MICRONESIAN JOURNAL OF THE HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

Vol. 2, nº 1-2 December 2003

JAPANESE OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE OUTBREAK OF WAR The cooperative operation of the Army and Navy to occupy

P. Toyoko Kang University of Guam

The paper provides a brief history of Japanese military operations to occupy Guam from January 1941 to January 1942,written from Japanese perspective. It provides extensive quotes of hitherto untranslated Japanese military docu- ments.

The translation provides a brief history of The agreement by the Army and Navy high Japanese military operations to occupy Guam commands regarding the operations to occupy from January 1941 to January 1942, written Guam as well as the Bismarck Archipelago was from Japanese perspective. made on January 6, 1941. The following is the As part of the overall military strategy in the summary of the agreement: event of war with the , Japan had to seize a number of US-owned islands in Mi- The Agreement by the Army and Navy High Com- cronesia, such as Guam and Wake. This trans- mands Regarding the Guam and Bismarck Operations lation chronicles the military planning before January 6, 1941 and during the capture of Guam, leading up to The Imperial Headquarters of the Army High the establishment of a Japanese civilian gov- Command 1 ernment on the island. The Imperial Headquarters of the Navy High Command THE IMPERIAL HEADQUARTERS’ PREPA- 1. The purpose of the operations RATION TO OCCUPY GUAM The purpose is to ward off threats by the en- emy to insular areas in the South Pacific by The Agreement of the High Commands of occupying the main areas of Guam and the the Army and Navy Regarding the Offen- Bismarck Archipelago. sive Operation on Guam 2. The course of the operations In the fall of 1941 the Imperial Headquarters’ preparation for the operation against the The Army and Navy are expected coopera- tively to occupy Guam at the beginning of the United States, England, and the Netherlands war and then acquire the air bases in Rabaul at was making good progress. The high com- the first opportunity. mands of the Army and Navy completed their 3. The start of the operations operation plans by the end of October.

This contribution is not peer reviewed. Accepted: 4 December 2003 © Micronesian Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences ISSN 1449-7336 Letao Publishing, PO Box 3080, Albury NSW, Australia 41 42 The cooperative operation of the Japanese Army and Navy to occupy Guam

The attack on Guam will start after the con- 14. Names of the operations and maps: firmation of our first attack on US military air- (1) The Guam Operation—G Operation. craft. (2) The Bismarck Operation—R Operation. 4. The main instructions for the operations i) At the beginning of the war, Naval Air The Organization of the South Seas Groups proceeding from the island of Sai- Detached Force pan are expected to destroy enemy vessels, Imperial Headquarters made an official an- defense facilities, etc. nouncement of the wartime ranking for the ii) The Navy is expected to escort the Army to troops in the South Seas Detached Force, as Guam, and to assist the Army in landing shown below, on November 6th. On Novem- on the island successfully. ber 8th, they summoned the commander of the iii) The Army, with its main force, after land- force, Major General Tomitaro Horii, and gave ing on the island, must occupy Apra Har- him the following commands: his detachment bor, then capture Agana with a unit, and is to go to the Bonin Islands, and carry out then mop up any remnants of the enemy on the island. preparations for occupying Guam. They also gave him the primary instructions regarding the iv) The Army, after completing the mopping up operation, is expected to hand over the operations, and the above-mentioned agree- responsibility of defending the island to ment, that is, “The Agreement by the Army the Navy, and, under naval convoy, to and Navy High Commands regarding the move to the Truk Islands, where the Army Guam and Bismarck Operations,” as well as needs to prepare for operations directed Imperial Army Headquarters' Order Number against the Bismarck Archipelago. 558 (hereafter IAHO No. 558). v) First the Navy must start aerial reconnais- sance of the Bismarck Archipelago, and Imperial Naval Headquarters' Orders for then execute necessary attacks as occasion Operations demands. On November 5, 1941, Imperial Naval Head- vi) The Army and Navy together will capture quarters, by means of Imperial Naval Head- Rabaul, and occupy the air bases there quarters' Order Number 1 (hereafter INHO when the condition of the military force No. 1), also ordered the Commander-in-Chief under naval convoy is up to the task. of the Combined Fleet to prepare for opera- Moreover, the Navy is expected to capture tions against the USA, England, and the Neth- the air bases in Kavieng as soon as possi- erlands: ble. 1. The Imperial Realm decided to complete vii) Soon after capturing Rabaul, conditions preparations for all necessary operations permitting, the Army, giving over the re- early in December, considering that the sponsibility for the defense of the city to the Navy, is expected to concentrate realm was not able to avoid war against troops under naval convoy in the vicinity [our enemies] for the sake of our survival of the island of . and self-defense. 5. Places of Assembly: 2. The commander-in-chief is expected to execute the necessary preparations for the (1) Guam Operations—Bonin Islands operations. (2) Bismarck Operations—Truk Islands Imperial Naval Headquarters gave him in- 6. The participating military forces structions regarding the operations (Imperial The Army—the South Seas Detached Force Naval Headquarters' Instruction Number 1; (The main force is the 55th Division Third In- INHI No. 1), too, although the author cites fantry Battalion). here only excerpted instructions relating to the The Navy—the Fourth Fleet’s troops as core. operations on the island of Guam. It was gen- 7. Relationship of command: The Army and erally assumed that Imperial Headquarters Navy must cooperate. would decide the start-up date of operations. 8-13 [omitted by the author] The cooperative operation of the Japanese Army and Navy to occupy Guam 43

Summary of the Guam Operations of the and occupy Rabaul, as well as the other areas Nanyoo Troops (Core of the Fourth Fleet) intended for occupation. Based on the above-mentioned INHO No. 1, The places to wait: the areas in the South Seas, and INHI No. 1, the Combined Fleet issued an and, in part, Chichijima.2 order, named ‘Combined Fleet Secret Order Number 1,’ on November 5th. The following The Second Step of the Operations are the main points in the summary of the op- It is planned to defend Rabaul after its occupa- erations, the quarters for the armed forces, and tion as it is one of the important places among the responsibilities of the Nanyoo troops. the occupied areas. Nanyoo troops, the Fourth Fleet, the Sixth The First Step of the Operations Squadron, the Second Regiment of the First The Nanyoo Troop Commander, Commander- Combined Signal Corps, the 11th Air Squadron in-Chief of the Fourth Fleet 1) strengthen defense preparations for patrol- The Fourth Fleet [the Sixth Torpedo Squadron ling in the area of the South Seas, secure (minus a destroyer flotilla), two patrol boats, defenses of occupied strategic places Base No. 5 Troops (minus a part of the troop)] 2) capture strategic places in the areas of the The Sixth Squadron: the Second Regiment of Bismarck Archipelago, the British territory the First Combined Signal Corps (note [transla- of New Guinea. tors’ note: author’s note missing]) PREPARATION FOR THE OPERATION BY The Wake Occupation Force: The Sixth Tor- pedo Squadron (minus a destroyer flotilla), two THE INVASION TROOPS patrol boats, and a company of special land combat troops Preparation for the Operation by the South The Guam Occupation Force: Base No. 5 Seas Detached Force Troops (minus a small force), the 23rd De- Following the instructions from Imperial stroyer Flotilla, Oboro Supply Corps, and 21 Headquarters, the commander of the South transports Seas Detached Force, as soon as he received The main missions: the IAHO regarding preparations for occupy- i) defense and patrolling in the assigned areas ing Guam, discussed the details of his troops' plans with the Fourth Fleet Commander-in- ii) capturing Guam and Wake Chief at Naval Air Force Headquarters in Iwa- iii) obstructing enemy use of air bases in How- kuni. The two reached an accord satisfying the land Army's major requests as the result of the iv) capturing Rabaul at the best opportunity commander's straightforward presentation of Summary of operations the Army's concerns. Consequently, the follow- 1. It is expected not only that Wake Island and ing operational instructions were decided upon. the island of Guam be occupied as soon as The South Seas Detached Force, cooperat- possible, but also that the assigned areas be ing with the escort fleet for G(uam)-operations defended and patrolled, and movements of (abbreviated below as “escort fleet”), was ex- the American and English fleets be prepared pected to occupy enemy military facilities on for. , as well as on Mt. Tenjo and 2. In terms of the first article for operations Mt. Chachao, with their main force. Further- against American fleets, the Sixth Fleet is to more, with a strong force, the troops prepared join the main force in the specified place, and to capture not only enemy military bases in to participate in covering the task force's withdrawal. Seaplanes are to set out for Wake , but also the city of Akashi Island as soon as possible, and to conduct ne- [Agana, Ed.]. The landing spots were decided. cessary patrols there. It was agreed that the final decision for the 3. In terms of the second article for operations landing spots would be made by 10 o'clock on against American fleets, it is expected that the the day before the actual landing. Nanyoo troops cooperate with the task force 44 The cooperative operation of the Japanese Army and Navy to occupy Guam

On November 17, Commander Horii in- v) although my movements after this will be vited the following key officers to the the Ma- scheduled separately, advance swiftly to rugame Headquarters of his detachment: Sumay. Colonel Kususe—the commander of 144th In- South Seas Detached Force Commander fantry Regiment—with the Commanders of Tomitaro Horii the battalions in the regiment, and Major Mit- sunori Ikezoe of regimental headquarters. At The Operational Preparations by the Navy this meeting, Commander Horii revealed to Troops them for the first time the operational plans for The Base 5 Troop Commander Rear Admiral capturing Guam, and bid them to study the Atsushi Kasuga (appointed as of August 11, plans. 1941) issued Secret Order for G-Occupation On November 20th, Commander Horii Troops Number 1 from the Warship Tsugaru made the following orders, and sent them to on November 21. On the 26th of the month, each unit in the detachment. The actual orders he moved the commander's flag to the warship, were sealed up, and handed to the soldiers at and went to Hahajima by the 30th of the the time of their boarding; they were allowed month in order to begin assembling the sol- to remove the seals after their departure from ders. Japanese harbors. THE DEPARTURE OF THE ASSAULT Horii Operational Order A Number 7 TROOPS AND THE AIR ATTACK BEFORE Orders to South Seas Detached Force, 9:00 LANDING a.m., November 20th Marugame Detachment Headquarters Implementation of the Orders to Capture Guam 1. The maps and the topographical air photos show strategic places for soldiers whose special On December 1, as events unfolded, Imperial purpose is to reconnoiter enemy movements on Headquarters issued the following orders and Guam. instructions. 2. The task of the detachment is to capture Guam. To accomplish this task, its main force IAHO No. 570 (December 1, 1941) must capture enemy naval bases at Apra Har- 1. The Imperial Realm decided to fight against the bor; and one part of the detachment, Agana. USA, England, and the Netherlands. The south- 3. The Kususe Troops and the Tsukamoto De- ern troops are to start the attack on December tachment are to act as stipulated in separate at- 10th, to capture important places in the Philip- tachment 7. pines, British Malaya, and Dutch Indonesia, as soon as possible. 4.-11. (omitted by the author) 2. The South Seas Detached Force, cooperating 12. I myself will act as follows: I will with the Navy, is to capture G (author's note: i) be aboard the Yokohama-maru, from the time Guam) soon after December X. of boarding (according to plan, on the 3. The South Seas Detached Force is to put into evening of the day before departure) until action the above orders before December X, the end of assembly at the specified place; and is to attack enemy aircraft when it repeat- ii) be on the Warship Tsugaru from the end of edly reconnoiters our ships. assembly until the first landing; 4. As for other detailed instructions, the Chief of iii) land on the beach at the landing spot for the General Staff is to hand these down. the main force of the Kususe Troops, us- ing the Warship Tsugaru with troops for IAHI No. 1029 (December 1, 1941) the second landing; To execute the operations in accordance with iv) advance to the city of Agat, and open a IAHO No. 570, the following instructions are command post; given. The cooperative operation of the Japanese Army and Navy to occupy Guam 45

In terms of the ‘Main Instructions for the De- land, and the frequent sightings of enemy sub- tachment’s Operations’ and ‘Agreement by the marines. On the 9th, starting in the morning, Army and Navy regarding G and R Operations,’ there blew a wind with a velocity greater than which the South Seas Detached Force is to act 10 meters/second, causing rough seas. There- in accordance with, the instructions are the same fore, the detachment commander could not as stipulated in IAHI No. 992.3 readily decide whether or not he should let the On December 2nd, the South Seas Detached troops land on the east beach. Toward evening, Force Commander received an encoded order however, the wind subsided. Then the detach- (referred to as ‘Tobi Order’) that Guam is to be captured and that day X was to be December ment commander finally decided to carry out 8th. On that day, he then issued the following the landing at 16:00 as planned. orders to his troops. On the 8th of the month, at night, the Japanese Land Combat Unit Commander Horii Operational Order A No. 17 (IAHO No. landed five Saipanese spies at Aga Point (in the 570) south of the island) and .4 South Seas Detached Force Order. At 22:00, December 2nd Air Attack before the Landing Hahajima, Bonin Islands, Yokohama-maru The Base 5 Troop commander ordered air- attacks on Guam to be conducted by the 18th 1. The Imperial Realm decided to fight against Air Unit commandant from the seaplane- the USA, England, and the Netherlands. The southern troops are to start the attack on De- carrier Seigawa-maru at 5:00 a.m. on December cember 8th, to capture important places in the 8th. They attacked the island of Guam on the Philippines, British Malaya, and Dutch Indone- morning of the 8th with about 54 reconnoiter- sia, as soon as possible. Thus, the first air attack ing seaplanes from the Seigawa-maru and the is to be conducted against the USA. 18th Air Unit. Mainly bombing US vessels, 2. The South Seas Detached Force is to capture powder magazines, telegraph stations, and the island of Guam, in cooperation with the landing spots, they sank the Patrol Boat USS Fourth Fleet. The landing date is to be Decem- Penguin and destroyed important US military ber 10th, unless a subsequent order is issued. facilities there. 3. All troops are to take actions in accordance Meanwhile, the US armed forces on the is- with the already-delivered Horii Operational land of Guam received, on December 8th at Order A No. 7. 5:45 a.m., the news of the Japanese attack on 4. I will board the Warship Tsugaru at 17:00 to- Pearl Harbor from the Commander-in-Chief of morrow, the 3rd. the Asiatic Fleet, Admiral Hart. The Japanese Detachment Commander, Tomitaro Horii people on Guam were immediately imprisoned, and the island defense guard gathered at the The Departure of Troops for the plaza headquarters in the city of Agana. The Occupation Marines, except for sentries around the island, At 9:00 a.m. on November 4, 1941, the trans- took up their fighting positions at the field en- ports protected by escort fleets left the island campments by the rifle ranges on Orote Penin- of Hahajima for the front, in close formation, sula. to capture Guam. They sailed along the route east of the to maintain the se- THE OPERATION FOR LANDING ON GUAM crecy of the plan, and also due to the possibility Our vessels completed preparations for land- of US submarine attacks on troops headed to ing, and left for their anchorage. Around 23:00, capture the Philippines. On the 8th, the troops on the 9th, our troops recognized the silhou- proceeded with greater caution, having been ette of the island against a moonlit horizon. informed by a Navy report via ship radio of the Using a spyglass, they saw the landing shore following: the situation after the first attack and the line of the breakwater at the base of against the USA and England, the Imperial the island, but no light was to be seen. Since edict declaring war against the USA and Eng- midnight of the 8th, the sea had become calm, 46 The cooperative operation of the Japanese Army and Navy to occupy Guam but there still blew a stiff northwest wind. The Bay. Even though they were washed with their moonlight shining on their faces, the soldiers boats onto the beach due to the high waves. became ever more persuaded of certain victory. In this landing, three large landing boats The vessels sailed to their anchorage around were damaged upon being dropped into the 0:00 on the 10th, and started dropping the sea, and one smaller landing boat was also landing boats. Then each unit started to land damaged on reaching the beach; those four around 2:30. Just how they landed and how boats, becoming useless, soon sank. they fought after their landing will be described The number of ships deployable for the in the following. second and subsequent landings became ever fewer. After the first troops landed on the Landing and Fighting (by the main force of beach at 3:45, only the minimum number of the Kususe Troops) in the Areas of Merizo forces required for mountain combat was able and Umatac to land by 15:00. With a northeast wind of 3 m and the sea a lit- In the vicinity of Talofofo Bay, the troops tle rougher, but without any major problems, did not sense any enemy presence, and so they dropped landing boats, transferred from started to advance. But the road they were ad- their ship and proceeded, aided by the light of vancing along was entangled and steep. On the moon. The vessels entered their anchorage such a road, and by such severe heat, it turned at 1:00 a.m. and completed the lowering of the out to be extremely difficult for the troops to landing craft by 1:55 a.m. with the landing itself make headway. Especially difficult was the starting at 2:45 a.m. mountain trail between the upper reach of the The shore revealed a stretch of reef, but the Togucha River and Mt. Tenjo which was only beach was relatively flat, and at the edge of the wide enough for single-file marching. water the sea was calm. Therefore, the landing was accomplished without any difficulties; the Landing and Fighting by Navy Land troops of the first vessel arrived at the beach at Combat Troops (and Tsukamoto 4:25 without any bloodshed. There were nei- Detachment) around Tumon ther American soldiers nor residents around With the northeast wind at a velocity of about the landing beach. 4-5 m, and by moonlight, the motorized land- ing boats were visible to the naked eye at about Landing and Fighting (by Horie Battalion) 300 m out to sea; and it was not difficult to in the Area of Talofofo transfer into the small landing craft, nor was On the 9th, the strong morning wind subsided the sea difficult to navigate. somewhat, but the velocity of the northeast The ships entered anchorage at 0:00, com- wind was still 10-12 m, and the height of the pleted the lowering of their landing boats at sea was about 2 m (2-3 m near the beach). The 0:30, and started to land troops at 2:15. troops entered the anchorage at 0:00 on the The shore was surrounded by a coral reef 10th, started to drop their landing craft into the while the beach appeared as a belt forested sea with great difficulty at 1:00, and finished with palm trees. Both Amantes Point and Ypao transferring ship. They then began their land- Point formed cliffs. The ships attempted to ing around 2:25 guided by Navy Special Agent find a way to go inside the coral reef, but failed. Okano, the former captain of the Mariana- Consequently, they were compelled to land maru. First, the group of small boats attempted around Amantes Point, where the coral reef to enter Ylig Bay (since Talofofo Bay was the was shallow, and they carried out their landing best inlet on the east coast, and US forces there on the coral reef at 3:10. might offer a strong defense there, they The Navy Land Combat Troops (approxi- planned Ylig Bay as the first landing site). mately 400 strong) planned to land after Tsu- However, since they found the sea too rough kamoto Battalion; but the second landing party, to enter, they decided to enter from Talofofo learning of the bad condition of the beach in Tumon Bay, landed near “Stone Bamboo” in The cooperative operation of the Japanese Army and Navy to occupy Guam 47

Agana Bay about the same time as the first Horii Operational Order A No. 21 landing by Tsukamoto Battalion. Immediately Summary of the order for the South Seas De- after the landing, they occupied Guam’s Gov- tachment Force ernment House, encountering one minor resis- 1. As for our landing this morning, the detachment tance on their way to the facility. The time was met with complete success its combat goals, ob- 5:20.5 taining, in battle, results better than expected al- though some enemy soldiers still remain at large. THE OCCUPATION OF GUAM 2. After tomorrow, the 11th, the detachment is to mop up the remaining enemy, is to get ready to Mopping-Up Operation on Guam defend the island, and then is to begin training The Base 5 Troop Commander Rear Admiral its troops. Regarding the allocation of troops, Kasuga left his warship together with his staff Horii Operational Order A No. 7 is to be re- at 10:00, and moved the commander’s flag to scinded. Sumay. At 14:00 he reported by telegram how 3. The infantry is immediately to engage itself in the successful landing on Guam had been ac- the mopping-up operation. A small part of the complished, as follows: infantry is to be in charge of policing Tumon Bay. 1. The invasion troops for Guam assisted the South Seas Detachment Force, started landing on the 4. A cavalry (30 non-commissioned officers led by island at 5:00 on the 10th. The land combat a commissioned officer from Tsukamoto Infan- troops carried out a mopping-up operation, at- try Battalion) is to be deployed at Elementary tacked important places situated all around Apra School No. 1, is to assume responsibility for in- Harbor, and captured every one of those places. terning prisoners as well as exercising surveil- So far, our side has incurred no loss. The enemy lance over them. seems to have lost its fighting spirit due to our 5. The mountain artillery, engineer, and logistics fierce aerial attacks in the past few days. units are to engage in training exercises. 2. In Apra Harbor, we completed clearing the sea As for the formation and strength of the today, on the 10th, so we can anchor our ships enemy troops defending Guam, we ascertained in the harbor. We bombed and destroyed one a military force of 215 including the com- oil tank, batteries, and powder magazines; the oil mander of an important port (and the Gover- tank was ablaze for three days. nor-General), Captain McMillin; a Marine force 3. The results of the battle: We captured one tanker of 153 including Lieutenant Colonel McNulty; of about 3,000 tons in Apra Harbor. Inside the and a local island force of 282. Most of them harbor troops dispatched from a warship cap- were taken prisoner. The number of casualties tured 30 enemy prisoners: a Marine major and among the US troops was approximately 50. his subordinates. The main booty was 723 rifles, 7 heavy ma- 4. On the 8th the submarine spotted by friendly chine guns, 17 light machine guns, 70 pistols, 2 spies watching the waters to the south of Rota cannon, 139 vehicles, and many other items was lost even though our airplanes and vessels such as tools and materials, munitions, and later attempted to locate it. fuel. In addition, the Navy captured the USS Detachment Headquarters entered Agana in Barnes as well as nine other military vessels. the evening of the same day (i.e., the 10th), and After the landing it was disclosed that the stationed itself in the former Government defense troops on the island lost their fighting House. spirit because of our air assaults from the 8th At 22:00, on the 10th, in the city the South onwards. The American defense troops had Seas Detachment Force Commander handed already destroyed radio-controlled weapons, down orders regarding mopping up the re- fuel tanks, construction machinery, and auto- maining enemy, policing the interior of the is- mobile. since they predicted that Japanese land, and so. In the following two days, the troops would land on the 9th. 11th and 12th, they finished mopping up the island. 48 The cooperative operation of the Japanese Army and Navy to occupy Guam

Public Announcement of the Occupation ready to be set on fire. So probably there had of Guam been no time to destroy them by the time of The Navy section of Imperial Headquarters the Japanese landings. made a public announcement about the occu- For about six months a large-scale con- pation of Guam at 12:15 a.m., December 11th, struction project for a submarine base had as follows: been underway on the island of Guam. If the Our land combat troops of the Imperial Realm operation to occupy the island had been de- attacked important places situated all around layed for several months, one can imagine that Apra Harbor on the island of Guam before Japanese losses would have been considerable dawn on the 10th, and completely occupied because there would have been a greater build- these areas. In this operation, the land combat up of various facilities. troops seized one 3,000-ton oil tanker, and took The American residents on the island re- prisoner 30 US Marines including a major. We turned their families to the United States on did not incur any losses. October 15th. Those who remained on the is- Subsequently, on the same day at 4:30 p.m., land numbered 386 military personnel with an- the Army section of Imperial Headquarters other 115 American citizens working for Pan- also issued a communique to the public via the American Airlines, the underwater cable sta- newspapers: tion, the wireless telegraph station, and so on. The combat results of Army troops landing on The prisoners were kept in the Navy hospi- Guam are as follows: tal and other buildings for a month. However 1. We have 350 prisoners and many items of they were treated fairly leniently, and, the next booty. As prisoners we have taken Gover- year, on January 10th, 1942, were sent to main- nor-General of Guam McMillin, the com- land Japan by Japanese ship. mander of an important port, and many In Saipan, prior to the execution of the op- other officers including Lieutenant Gover- eration, the Nanyoo Koohatsu Corporation nor-General Giles. (henceforth abbreviated as “Nankoo”) secretly 2. The main force of the army has occupied organized 25 members of an investigation team Agana, the capital of Guam, and is now (headed by CEO Junichi Oohara consisting of engaged in mopping up resistance on the three sub-teams: agricultural affairs, construc- island. tion surveying, and labor). On December 15th, 3. We incurred no loss. In addition, we deliv- immediately after the occupation, the team ered 25 Japanese nationals from captivity. went to the island of Guam. (author’s note: actually, 35). On December 13th, the US Navy acknowl- Establishment of Civilian Government on edged the Japanese occupation of the island of Guam Guam, and made a public announcement that On January 20, 1942, the Department of Civil- there were 400 sailors and 155 Marine sta- ian Government was established on Guam. tioned on the island. And the Navy Land Combat Troop Com- mander who had defended the island since the Circumstances on the Island of Guam Im- occupation, Commander Hiroshi Hayashi, was mediately after Being Occupied the first to assume directorship of the depart- Contrary to the information given before the ment. execution of the operation, there were no land Most of the 20,000-30,000 islanders were batteries; rather only a few machine guns had Chamorros, relatively highly civilized, with been placed at strategic sites. A wireless tele- many of them being loyal to the United States. graph station, a cable station, port facilities, and In the beginning it was difficult to carry out other materiel such as machines and equipment pacification work which, it seems, in time were damaged too severely to be of further use. gradually improved. A US commentator made As for the warehouses, they had buckets filled the following observation about Guamanians: with oil at every nook and corner so as to be The cooperative operation of the Japanese Army and Navy to occupy Guam 49

Chamorros on the island of Guam were subject work for the enemy as interpreters when they to various pressures by Japanese troops intend- landed. ing to occupy the island forever. However, the On the following day when they were ar- Chamorros providing food protected a small rested and interrogated, these fellows provided number of American seamen who fled into the our authorities with the information that the en- mountains by. They have kept faith with Amer- emy would land near the beach east of Agana. ica to an extent that thoroughly moves our This was regarded as a cunning plan to lure our hearts. Marines out of their fighting positions. How- ever, the information turned out to be perfectly ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS correct in terms of the landing place, although We are grateful to Lola Quan for her drawing the landing date in the information was found to our attention to this journal to submit the be incorrect. translation for publication. We also appreciate 5 Morison’s History of United States Naval Operations Ann Hattori for her helpful comments on a in World War II describes the process of surren- draft of this summary. Our thanks go to Dirk der as follows: After a 20-minute fight (i.e., at 5:45; Japa- Ballendorf, too, for his kind assistance. We also nese time, 4:45) the Governor of Guam re- extend our thanks to Rose Manibusan, Na- ceived a report of another landing of enemy tional Park Service on Guam, for her supports troops and decided to surrender, sensing that a for this work as well ascommissioning the longer resistance would be suicidal, and would original translation work. Our appreciation make the lot of the natives worse. goes to the Japanese National Defense Train- A car horn sounded three times, signaling ing Institute, too, for their permission to pub- the end of the fighting. A Japanese voice lish this summary of our translation of, Chuubu shouted, “Send your commander here.” The na- Taiheiyoo Rikugun Sakusen Senshi—Mariana gyo- val commander, Commander D. T. Giles, nego- kusai made (Chapter Two, Volume One), a tiated by means of gesture with the commander of the landing forces, Commander Hiroshi Ha- work authored by the Institute. yashi, and together they returned to the gover- nor’s house. In the house, Captain McMillin ENDNOTES signed the provisions for surrender after obtain-

1 This translation by Toyoko Kang and edited by ing assurances about respecting the civil rights Timothy Guile (Meio University) is based on the of the natives, and treating prisoners in accor- following source: Chuubu Taiheiyoo Rikugun dance with the law and regulations of war. Sakusen Senshi—Mariana gyokusai mad. (His- tory of Military Operations of the Japanese Im- AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY AND CONTACT perial Army in the Central Pacific-- Dying for Dr. Kang teaches Japanese at the University of Honor in the Mariana). Authored by the Japa- Guam. nese National Defense Training Institute Mili- Dr. Toyoko Kang, Humanistic Studies, University of tary History Office. Volume 1. Chapter 2. Pp. Guam, UOG Station Mangilao, Guam 96923, USA. 17 - 42. e-mail: [email protected] 2 One of the Bonin Islands. 3 The drafts of IAHI and IAHO had been re- leased in advance in Marugame on November 19th. The official announcement was made by telegram using cable addresses in order to pre- vent errors or misdelivery. 4 In The Rising Sun in the Pacific, History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, US Cap- tain Morison wrote about this as follows: On the evening of the 8th, a canoe landed several Saipanese around Ritidian Point. They were sent to the island prior to the enemy's (Japanese armed forces) landing, in order to 50 The cooperative operation of the Japanese Army and Navy to occupy Guam