Evening star., 1942-07-25
LOO From Americas Traded
For Jap ENJOYS and Families
Portugal Supervises Tronsfer Of Nationals
At Lourenco Marques, Eost Africo
\ the Associated Press.

P, the Associated Press
LOURENCO MARQUES, Portu-
guese East Africa, July q (de-
layedD The first diplomatic trans
fer of nationals between the United
States and Japan since the start OF
the Pacific war was completed here
today when more than 100 North
and South Americans boarded the
Swedish liner Gripsholm to take the
places vacated by Japanese diplo-
mats and their families brought
from America.
The Americans arrived here on
the liners Conte Verde and Asama
Maru. They walked down the gang
planks OF the two ships as the jap
anese left the Gripsholm and the
two groups moved along the quay in
parallel lines to their new state
rooms.
cThe Toxic radio said the
Americans were scheduled to sail
today from the East African
port)
A line Of railway cars had been
drawn up on the quay, separating
the Japanese and Americans rs they
marched to their new ships. Soon
after moving to the Gripsholm, the
Americans were permitted to disem-
bark and tour the city.
Supervised by Portugal.
The exchange was supervised by
the Portuguese Foreign Once.
The North and South Americans
brought with them from Japan and
japanese occupied territories stories
of their existence In the Orient un-
der Japanese supervision. Some Of
these accounts tol dof hunger, cold
and threats.
(Four Associated Press corre-
spondents arrived with the group.
Following are portions Of 4 COM
posite story on conditions tn ia
pan and Japanese-occupied ter
ritory written by the correspond
ents. Some parts OF the story
are omitted to conform with Of
ficial requests from Washington
that nothing be done which could
interfere In the slightest with the
Welfare or repatriation Of Ameri-
cans still In Japanese occupied
territory. The correspondents
are Max Hill, chief of the former
Associated Press bureau In Toxic;
Relman Norm, who was In Indo-
China: Joseph Dynan, who was
in Toxic, and Vaughn Meisling,
who was In Hong Kong at its
capitulation)
Some OF the returning American
nationals reported that some pris-
oners were threatened with the
guillotine by japanese authorities
seeking to obtain admissions OF
guilt from men charged with es-
pionage.
There were no known cases In
Japan of physical abuse Of women
or children among the prisoners,
but some men were told their wives
and children would be made to
suffer If they did not confess to
charges.
These reports are those Of
individuals and have not yet
been brought to the ofncial at
tention of the United States
Government.)
General Food Shortage.
There was 4 general food short
age In Hong Kong, and Americans
and Canadians held there suffered
from beri-beri, pellagra and other
ailments caused by diet DEFICIENCIES.
Some lost as much as 60 pounds In
weight, and the average was 20
pounds.
In the northern areas of the
japanese Empire, internees suffered
from cold during the winter. Those
held in Korea and Manchukuo en-
dured unheated cells and houses
with temperatures below zero. There
we're no reports OF deaths among
American prisoners from mistreat-
ment, but a number of British ma
tionals committed suicide in prison.
A score Of American priests. cap
tured In Hong Kong on Christmas
Day, said they were marched to 4
ravine for execution, then reprieved
at the last moment. They were
held in a garage for three days. tied
in groups with insufficient water
and food.
Correspondent Choked.
The United Press received q dis
patch from Its correspondent. Rob-