Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-11-24
Japan Lives in Fear
Of Epidemic Spread
Through Tourists
Methods Are Declared
Used to Discourage
Influx of Visitors
BY REGINALD SWEETLAND,

YOKOHAMA, Japan-Voices are
shouting raucous warnings through
loud-speakers in the dark, planes
are roaring overhead, the city is in
almost total darkness, theaters,
cafes, hotel grillrooms are closed, as
on this special day of air raid pre-
cautions this city and Toxic with
its millions observe what the gov
eminent calls emergency precau-
tionary measures"
The japanese take these things
with the utmost seriousness; for
eigners, including tourists here to
see the sights of this eye-filling
country, join in chorus of Crouch
ing. Especially the tourists who have
but two days to remain in these
parts, and some of them have come
all the way here from Bremen and
Hamburg and Berlin.
Unlike Italy, which also needs an
abundance of foreign currency for
exchange purposes, Japan doesn't
seem to care two figs whether or
not tourists come here. True, the
passport inquisitors are more cour-
teous and less severe and eXacting
than formerly. This might also be
said of the customs staff. But that
is not enough.
Japan Fears Epidemics.
Japan today has one great, over
whelming fear. She is afraid of
epidemics. She has mortal fear
that incoming passengers, tourists
and returning residents may bring
cholera. smallpox or trachoma with
them. Should such an epidemic once
gain foothold in this country the
China incident and a war with
Russia would be minor concerns in
the havoc they would Wreak.
Ships from faro distant ports ar
irving here have been held up "a
and So hours while white-goWned
Japanese medicoS applied Stetho-
scopes. examined eXcreta and eyes,
and smallpox and cholera certifi-
Gates. Other vessels with tourists
upon them pass through the miles
of red tape in quicker time, only
to run into the emergency AFRAID
precautionary measures.
Of so or more tourists from Ger
many and way points who came over
in the vessel on which this CORE
spondent arrived, more than half
sWore they would never come to
Japan again, and this before they
had put one foot ashore on the very
modern docks at Yokohama.
Tourists Are Delayed.
They were to have two full days
here, and the vessel arrived at 10
am, with almost full day of
sightseeing ahead for its passengers.
1t was to sail at midnight the fol-
lowing day, thus allowing plenty of
time for trips to Nikko, Kamakura,
Toxic, ZuShi and other interesting
points.
All through the day the quaran-
tine doctors labored. Launches with
large metal containers drew along
side, doctors and nurses paced the
decks examining eyes and docu-
ments. At 5 pm. pursers and stew
ards appeared with selective list
of less than 80 passengers who were
permitted ashore, but with this pro-
viSo-all such passengers going
ashore had to be off the streets
within one hour, for at that time
emergency measures were to go into
effect. All other passengers must
remain on the ship. And this they
did.
They are in darkened dining
rooms all passagewaws were BACKED
out; at all ship portfolios dark cur
tains were drawn and the life of the
ship in harbor went on in darkness.
And so for II hours passengers
who should have been enjoying the
sights of the Island Empire huddled
in darkness, each full of ill-will
against a nation that is trying in
left-handed sort of way to create
friends.
Vessel Sails Early.
At 6 o'clock the following morning
all remaining passengers were per-
mitted ashore in Yokohama, but
to AFRAID precautionary measures
due again that night in the city
and harbor the vessel would sail at
6 pm. instead of at midnight.
Upon such matters as these do
tourists gain their first impression
of Japan. Now we have arrived,
after a long sea voyage, and they
will not let us land"
Once landed. who will ever forget
the looks on the tired faces of old
women, as under the raucous orders
of husky men in uniform they tear
into the pebblestone streets and
lanes and hurl buckets of water and
packages of loose earth upon mag
mary fires, or put out smoking fire.
crackers lit by young boys who are
engaged in dramatic feats of lighting
smoke bombs and fires as imaginary
enemy bombing planes swoop down
from cloudless skies.
Excellent training perhaps, and eX-
cellent lessons in Self-control, but
this correspondent watched the
same exercises in these same cities
four years ago and fails to note any
great progress in them during that
time. But perhaps their chief pur-
pose is to keep the civilian populace
alive to emergencies confronting
them and to keep them from grum-
bling at the tightening economic
meshes ingulfing them and affecting
their daily life. But, as Japanese
policeman, delegated to watch this
correspondent, once told him: "You
in America drive to the right. We
Japanese keep to the left" Mean
ing, in case the insinuation escapes
you, I'VE japanese do things our
own way and it is none of your
business how we do it. So be it,
(Copyrght, 1888, by the Chicago Daily
News, 1nc.)
Snnd CuIns AnmIefe