 words at war out in the South Pacific Ocean there was great faith and a lot to be learned in the last two months of 1941 and in the first four months of 1942 there was great faith the United States will never let the Philippines go we'll show those Japs what it means to play in the big league we'll have reinforcements any day no Lexington is off the coast we're getting planes tomorrow planes it must be ours and a lot to be learned disperse your battleships never anchor in a straight line pretty straight lines excellent targets disperse your airplanes to a number of small scattered landing fields no line formations when on the ground straight lines like the clay pipes in a shooting gallery one two three four five clay pipes in a shooting gallery with a Japanese eye behind the gun four six eight ten planes in a straight line down there and a Japanese eye behind the gun above them the Japs can't fight why they can't even shoot oh they can't even shoot they call it Pacific words at war the national broadcasting company in cooperation with the council on books in wartime brings you another in its series of radio adaptations of great books of this war each week at this time we bring you selected dramatic episodes from some of the most stirring of our war inspired literature tonight story they call it Pacific by Clark Lee distinguished foreign correspondent they call it Pacific Japanese occupied Shanghai China late in November of 1941 I was sitting at a table in a nearly deserted tea room opposite me was American born Sergeant Jimmy Matsui of the Imperial Japanese Army Jimmy we call him and now Jimmy is glancing cautiously around the room he leans closer to me across the table I have a message for you from the Colonel Mr. Lee what is it Jimmy it was at the Colonel's suggestion that I asked you to meet me here the Colonel says he believes that you appreciate Japan's national problems he has grown to like you personally even though your newspaper stories have been highly critical of Japan's conduct in China they could hardly be otherwise the Colonel has been informed that you have recently made inquiries as to whether the Japanese barracks near Shanghai would be used as an internment camp for Americans in the unfortunate event of war between Japan and America I certainly made no such inquiries then perhaps you should have oh I see what you mean when you have some more tea no thanks it has also been called to the Colonel's attention that you plan to go to the United States on home leave in about two months well that one's true enough all right why not it's been five and a half years since I left San Francisco Lord two years in Hawaii the rest of the time in China and Japan the Colonel takes the liberty of reminding you that there have been no regular trans-specific ship schedules from Shanghai for some months there is a possibility that after the next ten days there may not be any way to get out the powder keg is just about almost certain to explode shortly and blow up the Orient with it Mr. Kurosu who is now in his way to Washington will tell Mr. Hull that Japan is anxious for peace and Japan's terms terms that cannot involve surrender of any of the territory which Japan has taken in the past four years at the cost of so much blood and treasure and Mr. Kurosu will be told that Japan's terms are impossible and then we'll go to war what about yourself Jimmy I'm here for the duration or until I get killed and there is a fat officer watching us from the other side of this room I think you had better go goodbye Jimmy I won't see you until after the war unless we happen to come face-to-face in a trench but I won't forget what you've told me and thank the Colonel for me when I walk across the room playing the door open here is the sparkling afternoon sunshine and crisp fall air of Shanghai rickshaw rickshaw one dollar for go chop chop corner Sishwan Road footshow road on our way now to the Dutch Lane ticket offices to the streets of Shanghai Shanghai of Japan's new order Shanghai China with Japanese soldiers on the sidewalks jostling Japanese girls and kimonas we're approaching the Garden Bridge and there are Japanese soldiers on century duty I'm not allowed to ride past these centuries so I get out of the rickshaw remembering to douse my cigarette they stare at me with what we call the China face corners of the mouth turned down chin thrust forward get out they seem to be saying get out of the rickshaw get out of Shanghai out of China get out of the Orient the Pacific for this is Japan's new order well I'm getting out if I'm lucky I'll get space of some kind on the Manila then tranship to the president Coolidge I'm getting out to Joan but I'll be back Mr. Lee Mr. Clark Lee Mr. Clark Lee Mr. Lee over here please Mr. Lee is dancing in the pavilion plug it in right here at this table will you boy I'll take it for him yes sir here you are sir hello who oh mackay radio yes now this is Melville Jacobi of Time Magazine mr. Lee is with my party yes all right I'll take the message for him go ahead yes yes all right shall I read it back to you here it is Clark Lee AP Manila desire you remain in Manila Kent Cooper AP New York right thank you well did you hear that senior Lanes it is unfortunate Clark is looking forward to getting home for a little while I know and I am sorry for myself to hear they come now I thought he would be my traveling companion on the Coolidge hello Clark glad you could come Roberto so you've already met Mel Jacobi yes we have been chatting may I introduce Mrs. Jacobi and Lee this is senior Roberto Lanes of the Argentine Embassy in Tokyo how do you do a Mrs. Jacobi after the first round we drop last names shall I order it now boy I'll have a Tom Collins no same for me please and I will have the same Tom Collins all around well do you enjoy your dance was wonderful but everybody on the pavilion is talking war it seems most of them are leaving on the Coolidge tomorrow I'm glad to get out maybe you ought to stay here in Manila Clark if you do go home you might not be able to get back in turn Clark isn't going darling don't be depressing of course he's going what are you talking about Mel the radiogram from Kent Cooper I just took it over the phone you wanted word for word Clark no don't bother I can imagine I'm sorry I'll forget it Emily and I'll hang around with you two honeymooners until the shooting starts if you don't mind Roberto give my regards to the Golden Gate William too bad we cannot do that together well we can toast it here here are the drinks I'll change that toast for a bit on I say here's to the first Japanese attack let him come to Manila show the Japs what it means to play in the big league the mail you've been here for some time we're in good shape here in the Philippines aren't we all it seems so I'd say there are some two divisions about 30,000 Americans besides the Filipino scouts how about our air force I should say there must be around a hundred planes 35 fortresses and the rest pursuits maybe has a handful of PBY patrol bombers that's not much but if anything breaks America can fly bombers out in three days now and Manila Bay is mine and no enemy ships can ever get in there under the guns of Gregor Gregor itself of course is impregnable sounds good do you mind if I ask what do you think General MacArthur and Admiral Hart will do if what is declared you'll hit them and hit them hard not waste any time about us what do you think Mel you bet now heavy bombers will probably attack Formosa and Hainan Island mess up the enemy transports before they reach Luzon Admiral Hart's patrol planes will spot the enemy ships and the subs and destroyers and cruisers will tear into them any Japs survive to reach the islands American forces will mop them up on the beaches and chase them back into the sea well it looks pretty good how about another drink boys and girls well it's getting pretty late none for me the clock it's two o'clock and I think we ought to get upstairs and get some sleep Roberto shall we see you before you sail tomorrow I certainly hope so coming upstairs clock no I think I'll stay and have a nightcap with Roberto see you in the morning right this morning good night good night good night well Roberto and we say goodbye tomorrow it'll be for the duration any idea where you'll be sent next I have no idea no I think I would like to go to Washington you like United States the United States of North America yes I think Argentina should know more about your people you are such delightful hypocrites you may be right at that Roberto of course I am but you have a sense of humor and that is the great saving grace always tomorrow how dare you tell me what to do your just a policeman a fellow peonel policeman well go ahead arrest me don't want to not a very good to see you try every American for the ruling race here you are nothing but dirt do you understand me dirt I'll show you you can take that from me this is work I must ask you to go upstairs to your room and who are you I'm the manager don't you remember sure sure you're all right but then he's trying to arrest me I'll fix that dirty no no no where are you going cloud I want to talk to the constable but she was the wrong one never mind her I want to congratulate that constable come on and you have been telling me me amigo that the Chinese in Hong Kong and the natives in Malaya and Burma will not fight for the British when war comes because the British have mistreated them and offer them nothing now perhaps you are aware why Argentina says no when the United States asks for naval bases sergeant sergeant I'd like to shake hands with you I'm Clark Lee of the Associated Press certainly mr. Lee this is Senor Roberto Lanes of the Argentine Embassy in Tokyo I am Milario Francisco of the Philippine Constabulary they both want to congratulate you sergeant Francis Gohm for the manner in which you behaved in the face of that woman's insults the lady was not herself mr. Lee we of the Constabulary are expected to understand those things yes well it's very tolerant of you sergeant but it's time she learned how to conduct herself properly in these islands she's an American sure to act like an American I do I'm an American mr. Lee target neat rows of battleships and neat rows of planes Japanese bombers and machine gunners sweeping in from the sea find them without difficulty place Pearl Harbor time morning of December 7th 1941 from alarm through fear the hatred requires no great mental effort for Americans the angry men shaking their fists at the sky cannot pour the splattered blood back into torn bodies right overturned battleships or straight and twisted steel you cannot damn the torrent of little men with big machines sweeping southward through Indochina to Thailand Malaya and Java eastward to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii then westward to the Philippines we wait in the Philippines for our turn and wonder what has happened to that precious plan we talked about so bravely our heavy bombers will attack from most in Hainan Island and mess up the enemy transports before they reach Luzon Admiral Hart's patrol planes will spot enemy ships in our subs destroyers and cruisers will tear into them then a Jap survived to reach the islands American forces will mop them up on the beaches but it doesn't happen that way we can't do that you see there has been a Pearl Harbor yes but the United States has not yet officially declared war no you're sending our bombers up from Clark Field and Nichols Field in the Philippines they can't go anywhere we haven't yet declared war the pursuit planes are up all right but they'll be down for lunch all of them and they'll all line up in pretty even rows just in time as the Japanese zeros hurl themselves out of the sun I'm afraid I'm really and truly afraid forget it darling we're doing all right doing all right don't you think so no he doesn't and you know it Mel our airfields have been bombed and our planes wrecked Manila's been bombed twice Japanese transports have landed soldiers on Luzon Clark saw some of them in action himself and the naval base at Cavite has been bombed and badly damaged if they smash Cavite they can smash Karegid or to our Cavite hold out all right there's nothing much to worry about Emily except keeping a pretty head it's just a matter of time by the minute that first bomb fell on Pearl Harbor the United States got moving from all over the country those big bombers are flying to San Francisco I'll hop to Hawaii and then on down to Australia and up here I'll be here within a week the aircraft carriers will ferry pursuit planes out from Hawaii out the window at Cork Cavite over there I thought I saw smoke maybe bombers overhead again probably not though I didn't hear any sirens we ought to go you ought to be working it's nothing to do now you could be writing up that adventure of yours last week up in Baguio I never will understand how you got out of that one nor I that's just it what's use of writing it all right it anyway it's no good Mel not even Hollywood would go for it all that stuff about being surrounded by the Japanese fires and falling off cliffs and nearly stepping on landmines and just not getting killed at Tarlac and the rest of it still melodramatic that's irony for you here we are in heaven what is it Clark what happened can be they just blow up right in front of my face and on the morning of December 24th 1941 Manila newspapers carried the headline Manila declared a ciudad abierta Manila declared a ciudad abierta in the streets and in restaurants and in offices I heard the people of Manila discussing this new turn of events what is this city that abierta this open city it means that we are removing all our forces from the city and asking the enemy not to bomb it they purposely to safeguard lives and prevent destruction of that which we do not have the forces to defend does it mean that the enemy is coming here what has happened to our army why did the Navy men blow up Cavite that is a mystery but our army is fighting well have you not tried to communicate maybe it would be better if we would fight the Japanese in the streets and from our houses as they didn't know they so maybe we should fight them with their knives and bolus and clubs maybe it would be better to die fighting than to let them kill us later at their leisure after all if we hold them for a few days help will be here from our big brother they believed oh how they believed they knew that the big brothers would come they knew that the United States fleet would come plunging proudly up through the islands throwing airplanes inland from the decks of its carriers blasting the Japanese transport units to kindling wooden bits of torn flesh and out on baton they believed they're fighting here on baton side by side the American Army and the Philippine Army the aviators without planes now man rifles and machine guns and the sailors from Cavite without ships or a naval base now man rifles and machine guns they're fighting out here side by side on a dusty little peninsula called baton and they believe stage you hear the latest story about what actually happened at Pearl Harbor within four hours after the attack American planes located in Sancta Japanese carriers that launched the bombing and fighting planes against Hawaii that sounds like us all right I'll buy that report yeah now here the army's got transport jammed with troops and a way to wake on it now they'll knock the stuffing out of those Japs and sink all of our ships quick they say a convoy left Pearl Harbor yesterday with reinforcements for us but keep that under your hat will you and they're gonna have plenty trouble getting through what the United States has never done to fight yet hasn't I'll get here okay I came over to baton from Corregidor where I left Mellon Annelie Jacoby to report from the front lines I wanted to see those Navy guys especially I wanted to see how the Navy fought a land battle well they're fighting it all right losing more men than they should because they don't know how to take cover because they don't know Japanese trickery that they're driving them back back toward the sea with a mortar I come up on the other side of the ridge now and there's plan to Frank Bridget surrounded by five army field telephone sets and using them all at one time yes right his center is on a heavy machine gun fire he can't hold out long captain woman is here with me now just got here some other guy just came up oh it's Lee hello Clark you sighting hello commander what would you give to be in an airplane right now so he's turned out to be a comedian Paris you have nine rounds right hello Jack Jack hold on kid I'll give you some help in a minute Paris you've got nine I look you've got to make you one count you can't miss loger how it's a Clark this is Captain Wormann Art meet Clark Lee get out of here you two guys will you like it lieutenant Jackson out of that crap down there Paris I don't know your reporters came all the way after the shooting line sometimes got pretty risky we've got some of our dead along this path gonna bury him soon they don't bother him no I've seen funny I won't be much more of this convoy came in yesterday give us those men in the ammunition we'll run these jabs off the tan and no time flat that was just one little freighter out of three of the try to get through Captain Wemeth not a convoy what's that just one little freighter I'm living on correct though I saw it you're a dirty liar sorry captain I know how you feel alright Lee I'm sorry forget it how long you're gonna stick around we're leaving tomorrow on a freighter we're gonna try to get through to Australia we'd like to stay but the sensors won't let our stories go out watch your step along here some more bodies who's we I'm going out with Mel Jacobian as well I know him time magazine yes that's right it's got married to me some girl with an odd name yes Annaline yeah she's great to must be say look here hmm look at this one oh that's too damn bad I knew this soldier look at that row of machine gun holes they almost caught him in half I've seen him somewhere but I can't sure you're half and Sergeant Harrio Francisco the Philippine Constabulary used to be on duty at the Manila Hotel State Army forces in the far east office of the Commanding General to whom it may concern this will identify mr. Clark Lee mr. Lee is a representative of the Associated Press and has been accredited by this headquarters he is now traveling on a special mission with military approval all military organizations are directed to render every assistance to aid him to his destination Douglas MacArthur commanding general think that'll do it Clark yes sir I'll give you the same thing from LG Kobe when you board a ship to leave the islands if you're lucky enough to make connections throw away your uniforms your guns passports and all diaries and identification papers when you get to say boo look up the names of some businessmen and learn enough about them to enable you to assume their identity if you're captured we'll follow those orders strictly sir well goodbye Clark I hope you'll make it say goodbye to Anna Lee for me goodbye sir good luck and Clark yes sir we will fight as long as we can hurt the Jap but unless we get reinforcements the end here will be brutal and bloody the princess ahead straight out into the China Sea for about 10 miles then turn south along the coast of Luzon Eastwood in the darkness as the Japanese city of Manila those would nervous days and nights but we reached Australia at last to learn the general MacArthur had got there before us we saw him later in Melbourne and the bitterness in his heart was reflected in his face bitterness in his heart was reflected in his face few days later in Melbourne and Lee Mel and I were saying goodbye as a huge one Clark here you go again I'm not going to say so long to you Mel nor do you and Lee when I get to Sydney I'll phone you to let you know if these orders to visit New Zealand still stick if not I'll wait for you there well if you do go on to New Zealand Clark remember to look around for a line of retreat from here we can always get to Tasmania and then to the South Pole if the Japs come it looks like the only way out of New Zealand is to Easter Island and then to Chile and that's quite a long jump in a canoe you two are always talking about ways out of places I'm glad to see for a change you're both starting to go north in the direction of the Japs let's start the counter offensive of our own what's this about north where you bound for Mel just a few short hops with General George to inspect Australian airfields don't worry Clark I'll be here waiting for your phone call from Sydney I'm waiting in my hotel room in Sydney the trip to New Zealand is on after all now that eternal telephone again maybe it's the Navy calling to confirm airplane transportation hello Clark Emily what is it what about you Emily Mel Jacobi was dead and I went on I went on through many scenes of a bloody pageant in an ocean they call Pacific this next scene is far removed for there before me now the skyscrapers of San Francisco the most beautiful sight I have ever seen in my life there are three other scenes which I hope to live long enough to witness I want to be there when General Douglas MacArthur raises the American flag of a Karegador again and then halls it down and with his own hand raises the flag of the Republic of the Philippines symbol of a nation which is one it's right to life by learning how to suffer how to die I want to be with Generalissimo was shun Kai-shek when he marches once again into Nanking after the last jab has been killed or driven from China and I want to see Jonathan Wainwright and Joe Smith and Arthur Wyrmuth and some Filipino scouts and Vandergrift and his Marines ride down the main streets of Tokyo and with Admiral Halsey and his sailors drive in tanks and armored cars across the moat and enter the Imperial Palace while American airplanes fly overhead and clouds so thick that they blot out the rising Sun of words at war we have dramatized for you portions of the popular book they call it Pacific by Clark Lee it was adapted for radio by Neil Hopkins one of the NBC script staff Clark Lee was played by Les Damon Melville Jacoby was Sam Wanamaker Annelie Jacoby was Joan Alexander other members of the cast were Fay Baker Ed Begley Bernard Lenro Lewis van Rooton and Lon Clark the original music was composed and conducted by Frank Black the production was under the direction of Joseph Losey next week words at war presents episodes from the last days of Sevastopol by Boris for Yatikov vivid account of the fall of that Soviet Crimean port words at war is brought to you in cooperation with the council on books in wartime with a national broadcasting company and the independent radio stations associated with the NBC