Evening star., 1942-10-04
Americans Interned
In Manila Organize
Own Government
Pool Funds and SkiIIs
In Forming City Along
Democratic Lines

DemoCf0tlc Lines
How nearly 5000 American civil
ians interned by the Japanese in
= Manila college have organized
themselves into q self-governing
group and are dividing the work
to keep their community going was
inscribed yesterday by the Once Of
far Information.
The story of the colony was based
1 b reports Of American citizens who
I've returned from the Philippines.
8When the Philippine capital fell,
wi pointed out, the Americans
I'D q lesser number of British,
bles, Mexicans, Dutch and Firms
ere taken to the 30-acre campus
Santo Tomas University. the
dest college in the Orient.
I'M School Facilities Taxed.
MThe university had not been pre-
Ared for such q use, and toilet, bath
I'D cooking facilities were lacking.
lost Of the prisoners, at the sug-
estion Of the Japanese, had taken
hong food for few days, but many
Id not have bedding, mosquito nets
W sufficient clothing. Bedrooms
Measured no more than four by six
Net, while dormitories consisted of
om 30 to 40 cots ranged closely in
assrooms.
@ During the early days, it was
Aecessary for the internees to stand
IA line for cup of water. Many
Mad done no manual work for years,
end others had done little else all
their lives. The prisoners. nearly
n from democratic countries. pro-
Needed to elect their leaders, Or
ERAnize committees and draw up
sfegulations.
81 Among the officials Of the Santo
omas community government, and
f4ext of kin, the owl said, was:
censorship Committee, Chairman
lE. E. Van Sickle, whose father-in-
law is Maj. Gen. Myron c. Cramer,
Washington.
s. No Epidemics So Far.
A chart of the camps govern
mental plan reached this country
iecently. The internees volunteered
4or the services best suited to their
tFaining. Electrical engineers have
Installed wiring systems to carry
the heavier loads needed for lights,
fans, washing equipment and kitch-
En- stoves. Men and women skilled
with the needle have opened tailor
End clothing repair shops. The
Equipment now includes laundry,
IS, shoe store, carpenter, plumbing,
paint and metal-work shops. Lum-
Bsr; nails, mosquito nets and elec-
4ric wire which have made the camp
more livable we're paid for from con-
tributions of the prisoners. A relief
find was started for those without
FUNDS.
q While the living quarters are
Mamped, thus far no epidemic has
broken out. Credit for that goes
To the constant welding of mops
and brooms, a good supply of creo-
kote an dthe diligence Of an insect
Epntrol squad.
IN the chief camp kitchen, occupy
Ing the site of two former class
rooms in the main building, two
meals a day are prepared. Break
fast, served at $3.50 am, invariably
consists of cracked wheat or corn
meal mush with syrup, coffee with
SUGAR and dash of heavily-watered
n1,lk. For the 4:30 pm. supper
there usually is beef stew, vegetable
stew, chilli con carne. chicken noodles
or white beans and a dessert with
a corn-starch-base pudding. In the
women's and children's annex, three
meals are served, and milk and fruit
juices are supplied children and
mothers of babies.
Lack Green Vegetables.
while the prisoners thus far have
managed to keep healthy in general
the diet is extremely starchy, lack.
ing in green vegetables and fruit
Ehere also is a shortage of bread
milk and timed goods.
Additional food is obtained from
-interned relatives. friends ane
loyal servants, who bring about 50(
Harcels to Santo Tomas daily. Com.
munications with outsiders are linn.
tied to Is censored words, writer
on special form.
Since the japanese object to tht
word love" as an infraction O.
their moral code, the word canno
be used. Instead the internees ma!
write only: Il like you"
Most of the food for the camp ha
shee nsupplied by the Philippine
Nhapter Of the American Red Cros
sfrom funds on hand when the Jap
bAnese captured Manila.
S How much longer the food cal
hst," said owl, "and what will
shappen when they are exhausted
Us not known. At present the Amer
Hcan Red Cross Is attempting
Through the International Red Cros
Elm Switzerland. to establish a regu
Elar system of bringing supplies ant
more varied American foods to tn
einternes, the distribution of an
kuch shipments to be supervised b.
san appointee of the Internationa
sRed Cross. Negotiations also ar
sunder way for facilitation of sendin
messages from Manila to next o
Ekin and for receiving mail and par
scels from abroad.
e. The fixed remuneration attache
Ito the honor Of being England
Epoet laureate is about s515 pc
Year.