BUSHIDO

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 39, 15 January 1946, Page 6

BUSHIDO

JAPANESE “CHIVALRY”

P.O.W.’S EXPERIENCES

Rolian D. Rivett a member of the '9 literary stall of the Melbourne Argus, who was in Japanese bands, for 3% years, 'knows all about that Japanese code of chivalry—Bushido.

It is consistent with Bushido to laugh at a sick man Avrithing in agony from repeated kicks in the stomach while he lies on the ground in front of a guard. It is Bushido for a Japanese of- 1 licer to seize \ital suppliers of iodoform sent by the. American Red Cross for prisoners, and to refuse to part with it when hundreds of men under Iris command are facing amputations and death fi’om tropical ulcers >'or lack of it. It is Bushido to trade this iodoform a teaspoonful at a time for the last pitiful t:ensure of P.O.W.’s ready to part with these dearest possessions in the hope of saving the lives of sick comrades.

Jl't is Bushido to mock and gibe at officer prisoners of greatly superior rank and to force them to perform menial and degrading offices on pain of brutal physical chastisement.

It is Bushido to take the already reduced rations of prisoners and to resell them at enormous profits to the local natiA'e population.

It is Bushido to clothe, medically supply, and feed Japanese troops and P.O.W. guards with Red Cross goods that you have promised to deliver to your prisoners, AA'hile the prisoners die '.n hundreds for lack of Giesc things. It is a great thing this Bushido of the ancient Samurai tradition. This, glorious cbivalric code of the past so beloved by romantic Avomen ncAelists avlio haA r e neA r cr seen a Japanese Avithout his frock coat. It a great thing, especially for the Japanese Avhen he’s on top.