Evening star., 1942-07-26

personal resources are exhausted.
In late June when we left Shang-
hal, where alone 1900 Americans
remain. 1t already was feared that
conditions soon would deteriorate.
Organized Relief.
However, up to that time, most of
the Americans felt generally they
had been getting along as we'll or
better than they could have eX-
pected. with the exception of the
activities of Nippon's version Of the
Gestapo - the Imperial Japanese
Gendarmerie.
Three days after the war began
the japanese requested the Amer
lean Association to take over the
handling of civil affairs and the
consul and the consul general staff
was interned.
Under the Craftsmanship Of Paul
Anderson of the American Red
Cross. whose home is in Los Angeles
this association Immediately began
organizing relief measures for Amer
leans whose incomes were cut off.
It also acted as liaison between
Japanese authorities and the entire
American community. A similar
organization functioned for the
British.
Supplies Sequestered.
Association officials believe that
this relief measure saved us from
the concentration camp for if we
were unable to care for ourselves
the Japanese would have had to,
20 great was the general need.
Relief first appeared virtually i'm
possible because the Japanese Sc
questered supplies, among them Red
Cross supplies including $4,000 bags
of flour, $4,000 bags of rice and
$4,000 worth of medical supplies.
Mr. Anderson estimated that the
medical supplies alone, if thrown on
the Shanghai market today, would
be worth at least 1000, 900 Chinese
dollars. Later the japanese released
$4,000 bags Of CRACKED wheat and
800 900 pounds each Of rolled oats
and cereal which were used to feed
the Americans.
Cooperating closely with the
Swiss consul general after he as
sumed protection of the American
interests, the American Association
threw open a large American school
to homeless INDECENT Americans.
Food Center Set Up.
It also eSta bliShed q food diStri-
button center elsewhere for those
who still had homes but were unable
to buy food and acted as a general
clearing house for complaints and
suggestions of all kinds, dealing with
emergencies as they arose.
The community frightened its belt
and settled down to a hard winter.
There was very little coal. Many
had to do without hot water. Once
prominent businessmen walked or
eycled to their Offices.
Dozens of Americans gave full
time to volunteer work in the vari-
Gus branches of the association
which found its hands increasingly
full dealing with fresh problems Of
the community and having little
money and no way to get more.
But in March funds arrived
through Bern, Switzerland, to lend
10 Americans for living expenses
and the association established a
new committee to administer this
fund.
800 Recoverable.
I worked on this committee taking
loan applications. In the flrst two
months Of business it was estimated
that 80 per cent OF the money loaned
would be recoverable after the war
Later, after qualifying conditions
were relaxed to broaden the relief,
1t was estimated that at least IS
per cent would be repaid.
The equivalent Of $65 in United
States money could be borrowed
monthly by adult Americans, de-
pending on needs and security Of
fered. Then this was considered
adequate, but not for long if prices
continued to rise.
BY the time we left this commit
tee was placed directly under the
Swiss consulate general 1t was
lending money to 1000 persons.
A. B. Henningsen OF Portland
Greg, now heads the association
william Hale of Manchester, N. H.
heads the Finance Committee, and
B. H. Watson of New York directs
the school and food center.
Aoet Avooricorc infar;oy
of occupied China were evacuated
the only other sizeable concentra-
tions being at Peiping and Tientsin
where $50 and 275, respectively
were registered with their associa-
tons.
Conditions at Peiping and Tient-
sin were reported quite the same
as at Shanghai.
Gasoline sales at Shanghai were
quickly stopped after December
when the war broke out and people
drove continuously the last day tt
use the last drop of fuel.
Automobiles Of Allied nationals
were requisitioned by the Japanese
Army in February. Bicycles be.
came the standard means of get.
ting about II you were luxurious
Otherwise you walked.
Ostensibly seeking an American
spy ring, the japanese gendarmeri'
at various times detained 80 civilian
Americans. All were released anc
20 were repatriated.
Emerged now from the famOu!
"Bridge House'-gendarmerie head
ouarters-they have greatly reduced
waistlines and memories of weeks O
sitting on the floor of crowded, un'
heated. verminous cells.
Every American and British news
paper correspondent in Shangha
except Douglas Robertson. the Ca
madam New York Times CORE
spondent, and myself, was Jailed a
one time or another.
Morris ]. Harris, Associated Pres