This WWII (probably mid to late 1942) Japanese newsreel features an English commentary, and reports on events in Manila and on the front in other places in Southeast Asia. It covers the celebration of “Horse Day” in Manila, the construction of a new airfield on the Bay of Bengal, and scenes from the Indo-Burmese border of Japanese soldiers meeting soldiers of the Indian National Army. The INA was a unit of Indian collaborators that fought under the command of the Japanese Empire. It was founded on 1 September 1942, so the newsreel likely was released after that date.
The narration throughout paints a picture of Japanese vigor and zeal, while taking many swipes at the British and their Allies, and Lord Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma.
0:10 “New Philippines News No. 25”, 0:26 “Horse Day Celebration”, 0:32 a horse drawn “caratella” transporting people, 1:09 a large assembly of caratellas on Horse Day, 1:30 Rafael Alunan, Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce, addressing the crowd and presenting awards, 1:49 a horse parade in Manila, 2:29 “Nippon’s Defence is Solid Bengal Bay”, 2:34 Japanese soldiers at a base in the Bengal Bay preparing defensive positions, 2:59 Japanese soldiers move a gigantic searchlight. 3:20 laborers clearing forest for an airfield, 4:03 elephants and construction equipment helping in the construction of the airfield, 5:09 the first Mitsubishi Zeros taking off from the airfield, 5:54 “Second Flash from Indo-Burmese Border, INA on the March”, 6:07 Indian National Army soldiers marching, 6:55 Patkai Mountain range, 7:08 Japanese and INA troops engaging with each other happily, 8:10 Japanese soldiers taking apart a supply truck, carrying it part by part through the jungle, and reassembling it, 10:11 “The End”
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