tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post7768859450658928974..comments2023-10-22T18:25:39.688+08:00Comments on The View from Taiwan: Harlow M Church Dispatches from Formosa, 1946Michael Turtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-45411536447161370352013-07-12T21:37:21.377+08:002013-07-12T21:37:21.377+08:00It could mean that American forces showed up for s...It could mean that American forces showed up for securing the Formosa by the intelligence dispatch and found there was no need or justification of injecting large amount of ground troops as most war torn regions. It's also possible that as an US reporter, he was obligated to say that as Formosa was bombed into surrender to Allied Forces by US and the (<br />principal) occupier had the obligation under the law of wars to secure the occupied regions until civil order or civil government is establised.People of or on Taiwannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-33650847293357518112013-07-12T21:22:12.904+08:002013-07-12T21:22:12.904+08:00Re: What did he mean by "American forces secu...Re: What did he mean by "American forces secured the island?"<br /> We imagine most readers have the same question and reaction as the true meaning of American forces and their tasks and tactics in securing the island. No, we have not seen any documented story of significant amount of US ground troops on the island in that period except the relentless bombing from US forces prior to the surrender order from the emperor. Could Harlow mean the bombing instead of the boots on the ground style securing?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-59629111947531762302012-09-14T21:04:38.172+08:002012-09-14T21:04:38.172+08:00@James
I'm supposed to just trust some guy on...@James<br /><br />I'm supposed to just trust some guy on the internet? ;)<br /><br />My question wasn't, "Will someone re-affirm the statement that Americans secured the island?" My question is more like, "What did he mean by "American forces secured the island? Did large numbers of American forces arrive and take over peacekeeping operations before the Chinese showed up? Were there pockets of Japanese or Taiwanese resistance that ignored the surrender order and had to be neutralized by American troops?"<br /><br />From what I recall reading, and sometimes my memory is isn't perfect, is that a few Americans (like less than 2 dozen) showed up for diplomatic purposes just prior to the Chinese arrival, but they didn't arrive in enough numbers to "secure the island". It was Chinese troops that showed up with something that could be called a military force to formally accept the Japanese surrender and govern the island during the transition. If it is true that "American forces secured the island" than I'm missing something in the narrative.Readinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-6408642985616209412012-09-14T20:04:43.699+08:002012-09-14T20:04:43.699+08:00Thanks Laurens! Kerr is well known, but Church I&#...Thanks Laurens! Kerr is well known, but Church I'd never heard of, and he was on the island during an important period.Michael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-18685799567056029042012-09-14T19:14:27.746+08:002012-09-14T19:14:27.746+08:00Although it has been written 47 years ago, George ...Although it has been written 47 years ago, George Kerr's "Formosa betrayed" (first edited in 1965) was an impressive read to me. <br /><br />Kerr is focussing heavily on the chaotic transition from Japanese colonial rule to the import of the KMT's oppressive regime that tried to squeeze the maximum of profits out of Taiwan for a long time.<br /><br />I warmly recommend the book to all who have not read it yet.<br /><br />And I hope to visit Taiwan again as soon as possible. Five times has not been close to enough, loving it!<br /><br />BTW: My connection to Taiwan? I'm a journalist specialized in bicycles, that should say enough.Laurenshttp://mudstud-speaklouder.blogspot.ch/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-51489442057126554022012-09-14T15:03:09.996+08:002012-09-14T15:03:09.996+08:00There's some more information here - on Google...There's some more information here - <a href="http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19460415&id=YTwbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Ak0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=4479,5344599" rel="nofollow">on Google News</a>. It's a bit easier to read, as well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-62990950088338324292012-09-14T12:18:23.570+08:002012-09-14T12:18:23.570+08:00@Readin: Trust me - the Americans definitely '...@Readin: Trust me - the Americans definitely 'secured' the island. They may have officially surrendered to the Chinese but you only have to read things like Formosa Betrayed to see how embarrassing it was watching the dishevelled rabble taking over from the pristine, orderly 'vanquished'. Jameshttp://thewritingbaron.com/puji-for-show-shanguang-for-dough-thoughnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-6472335195328134432012-09-14T02:22:52.825+08:002012-09-14T02:22:52.825+08:00Fascinating stuff. Not heard of him. Where did you...Fascinating stuff. Not heard of him. Where did you dig this up, Michael?Jameshttp://thewritingbaron.com/puji-for-show-shanguang-for-dough-thoughnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-37190983699099416362012-09-14T00:00:10.827+08:002012-09-14T00:00:10.827+08:00CompellingCompellingAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680069333426826313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-17168738566526117462012-09-13T23:37:32.089+08:002012-09-13T23:37:32.089+08:00I'm not sure I said that right (I already subm...I'm not sure I said that right (I already submitted and can't see what I wrote). Wikipedia says the Japanese troops in Taiwan surrendered to the Chinese. That seems like it might not fit with the newspaper saying that American forces secured the island.Readinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-26291650747578415442012-09-13T23:36:02.947+08:002012-09-13T23:36:02.947+08:00The newspaper article says "American forces s...The newspaper article says "American forces secured the island after the Jap surrender and turned it over to Chinese forces".<br /><br />Wikipedia says the Japanese surrendered directly to Chinese forces. Can anyone shed light on this?Readinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-81495824015350062162012-09-13T23:15:26.504+08:002012-09-13T23:15:26.504+08:00That's some really bad OCR from a service that...That's some really bad OCR from a service that asks for 5.99~9.99 per month. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-89318050025374850832012-09-13T22:47:46.057+08:002012-09-13T22:47:46.057+08:00Interesting take on attempting to corral the chaos...Interesting take on attempting to corral the chaos of the late 40s into some kind of narrative. But I think Vern Sneider was more successful with his tragic novel "A Pail of Oysters."Marcnoreply@blogger.com