Evening star., 1942-08-27
70 Missionaries Sent
To Ellis Island After
Gripsho|m Checkup
Diplomots Soy Poeifist
Meetings Were Held
Aboard Vessel
B, TIE Associated Press.

Aboard Vessel
h tire Associated Press.
JERSEY CITY, Aug. 27.--Among
the approximately las passengers
from the diplomatic exchange ship
Gripsholm transferred to Ellis
Island are 20 missionaries suspected
of carrying on activities detrimental
to the United States while aboard
the ship.
Returning diplomats said today
that a series of paciflst meetings
allegedly looking toward the open
ing of peace negotiations took place
aboard.
BY last night COL of the more than
1,400 repatriates who had completed
the long voyage home from the
Orient had left the docked vessel.
Although instructed by the State
Department to speak cautiously OF
their experiences-out of difference
to their compatriots still living in
conquered countries-some pas
sengers told about starving. face
slapping and humiliating tactics Of
the japanese. Others spoke of
more happy treatment.
Held in Chinese Dive.
Most of the stories of severe
treatment came from those who
lived through the capture of Hong
Kong, where prison conditions i'm
mediately after the japanese occu-
patton were described as abom-
Unable.
Walter F. Arndt, assistant general
manager for the American President
Lines at Hong Kong, told of being
held for Is days in Chinese brothel
where for two days none OF the five
occupants of tiny room was given
either food or water.
Il was kept in a 15x17-foot cell
with 80 others persons, mostly Ori-
entails" said H. S. Dunn, Far East
ern manager for Warner Bros
Pictures. describing his 64-day ordeal
in Shanghai. In that time my only
food was bowl of rice three times
q day"
Paul v. McLane, Canadian govern
inent trade commissioner at Hong
Kong, described the plight of be-
tween 1.700 and 1000 Canadian war
prisoners at Hong Kong whom he
said the Japanese authorities re-
fused civilian internees permission
to visit before they were evacuated.
TT seems pretty definite that con-
ditions in the camp are hard, and
that supplementary food and medi-
cal supplies are also urgently needed
there" Mr.. McLane said.
Beaten With Bamboo Pole.
The Canadian military prisoners
were lodged in huts on North Point
of Hong Kong Island. The princi-
pal concern of civilian internees re-
naming there was food, Mr.. McLane
said.
Hal P. Mills, A. Shanghai news
paper publisher, told of being beaten
across the neck with bamboo pole
by guard who discovered tooth
pick in his clothing and OF the ''un-
usual" surliness of the guards the
day Doolittle came over" Japan.
His two newspapers, the Chinese
American Evening News and the
Chinese American Daily News, were
bombed three times during japanese
raids on Shanghai, Mr.. Mills said
but each time the plant was repaired
and publication resumed
Mr.. Mills. a resident of Shanghai
Is years, planned to visit his home
In New Orleans, then he intends to
join the Army Ito get crack at the
Japs."
Mr.. Mills said he was placedsin a
military prison in Shanghai. For 81
days after he was interned, he said
the japanese did not question him.
Questioned for Is Days.
But they grilled me all day fol
as days after that" Mr.. Mills de-
clared. They wanted to know
where I got my news, but l kiddec
them. They asked me many asinint
questions and I gave them sill,
answers such as. My grandmother
eyes are blue They took it all dowr
very seriously"
The food they gave him, Mr.. Mill
said, consisted Of three bowls of ric
day, which most of the time wa
not palatable, and fish heads. De
scrihing the incident of the tooth
pick, Mr.. Mills said:
He (the guardD beat me acros
the back of my neck. I would hav
been knocked down except for m
determination not to let them know
/ could be scared. I'm big and
can take it."
Mrs. John Hellmers of New Or
leans, who was captured by the Jap
snese along with all the othe
American personnel on the islam
OF Guam, left the ship carrying he
a-month- h-old baby Charlene, VIII
was born l6 days before the attac
on Guam.
Baggage Cleared.
Mrs. Hellmers' husband, formerl
y chief commissary steward in tn
Navy. Is a military prisoner /
Japan. She was permitted repatris
ton because of her civilian status.
With their 6-week-old son Dor
during the repatriation voyage, tf
Rev. and Mrs Cecil S. Ward diseH
barked this morning. Their hon
Is in Bessemer, Ala.
The baby. named James There
Ward, was born July Is aboard tf
japanese liner Asama Maru viii
It steamed through the India
Ocean taking American nationa
10 the exchange port of Louren'
Marques. Portuguese East Afric
James is the Wards first chill
They have been married IL years.
The japanese showed no consl'
Grafton for Mrs. Wards condltit
during mternment, she reportt
Other Americans donated part
their meager food rations SO tn
she might have the equivalent OF
ration and half of food each ds
Rice was the principal food, Wi
an occasional stew or fish soup.
milk was available.
nahv In GNnd HpaIth