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The Daily Alaska Empire
Juneau, Juneau County, Alaska
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Analysis of Japanese military occupation of French Indo-China, highlighting troops' vulnerabilities to potential Pacific war entrapment, strict discipline, and officers' comforts amid hostile surroundings.
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AP FEATURE SERVICE
SAIGON, French Indo-China.-
Among those who view Japan's occupation of French Indo-China with deep misgivings are many of the occupying forces.
Particularly, the Japanese buck-private.
There are about 40,000 Japanese troops in Indo-China now, ostensibly to "protect" the big French colony. From what? Some weeks ago, unspecified Japanese quarters reported "evidences" that the British, in nearby Malaya, were preparing to attack Indo-China. The Japanese came, officially, as guardians.
The common soldier will tell you, privately, that the occupying troops may become "rats in a bag" if war breaks in the Pacific.
This is a favorite Japanese military expression to describe a trap.
Indo-China is a long way from the nearest Japanese base. Communications inside the sprawling country are poor.
Out on a Limb
The native population, while unarmed and quiescent today, is basically hostile and potentially dangerous. On one border are the Chinese; on the other, the British.
And should the United States fleet enter the picture, the combination could be a very unpleasant bag, indeed, for an unwary rat.
The Japanese soldiers know this. They know they can be cut off.
The only avenue of supply and of retreat is the ocean-if they could reach coastal ports, find transports waiting there, and their own fleet commanding the sea-lanes.
It's a long and creaky limb to be out on.
Little Recreation
The soldiers are largely confined to barracks. When they go sight-seeing, it is usually in groups, with an officer commanding. They are under very strict discipline, respecting civilians, whether French, Chinese or Annamite.
It is quite a different life from the one they knew in China.
There are no dance halls in Indo-China, few cheap bars.
Life is not so bad for the officers.
The top-rankers have moved into good hotels or big French homes, where they have far more comfort and better food than they knew in Japan.
(Tomorrow: Thailand's in the middle, but ready to fight.)
ARMY OFFICERS of Japan live well
BUT PRIVATES live by discipline alone.
SAIGON HARBOR: Main emergency exit if trouble starts
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Foreign News Details
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French Indo China
Event Details
Japan has occupied French Indo-China with about 40,000 troops ostensibly to protect it from British attack in Malaya, reported some weeks ago. Japanese soldiers fear becoming trapped if war breaks in the Pacific, as Indo-China is far from bases, has poor communications, hostile natives, and borders China and British areas. Supply and retreat depend on ocean routes controlled by their fleet. Soldiers are confined, under strict discipline, with little recreation, unlike in China. Officers live comfortably in hotels or French homes.