The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-07-31

ct1AN NAOUAANS1 Ss@4 A4AA we wv single men, except for the attache , himself.
 Even without state department urging, women began leaving Japan as long ago as last August. The difhculties of housekeeping, par ticularly If there were children, had come to outweigh the benefits of keeping the families together. A couple of sturdy boys in one American household were keeping their feet of the ground only by stuffing cardboard in their worn- out shoes. While they were doing that six pairs of new shoes which had been sent out from America were reposing in the Tokyo post office, awaiting an import permit which the head of the family nev- CT was able to obtain.
 There is no decent flour in Japan. Matches, rice, and fuel are ra- toned and although there has been some improvement in the sup- ply they are not always obtainable even up to the ration allowance. Building materials are so scarce that necessary house repairs fre- quently cannot be made.
 Water Was RatiOned
 There was 8 bad drought last summer and last fall and water was rationed. Some. houses had no water for weeks except what was brought in from pumps some dis tance away. And there was a limit to that.
 Trains, street-cars and busses are overcrowded and travel is dan ger SIS because of the lack of re- pairs and replacements. Buses and taxicabs are mostly charcoal burners, slow, unMeldly and uncer- tain of performance. have been in dozens of taxicabs which have broken down or been unable to climb slight inclines.
 There is a "black market" for some commodities where prices are high and quality low. The prices of practically everything are fixed by law, with the result that the articles disappear from the market and appear only when ample extra fees are provided. You can purchase 6 poorly tailored suit of English material in Tokyo today for SO, but neither the workmanship nor the cloth would be of good quality
 There is no more imported wliskey in Japan. Foreign cigar cites, cigars and smoking tobacco have disappeared. Even the Japa- nese cigarets, of constantly de- teriorating quality, are not always available. Japanese beer, a few years ago considered among the better kinds, now contains subSti- ute materials which not only de- tract from the taste but leave dis agreeable after-efHects.
 The Japanese have tempered even with their medicines. A for eign doctor told me he had dis covered instances where harmful ingredients had been substituted for ones no longer available.
 All these substitute products are referred to as "Su-fu," derived from the first syllables of staple and fiber, which the Japanese pronounce "Su ta pu- lu-fu-eye-bu' without bothering to find word of their own as an equivalent of the Ger man "Ersatz."
 Tokyo No COIOrful City
 Tokyo is not 8 colorful city but at one time 1t gave the appearance of one because of the numerous neon lights at night and the beau tiful color combinations in the women,s kimonoS during the day.
 Now hte lights have ben removed to conserve power and the kimonos are less colorful because the new materials are inferior. Most of the people are wearing old garments to escape public Tidicule which patriots direct at anyone suspected of treating the present "crisis" witl, unbecoming fTivolity.
 Of the social fife of non.Axis for. elensrs in Tokyo. The club has ben. elitted by excellent management and . community spirit assaong ita mem. bers. It hes constant difllcultlei with It's supplies but hard work patience and wood nature under handieaps have kept lt going.
 when I left Tokyo last montil there was no noticeable ill-feslinl toward AEneFIeans. one sealoI smashed the windows oe on antos mobile bearing AEaaFl0An eMhassy license plates. But inel4neis ef shal kind happened even during ''neF. Fnais times. 4 pSanehnsnn was at. laeked by Fuflinns ln Keba and seriously Injured bui nene q hli asaaf,ant1 kIfsw hln natfonalifH anf