Evening star., 1942-07-28

UU1 HOUE u OUUVHfkut UCyWC Lfte
japanese occnpdtion)
by NORRIS J. HARRIS AND
JAMES d. WHITE.
LOURENCO MARQUES, Portu-
guese East Africa, July "a Delayed
still maintaining their traditional
so-sorry-for- you u-but-we-need-thi
attitude, the Japanese have steadily
frightened their grip on Shanghai's
historic International Settlement.
Just to keep the record straight,
the Japanese occasionally remind
the public and themselves that per-
haps the settlement is still supposed
to be international, but this in no
way hampers them from doing or
appropriating anything they wish.
Immediately after war was de-
clared the tentacles of japan con-
troll reached into the farthest re-
cesses of the settlement to con-
troll its daily existence.
The tentacles represent agencies
like the Army and Navy, the gen.
darmes and the consulate. These
tentacles cling to commodities which
are scarce In Japan and vital to
her war effort.
Fear Of Ar0using Panic.
The Japanese have gone slow in
Shanghai and 1t is believed that
the main deterrent has been the
fear of arousing to panic the citys
100000 Chinese who though un-
armed still constitute a potential
mob in the minds Of high-riding
6amurai.
without the slightest warning,
the city of Shanghai was wakened
at dawn on December 8 (the day of
the attack on Pearl Harbor accord
ing to East Asia time), by the roar
of Japanese guns destroying the sole
British gunboat remaining in the
Whangpoo River-H. M. S. Petrol.
The vessel refused to surrender
promptly and sank in roaring mass
Of flames at her bundside berth.
One British seaman died.
The American gunboat Wake sur
rendered and its crew was interned
with the PetrelS.
Planes showered leaflets on the
International Settlement ANNOUNCE
ing the war and the fact that the
settlement would be entered, and
urging the residents remain calm.
Cheered by Japs.
. Thousands of Japanese civilians
cheered Is truckloads of bluejackets,
soldiers and gendarmes poured into
the settlement from Hongkew,
plAstering the area with we'll printed
posters obviously prepared long in
advance, which proclaimed the oc-
cupation Of the settlement and In
structed Allied nationals to register
on the following day.
The occupation was effected
speedily and without incident. Ger
mans, some Of them Nazis, provided
some Of the most ironical comments.
"JapAn's action means the white
mans end In the Far East" one said.
The Americans laughed in their
faces.
The Japanese occupied buildings
like the American Club, the Amer
ican Navy YMCA, the American
Country Club and the British
Shanghai Club and used them for
various headquarters.
Consalates Sealed.
Fifty Of us living at the Amer
ican Club were given three hours
to get out with our belongings. Al
lied consulates were sealed, their
personnel interned in hotels. Squads
Of soldiers, sailors and gendarmes
descended on all Allied property
except private homes and thereafter
spent days, weeks and months seal
ing American and British ofiices
and warehouse stocks involving all
essential commodities.
They commandeered Allied stores
and factories and wharves, parceling
them out among themselves and the
favored japanese companies Muted
pickering over the spoils still con-
tinues.
However, there is no unomcial
looting or despoiling.
Public utilities like the American
Shanghai Power Co., were occupied
and continued In operation by mill
tary and naval agents.
Most Of the stores had japanese
supervisors appointed and some re-
opened for business, which was
necessarily limited. The Associated
Press ONCE was sealed the first day
and never reopened.
Supplies Confiscated.
American Red Cross supplies were
conflscated and some later released
Allied banks were sealed imme-
diately and later reopened. Gold
balances are still frozen. Depositors
in theory can withdraw 1000 Chi
nese dollars a month from private
local accounts but payments are
slow and erratic.
On winter days we lined up fol-
hours, standing with others wait
ing to withdraw money for living
expenses.
While some firms were allowed to
withdraw enough to pay of theil
STATS, some 200 others. including
the Associated Press, were unable
to get any funds whatever. AL
essential commodities like metals
basic foods and medicines, were con-
liscated or became subject tc
priorities rule.
Allied automobiles were requisi-
toned In February and receipts
were issued by the military authori-
ties.
The Japanese steadily frightened
control OF the settlement admin.
istration. They kept all of its de-
partments working, including the
police. although many employe!
were British and American.
Allied nationals were Immediately
elected from the Chinese Maritime
Customs Commission.
The French thus far appear tt
have escaped Japanese control, but
have no illusions about the future
feeling they will be ripe for harvest
when the time comes.
Reciprocally the French receive
small favors like fuel for buildings
which is denied the settlement
nS,t