Evening star., 1942-07-27

the Associated Press bureau in
Toxic about one year 1Uhen the
Japanese bombed Pearl Hdrbor.
Then he ,UdS interned for seren
months NTH other United States
ne1OSmen and has reached Lou
renco Marques. Portuguese East
Africa, on the ship exchanging
American and japanese nd-
tiOnalS
Before taking his Toxic as
Signment, Mr. Hill Was chief OF
the Associated Press Ne10 York
City bureau from 1888 to 194O
He mGS born in Colorado Springs
3S gears ago, 2DdS graduated
from the University Of Colorado
and 1Oorked for SeDeral years on
the DenDer Post. He Joined the
Associated Press in Ne7U York IN
1884 and ,Dorked fOr q time in
the Washington bureau.
THE following is the first story
received from Mr. Hill since Pearl
HarborJ
BY MAX HILL.
LOURENCO MARQUES, Portu-
guese East Africa, July 27.-It was a
good story at the time, but it's fun
nler than ever now--how the Jap
anese sought to save face after the
Doolittle raid but didn't quite sue
ceed. all because some doubling
japanese know wet paint when they
see it,
Somehow you can enjoy a Joke
more when you breathe the air of
freedom
Americans interned at Toxic carry
vivid memories of that April l8 raid
by United States planes and moth
ing serves better to keep the mem
ories alive than this story which
circulated among us internees.
The Japanese press. telling of the
attack on Toxic and other cities,
first said nine of the planes were
shot down. Later this figure was
more conveniently modified to one
and Wreckage to give weight to the
announcement was displayed in the
Japanese capital.
Stunt Backfired.
That was all very well. but even
this limited propaganda stunt back
hred, SO the story goes, when some
curious spectators discovered that
the red, white and blue paint on the
twisted wing covering was wet in
stead of dry
Actually, understand now. there
were as many as 16 planes in the
raid, and while there is no available
reliable estimate of the casualties
1t is known that heavy damage was
done in the industrial districts be-
tween Toxic and Yokohama, where
large areas of factories and homes
were burned over.
While the Toxic raid gave Jap
anese of the metropolitan region
a bad case of nerves, the havoc
wrought by American submarines
was causing just as much appre-
hension.
The most telling blow by Amer
ican submarines was the sinking of
the Taio Maru, bound for the East
Indies with 600 economic experts.
1t was rumored in Toxic that
American submarines were operat-
ing virtually in Yokohama Harbor.
In this sleepy exchange port,
where Americans are waiting impa-
tiently for the sailing of the Swed-
ish ship Gripsholm, there have been
frequent rows with the japanese.
Frequent Quarrels.
The groups being exchanged are
here together The Japanese ex-
change vessels are close to the
Gripsholm as the pier. japanese
and Americans see each other at
the dock, and both are on shopping
sprees in town. There are frequent
quarrels.
The chief activity of the North
and Latin American group is racing
from shop to shop and eating great
quantities of the Gripsholms stock
of food.
japanese. who came this far on
the Gripsholm, complained bitterly
about the quality of the food, but
they will have more to complain
about if the bill of fare remains
the same as it was for us on the
japanese ships.
Some Americans are still suffering
from effects of malnutrition. Those
caught by the war at Hong Kong
seem to be worst off in this respect.
some individuals losing as much as
so hounds in weight