 The National Broadcasting Company and its affiliated stations present The Pacific Story. What is the story of the Pacific? The drama of the millions of people who live around this greatest sea where the United States is now committed to a long-term policy of keeping the peace. This is a documentary account of the situation in the Pacific of the men and events which are today influencing the shape of world affairs for generations to come. War Formosa. This afternoon on October 24, 1945, a huge air transport approached through a landing at Taipei Airport in northern Formosa. Thousands waited to meet it. But not all the eyes were on the approaching plane. Many were on General Riki Ohi Ando, commander of the Japanese 10th area army and on the 20 other Japanese officials. General Chen Yi and his staff were coming in on this plane to take over the government of Formosa in the name of the Republic of China. The ceremonies were brief. Japanese soldiers standing like ramrods stared straight into space as General Chen disembarked on the plane. There was a stiff formal greeting from General Ohi Ando, a cold military response from General Chen. This was the end of 50 years of Japanese occupation of Formosa. It is all clear. A few among the thousands at the airport remembered when the Japanese took over Formosa 50 years before. We could not believe it had happened. This old one remembered. The word came that China had been defeated by Japan and that now Formosa was to go under Japanese rule. Do you remember when the Japanese came to take over the island, old one? I was a young man, too young to understand all that was happening. But I remember that we were told to resist the Japanese and we did. We refused to go under the rule of the Japanese. And they landed troops? Yes, they landed troops. The Japanese were not enough to hold us down at the time Formosa was handed over to the Japanese. So the ceremonies were held on a Japanese warship at sea. And that happened just off the port of Keilun, only 18 miles from Taipei here. Yes, and now here are the Japanese handing Formosa back to us. But there were many bad years between. Many bad years. He had his eyes on the Japanese. He had many things to remember. And then all eyes turned to General Chen Yi who was talking into a microphone broadcasting to the people of Formosa. I have come to serve you people of Formosa to help you. There will be three guiding principles in my policy. First, there will be no interruption of business. Second, there will be no immediate interruption of political administration. And third, there will be no interruption of education in schools. My main objective will be to raise the standard of living. I will work to eliminate unemployment and I will place special emphasis on education. It is my hope that all Formosans will be taught to speak and write Chinese within four years so that you may participate in the reconstruction of China. The Formosans who listened muttered to one another under their breath. And the old one solemnly shook his head. Most of these people know little of China. They have been under the Japanese so long. They know little of Sun Yat-sin or the Chinese Revolution. For most of them were born under the Japanese rule and have spent all their lives under the Japanese rule. General Chen Yi and his staff got into the waiting limousines. They pulled away and headed for Taipei to the seat of the Japanese Governor General's office to take over the government of Formosa. And the old one stood solemnly and shook his head while there was around him talk. Why should we be under China any more than we should be under Japan? Formosa belonged to China before the Japanese came in 1894. But never in my lifetime has Formosa been part of China. We are of Chinese blood. 94% of the people of Formosa have Chinese blood, yes. But the last ties we had with China were generations ago. China is our motherland. The people who come here to rule us are strangers. The ancestors of most of Formosa's six million persons have immigrated to Formosa. They had crossed the 90 miles straight from the mainland of China to make their homes and seek their fortunes on the Great Island. From Fuki'en Province had come the people called the Hock Low. From the backwards of Guangdong Province had come the people called the Hocker. From Canton had come merchants and tradespeople. They met the half-wild Aborigines who lived in the eastern highlands. These were the people who lived on the island when the Portuguese came and named the island Hila Formosa, beautiful island. Long before the Japanese took Formosa from China 50 years ago, they knew all about the island. The Japanese and the Chinese called the island Taiwan, which means Terraced Bay. Now look at this map here on the table. The length of the entire island from north to south is about 220 miles, and its greatest width, here, is about 80 miles. Mmm, yes. And what is the distance from the southern tip of Taiwan to Rosan in the Philippines? A distance of about 225 miles. Mmm-hmm. You see, there are no harbors on the east coast. The mountains come right down to the sea all along the eastern side. Here, some of the cliffs are 6,000 feet high. 6,000 feet? Yes, right along here. Hmm, where then are the harbors? There is one up here in the north, the best one. It is named Kirun, right here. Mmm-hmm. I have heard Kirun is very limited in capacity. That is right. But still it is better than the other harbor in the south, Takao. You see, Kirun here has an inner harbor which is a safe anchorage from typhoons. Well, Kirun could be developed into a better harbor, could it not? Oh, it would be a great task. And now down here on the southwest coast here is Takao. This harbor could be made into... The Japanese knew not only the geography of the island, they also knew its resources. About 65% of the island is covered with green forests of Kanfa, Cyprus, Ratan and Bamboo. The forests cover all these regions here and here. And there is gold here and here. And copper in this region and up here. And coal over here and here. And in addition... And they took Noda Formosa's two main crops, sugar and rice. The Japanese knew all this before they went to war with the Chinese 50 years ago. But they had not counted on the resistance they would meet when they came to take over the island. To the Japanese! Independence for the Japanese! Down with the invaders! Many were killed. But we defied the Japanese anyway. Our leaders set up a republic and all of us worked to support it against the Japanese. They brought in more and more soldiers. We had almost no weapons and ammunition. At last they put us down. Even so, we continued to resist. The resistance of the Formosans continued. But in the face of the increasing Japanese pressure against every phase of their Chinese life, the resistance gradually faded. Also, with the passing of many of the older firebrands, those who had defied the Japanese troops and set up a Formosan republic, and with the growing up of the younger Formosans under the Japanese, the Formosans no longer saw eye to eye with the people of China. Chinese, they were, by blood and sympathy. But against them, the Japanese leveled remorseless Japanization measures. They have prohibited our last Chinese newspaper. That is because Japan is now at war with China. This was 1937. But we outnumbered the Japanese 18 to 1 on this island. We should at least have the right to newspapers in our own language. The Chinese have immigrated here from the mainland. The Japanese have not permitted free immigration of Chinese. That is right. Formosa is no longer a Chinese island. It is a Chinese island. Rightfully, it belongs to China. But what do we have in common with the people of China? What do we have in common with the Japanese? The Japanese are here. They have been here since long before we were born. I am not for the Japanese. But we are far from Chinese now. We are still Chinese. We should have the right to our own newspaper. China is at war with Japan. Long before the outbreak of the war between Japan and China in 1937, the Japanese had come to regard its colonies as instruments of war, not merely as economic areas. They converted Formosa into a mighty military and naval outpost. Yi Lung in the north and Takao in the southwest, they developed into great ports to handle men and material of war. They conceived of Formosa not only as an impregnable base, but also as a giant unsinkable aircraft carrier. Military airfields sprouted from one end of the island to the other. The Japanese stepped up their Japanization measures. It is therefore with great hubbiness that we announce the organization of the Imperial Subject Loyalty Society. Through the society, many good things will come to those who have mastered the Japanese language. Also, there will be special rewards for those who take Japanese names in order that all the people of Taiwan can become Japanese and enjoy the benefits of being Japanese. It is the purpose of the Imperial Subject Loyalty Society to encourage one and all in the imperial way. With this great movement it will be to the advantage of all the... The effect of the Imperial Subject movement was apparent everywhere. Oh, yet low. I hardly knew you. My name is not yet low, old one. No. My name is Kenjiro Kudak. Oh. Every sensible Formosa should change his name. It is very late in my life. It is never too late. Oh, yes. You wear Japanese style clothes too, yet low. These are the proper clothes. They have been designated by the government for us. What government? The only government we have. And if you will take my advice, old one, you will not wear that long gown. Oh, I have worn long gowns all the days of my life. They are forbidden. They cannot mean it. They do mean it. You are wise. You are wearing the straw sandals. Why do you not also wear these kind of clothes? Well, there are no other kind of sandals. All the leather has been taken by the Japanese. Japan is at war. Yes. What rewards will you get for changing your name and your clothes? Many things. I will get better food and more food. I will get priority in ship and railway tickets. But most important of all, I will get equal status with the Japanese. Oh, yes. Yes, I see. Oh, Kenjiro Kudak. Good day to you. Good day. On the surface, it seemed that many had thus become loyal subjects of the emperor. But actually, little more than 1% of the Chinese, the promoter, changed their names and adopted the Japanese manners. Loyal satgeks. Fool! The Japanese want to treat you as an equal. An equal of what? A peg? They will keep their word. Oh, what have you gained by turning Japanese? You will see in time the time will come. The Japanese went still further. They set up a strong organization to enforce the loyal subject movement. All phases of promotion life will be directed. In the central office of the Imperial Subject Law and Society, there will be six boards. One will have charge of local affairs. One will have charge of daily life. One economic affairs. One production. One supply. And one training. The centers were set up to train the promotions to the loyal subject. In the next several years, 450,000 promotions were encouraged to join. They trained the young men. And even though many young men tried to resist the training, most of them at last were indoctrinated with the Japanese ways. And some of these young men even became economic spies for the Japanese against their own people. They signed it on the land each year. With this plan, the farmers could be made to produce also a crop of wheat. The secret agents kept an eye on every step of the rice industry. I certify that the fourth quarter of rice is aboard this vessel for Japan. They saw to it that half of Famosa's rice went to Japan. And they kept an eye on Famosa's sugar industry. With their help, the Japanese made Famosa the fourth most important sugar production center in the world. 50 sugar refineries of Famosa were brought under the control of four Japanese companies. Less than 1% of the total capital of the four companies was owned by Famosans. And these mills turned out not only enough sugar to supply all of Japan's needs, but also enough to export throughout the western Pacific and the far east. Nearly half of the sugar mills were equipped to distill alcohol, which was to have 100 uses during the coming war. The sugar mills became war plants. The Famosans were put to work reducing coal, aluminum, petroleum, and gold. But despite the stringent Japanese indoctrination, not all Famosans worked for the Japanese. Oh, yes, sir. The troops under my command were unguarded to mine. The explosion went off in the main shaft 10 minutes after the rush workman had left. Have you arrested any suspect? Oh, yes, sir. See all of them? Yes, sir. I think they are revolutionists. Not one Famosan was around when the fire started. Who else was set fire to an oil field? I have questioned everyone. It is Avatar. The first I saw of it was when the fire broke out on well number 706. It was done by the underground. Arrest every Famosan who was finished. This is the same kind of record that was on last week. It was done by the same criminals. The entire right of way has been under guard. This track was torn off during the night. It must have been done by those Famosan rebels. They seem to be everywhere. The Famosan underground grew stronger as the war went on. Those who were half-hearted took new courage from the bold acts of sabotage. Underground bans formed throughout the islands and harassed the Japanese at every turn. The Famosans who had turned Japanese worked their way into the underground organization and betrayed the leaders. But the Famosans who refused to turn Japanese did not. They did not. The Famosans who refused to turn Japanese welded themselves into a strong anti-Japanese organization. Here then are our objectives. First, to cripple the production and transportation of Taiwan as we have done with mines, oil fields, and railroads. Second, to strengthen all anti-Japanese guerrilla forces on the island. Third, to organize volunteers to fight in China against the Japanese. Fourth, to win the support of workers, municipal employees and students throughout the island against the Japanese. And fifth, to spread anti-war and anti-fascist propaganda. And sixth, to unite all organizations resisting the Japanese in Taiwan. By 1941, the Japanese were drafting the Famosans into their army. They drafted the men of Taiwan but they did not trust them. They permitted only small numbers of Famosans to be in any one unit and they always put them with Japanese troops but they took them and they trained them in the Japanese ways and customs and weaned them away from China. The Japanese armed Famosa until it bristled from Keelung in the north to Takao in the southwest to the southernmost tip of the island. War equipment and personnel in enormous quantity piled up. Thousands of troops poised for battle. Spilled the ports. Warships, auxiliaries, transports, cargo carriers. Famosa became a springboard to the south. The ships loaded with fighting men and all that fighting men need fanned out of the harbors and started Japan's drive to the south. There are enough Japanese troops on Taiwan to kill every one of us. We must lie low. They have taken the Philippines and Malaya and Singapore and the island of the Dutch Indians. They will be stopped and thrown back. We have to see it. Nearly two years passed before the underground of Famosa saw the first evidence of health. The American planes, run! Run! United States Army Air Force planes based in China blasted the air bases of Famosa and the half-hearted Famosans took courage. The underground grew stronger and out of Famosa came the words of Sienang Guang, the leader of the Famosan Revolutionary League. We are continuing the fight. We have many names to handle Japanese machines and to join Japanese organizations but we are still resisting. When the Allied troops land on Famosa they will not find an unfriendly country. Before another year had passed Famosa was being struck from both land and sea. The carrier-based planes have again struck Famosa, wrecking harbor installations and sinking out onto the Japanese ships in the harbor but the shipping is far as a hundred miles out of Famosa. The latest carrier strike was made to purport to the U.S. Air Force base in China. Again today hit the air bases, warehouses and ammunition dumps on Famosa. Part of blows were delivered against Qinqiku which is not only an air base but an important railway city. Spokesmen of the Air Force have stated less resistance. The Allied pressure against Famosa did not let up until the surrender of Japan. Famosa passed from the hands of the Japanese back to the hands of the Chinese into the hands of General Chen Yi but the Japanese did not turn back the same island they had taken 50 years before. They turned back a bomb-blasted citadel richer in terms of industrial development but poorer in terms of Chinese fielding. It will be my policy to improve the livelihood of you who the people of Taiwan. General Chen Yi made a public statement five days after he and his staff arrived. It will be my policy to re-establish Chinese newspapers and other organs of public opinion in Taiwan. I will put special emphasis on education where although many of you have lived under the Japanese most of your lives you are still Chinese. It will do no good. What are you saying? I say it will do no good. We are not Chinese. We are Famosa. Famosa belongs to China. Does he think that this memorial service for Dr. Sun Yat-sen here today will make us Chinese? China is your motherland and mine. The next day the promotion stood by in Taipei and what's the Chinese take over the Japanese Governor's Administration? They watch Chinese from the mainland move in to take the place of the Japanese. They stood by passively and the old one shook his head. It will take a long time a long long time before the people of Famosa regard the mainland Chinese as anything but strange. A week later Chinese troops landed at the port of Takao in the south and the promotions stood by and watched them as they had watched the officials who preceded them. Step by step the mainland Chinese took over the administration. The higher officials sent the lesser officials out into the localities to make contact with the Famosa. I am to be the head of your CM. The province of Famosa was divided into eight CM or county district. We have come to help you. The Japanese who have been over you all these years sent back to Japan as soon as we can get shipping to move them. The Japanese have run everything. The stores, the banks, the farms. It is not our purpose to interfere with business but the Japanese must go. We will start to revive Taiwan's agriculture at once. Then there will be enough rice for everyone. The crops fail last year. There will be a shortage for a time but when we get the unemployed back at work there will be food for all. What of all the Famosas that were taken to Japan in labor gangs who are now coming back? Where will they work? General Kenny has said we will try to find work for everyone. We will need many workers in the mines. During the war the production of coal dropped from 200,000 tons a month to only 15,000 tons a month and when we get more coal then the other industries will be able to operate and when these Chinese experts came from the mainland to put Famosas industry back on its feet. They brought in American experts. They found the larger plants and mines in ruins. Enormous outlays would have to be made before they could be put back in operation. Until the power plants, the aluminum, cement and paper plants, the oil fields, the copper mines were back in operation. Famosas economy would be crippled. Too dark in the picture, the Famosas were hungry. We demand rice. We were not hungry under the government. Yes, give us rice! Quiet! Quiet! As you know Taiwan usually has plenty of rice. For years 16 million per close of rice were produced by youth people on this island each year. Of this 4 million pickles were exported to Japan. But last year your crops failed. You raised only 50% of your normal production. And still rice was exported to Japan. That's why there is a shortage of rice here on Famosas today. I can tell you another reason there is a shortage. The hoarding and smuggling of rice. Why don't you Chinese pull a stop to that? Added to the rice shortage was the trouble with sugar. Before Japanese sugar companies were merged by the Chinese. The Taiwan Sugar Corporation a Chinese government combine took over the sugar industry, locked stock and barrel controlled the production, sale and export of Famosas sugar. The government sugar corporation controlled not only the sugar that was shipped to Shanghai, but also the sugar that went into the mouths of the Famosas who produced it. I risked my life from the first day of the war until the last to bring your Chinese back here to Famosas. Now, I want to know why our own sugar is higher right here in Taiwan. The sugar corporation sold no sugar in Famosas. The sugar sold in Famosas was taken from stocks of private people who controlled some 500,000 tons. The people of Taiwan use only 50,000 tons of sugar a year. Why is not sugar sold to us at a reasonable price? The scale and distribution of sugar in Taiwan has been abolished. It was announced by the office of the Governor General of Taiwan where this move, the Chinese government has won. After 50 years out of the Japanese the transition to the rule of the Chinese was painful. Both for the people of Famosas and for the government of China constructive steps were taken by the Chinese. Keilung Harbour here will become increasingly important. The excellent dark yards may become the main repairing set of Taiwan repairs may even be told here from Shanghai 400 miles. Yes, yes, it is good. And the Taiwan municipal government is planning to raise a billion dollars for the reconstruction of Anting Harbour. Yes, but is it not equally or more important to stop the Chinese soldiers from looting the stocks we have? And is it not equally important to prevent our refineries and our railroads and power plants from falling into ruin? You Famosas must know the task is enormous. The Japanese have gone from the island of Famosa and the Chinese have taken their place. Today more than a year after the transfer the Chinese have become aware of the enormous task that lies before them in Famosa. This awareness is reflected in the words of General Chen Yi. If Taiwan falls short of our expectations there will hardly be any hope for China as a whole. Listening to the Pacific Story presented by the National Broadcasting Company and its affiliated independent stations to clarify events in the Pacific and to make understandable the crosscurrents of life in the Pacific Basin. For a reprint of this Pacific Story program send 10 cents in stamps or coin to University of California Press Berkeley, California. To repeat, for a reprint of this Pacific Story program send 10 cents in stamps or coin to University of California Press Berkeley, California. The Pacific Story is written and produced by Arnold Marquess. The music was scored and conducted by Henry Russell. Your narrator, Gain Whitman. Programs in this series of particular interest to servicemen and women are broadcast overseas through the worldwide facilities of the Armed Forces Radio Service. This program came to you from Hollywood and is heard in Canada over the facilities of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. This is NBC, the National Broadcasting Company.