Antedating of "honcho" (1945)

[Sam Clements]

M-W uses 1955.  OED uses 1947(hancho).

In the Coshocton (OH) Tribune from September 1, 1945, there is a photo of
the commandant of the US POW camp on Guam and a Japanese POW passing him.
The caption is:

    In the best Japanese tradition, a prisoner of war on Guam greets Lt.
Harold F. Gannon of Brooklyn, commandant of the camp, with a so-humble bend
from the waist, accompanied, no doubt, by the traditional hiss of politely
indrawn breath.  This prisoner is the "honcho," or group headman, in the POW
stockade.  Navy photo. (International)


I found the same photo with caption in a Michigan paper four days later.

SC