disabled. The surviving widow, child, or children of any deceased World War I veteran who served at least 90 days and was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, or was discharged for disability incurred in service in line of duty, or who, at time of death was receiving or entitled to receive compensation, pension, or retirement pay for service connected with disability, are entitled to pension at the following monthly rates: Widow with no children.. Widow and 1 child (with $6 for each additional child). No widow but 1 child No widow but 2 children (equally divided). No widow but 3 children (equally divided) (with $4.80 for each additional child, total amount to be equally divided). $42.00 54.00 21.60 32.40 43. 20 Burial benefits would be payable for World War I veterans who may have died under circumstances described in H. R. 1823 in the manner heretofore indicated. The examples heretofore cited with reference to double benefits which would be payable to World War I veterans and their survivors under H. R. 1823 are illustrative of the effects of the bill. Similar benefits would be available for Spanish-American War veterans and their survivors and to veterans of peacetime service for aggravation of a service-connected disability which existed prior to December 7, 1941. In addition to the benefits theretofore enumerated, certain benefits are administered by the War and Navy Departments in the event disability or death occurs while a person is on active military or naval duty, such as retirement, the so-called 6-month death gratuity and burial services. As to those claimants under H R. 1823 who were civilian employees of the Government at the time of personal injury or death, the Bureau of Employees Compensation, Federal Security Agency, would administer disability compensation and death benefits. Accordingly, it is believed the committee will wish to secure the comments of these agencies if it has not already done so. There has been insufficient time to clear this report with the Bureau of the Budget. When advice is received from that Bureau as to the relationship of these bills to the program of the President, the committee will be advised. Sincerely yours, OMAR N. BRADLEY, General, United States Army, Administrator. Doctor, we want to express appreciation to you for your breaking into your busy life in the city of Philadelphia and coming here today, out of the spirit of loyalty to those to whom you have already rendered such a valuable service. The committee appreciates it and will benefit greatly in its consideration, by the statement that you have made here today. Dr. STEVENSON. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. STATEMENT OF ALBERT EDWARD HOLLAND, ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT OF TRINITY COLLEGE, HARTFORD, CONN. The CHAIRMAN. We will hear Mr. Albert Edward Holland. Will you give your full name and address to the reporter. Mr. HOLLAND. My name is Albert Edward Holland. At present I am assistant to the president of Trinity College, Hartford, Conn. During my 37 months imprisonment in Santo Tomas Camp in Manila, I held the following offices: member of the first executive committee, chairman of all work connected with the release of the sick, chairman of all work connected with the care of the aged and children, chairman of the special activities department which had charge of arranging programs for the internees, chairman of the parents' committee which was formed to secure better treatment for the children in the camp, and, after we were liberated, I was placed in charge of repatriating internees under the United States Army Service of Supplies. I have taken the liberty of listing those offices so that you will feel that I actually had knowledge of the general situation in the camp. The CHAIRMAN. May I inquire what was the occasion of your presence in Manila at that time? Mr. HOLLAND. Yes, sir. I was working for an American company out there. I arrived in Manila in April 1941, and when the war started I was caught in Manila and was interned on January 5, 1942. The CHAIRMAN. You may proceed. Mr. HOLLAND. Other witnesses will give you details on the health of the camp as they saw it from their positions as chairman of the medical committee, as Dr. Stevenson has done. Still others will relate to you what happened to them personally; I wish to attempt to recreate for you the atmosphere of those last terrible 6 months when a group of 3,800 American citizens, already starving, were subjected to an even more intensified program of deliberate starvation. The following are excerpts from a secret diary I kept in the camp. I should like to mention here that excerpts from this diary were used in the War Trials in Manila. November 1, 1944: For the last 2 months we have been practically starving; the ration allowed us by the Japanese has a calory value of 1,100 per day. This is far below the minimum required to sustain life. And we can already see the results: the old men are dying off one or two per day, and many are becoming weaker and weaker. November 9: Many internees, especially the older people, have markedly swollen legs. This is due in part to beriberi, but is primariy the result of protein deficiency. There are some pitiful cases, completely helpless. We have no meat or fats to give them, so we are forced to use large quantities of the blood plasma we received from home last December. That is one Red Cross shipment we received. But the supply of plasma is limited, and some must be saved for surgical cases. Sooner or later these people will die. And the Japanese will not help. Their doctor was in the other day and said, "You will have more cases like that." November 18: Today we had a frank statement of Japanese policy. When Grinnell and Carroll protested-Grinnell was the chairman of the executive committee and Earl Carroll was one of the members of the executive committee at that timeabout the scant rations, Lieutenant Shiraji said: "You do not seem to realize that Japan is fighting a total war. Every man, woman and child is fighting for the very existence of the Empire. We do not care, therefore, whether you live or die." November 21: rking in the Old Men's Hospital is a saddening experience. Lost of these men, by the way, were Spanish-American War veterans: They are almost helpless, some of them paralyzed, some of them blind, all of them starving. We cannot help them, except to make their beds, bathe them, and try to cheer them up. They all desire but one thing: to live until they are liberated. And by the time we were liberated almost 150 of these old men died. November 22: Lieutenant Shiraji has suggested that all dogs in camp be killed and eaten. Children to be given the choice cuts; the liver to go to the anemic patients in the hospital. It is interesting to note that as he was giving this advice, six cows and two calves were brought in for the use of the commandant's office. November 25: His Hunger dreams are increasing and the dreamer is always frustrated. meal is just about to be served, and he wakes up. Or he complains about the food, it is taken away to be recooked and is never brought back. Or he arrives at a famous restaurant only to find it closed for the day. Or the tempting food is securely protected by unbreakable glass. Another manifestation of hunger is the otherwise inexplicable copying of recipes from standard cookbooks. I know that the women here as witnesses will remember that they used to sit-I am not talking from the diary now-they used to take a standard cookbook, like Fannie Farmer's, or some other standard cookbook, and they would sit down and they would copy recipes for lobster newburg and steak with mushrooms, and then they would get together in a corner and exchange recipes. November 30: We young men have no kick coming. If we weren't here, we would be fighting somewhere in the world. But it is distressing to see the aged die off like flies, to see the sick fade beyond all hope of recovery, and to watch the children grow pale and wan. There is only one thing that keeps up our morale: hope of early release. And, of course, pride and a desire not to give way under Japanese pressure. The Japanese are deliberately starving us, turning away food sent to us by neutrals. That afternoon the Swedes outside Manila had sent a whole truck load full of eggs and milk, and bags of beans to the camp, and it was turned away by the Japanese who said we had enough to eat in the camp. December 7: Literally, hundreds are so weak that they cannot help themselves and need special care. Santa Catalina's ward for men is a room for the dying. I go up to visit friends, and the nurses and doctors point out man after man who "won't live more than a few weeks." |