davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-12-05
NATION HEARS.
NAVAL HEROES
IN BROADCAST
Solomon Islands Fighters
Tell Vivid Story In
NBC HOOkup

HOLLYWOOD. - A dra-
matte telephone reunion be-
tween two Negro Navy heroes
of the Battle of the SolomonS
was broadcast over a nation
wide NBC hookup from The movie
capitol this week.
Speaking together for the first
time since the Destroyer L SIS
Gregory sang off the So!omons
under a hal! OF japanese bombs,
were Charles Jackson French who
swan six hours through shark
infested waters towing a raii-load
OF 20 wounded sailors. ana W..fFea
Jackson. ships cook who aided sev
eral critically hurt gobs 10 life
boats.
French. an Omaha messman who
ma become a national hero through
his brilliant deed. had been invited
to appear on the Johnny Presents
program OF Ginny Smms singing
radio star, which features a phone
call by guest TO any Person IN the
United States.
The colored navyman SAID ne had
not seen his friend Jackson, since
the sinking Of the Gregory ard
would like TO speak 10 MIN A call
was put in 10 an unidentified &c
stroyer base
Jackson was finally located and
his voice came II TO be heard by
families Throughout; the nation.
III Frenchy"
Asked by Miss Sinms wnat they
were going to do after the broad
cast both replied that they we're
going 10 report to their destroyer
base 10 get back % sea Then Mss
S!mms surprised them by announc-
Ing that they had been granted an
extra 24-hour furlough and that
Rochester, Negro radio star would
take them on a tour Of Hollywood
during their leave,
You are both brave men and the
United States is very proud OF you"
Mss Sinms concluded.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-12-05

erv only 81 plus postage Try it for : times
II not pleased send it back II delighted
mass on the word 10 YOUR friends. Mrie
now. MISS MARIE 1903 Park Ave, Suite
SOB New York. N. Y
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-12-05

for Coughs, Chest Colds, Bronchitis
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-12-05

Noxzema is for the complexion. That's
because it is not Jaif q e0jmefie crsam;
its a mfaifaita Jormaia that does 2 i'm
pottant things; !, it helps smooth and
soften rough, dry skin. 2. it bslbj hal
externally caused blemishes. And, in
addition, ithasa mildly lsttingentaction.
Try Noxzema for just 10 days! See
how much ii can do to help make jour
skin smoother, softer, loveliefl
IMPORTANT For a limited time, you
can get the big 75f jar OF Noxzema for
only 49r fbiaI TAXI Get a jar at any
drug or cosmetic counter todayl
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-12-05
Thousands acclaim this
sensible skin did

els a shame, but poor complexion
has spoiled many gifls chances. Men
don't mention it, but they notice a
poor skin jus, the same.
II ,0Ey skin is rough, unGtfactive-
looking, maned by externally-oaused
pimples or blemishes, do what thou
sand OF girls are doing! Start using the
medieated skin cream -NoXzema.
Scores OF nurses were among the
FIRST 70 discover what wonderful aid
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-12-05
Birth OF Nation
Will Not Be Made

NEW YORK NJ Y-Declaring that the film The Birth OF
Nation than anything else responsible for the revival
Klux Khan POS observing that remake
of the picture would lead OF hatred the NAACP
recalled this that correspondence October 80 1892
protest by association the Office of War
Information Nelson Poynr assured Walter White that there
would be remake of the picture.
Poynter of the Hollywood Bureau Motion Pictures OF owl
that questioning the United Artists studios about
the he had that Birth of Nation
would be remade.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-12-05

Medalo CASTLE Shampoo Medalo Pressias
Oil (4month Treatment Sizol, Only One Dol
lar plus postage Tor send dollar and We
pay POSTAGE. Tree trial Of Medalo Perfume
and Medalo Face Powder included with your
treatment. Write Now Gold Medal Han
Products, Dept 23-C. log Avenue o, Brook.
lyn N. T. EVERYTHING is GUARAN.
TEED OR MONEY BACK-WE WANT YOU
TO BE PLEASEDl
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06
Americans Sleep to Blanket, Eat Rice in Jap Prise

obtain foreign food. consisting
chiefly of sandwiches. The
japanese refused. however, TO
let any canned food come into
the building.
The sandwiches did little 10
alleviate the real source Of our
distress. We did not then know
that much of the food our
friends sent was consumed by
the guards who received it on
the third floor of the building
and often kept it in the store
room for several hours before
delivery.
1t was difficult to eat the
things which were sent in be-
cause the starving Chinese pris-
onerS sat watching us. Many
times / cut my sandwiches into
four pieces and passed them
around. On one or two occa-
sions there were serious riots
over food because the Japanese
would not allow the Chinese In
receive anything from friends
outside.
Tomorrow--PriSon brutality.
Distributed by King Features synd.. Inc.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06

was rumored that Russians in
the settlement had been con-
fined here also.
Bridge-House Prison consisted
of about IL cells which had been
built inside the main building
and in most cases were open
only on one side, which was in
closed by bars six inches IN
diameter and set about two
inches apart.
l must have counted the bars
a thousand times during my
stay in cell No. 5, which had
been still further congested by
the addition of some II foreign
ers, mainly Britons, but includ-
ing Vic Keen, correspondent for
the New York Herald Tribune.
Aside from the male foreign
ers. there were three foreign
women, one British, one Span
ish and the other an unfortunate
White Russian girl who shortly
b ecame hysterical due, we
thought, to the fact that she had
been deprived of her daily sup
ply of heroin, for which many
Russians possessed an appetite
the japanese were glad to sat-
isfy at very low prices.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06

sign and fingerprint the last
page.
/ always asked the examiner
to give me summary OF the
material contained in the manu-
script. and on several occasions
caught him in deliberate falsifi-
cation. It occurred to me that
these statements, which probably
filled half a dozen books, could
easily be altered because it was
possible to change or substitute
pages and merely attach the
last sheet which contained my
signature and thumbprint.
l had no complaint Of my
treatment while undergoing
questioning except the wear and
tear on my nerves. Moreover.
1 managed to hold my temper
except once or twice when 1 be-
came exasperated at some of the
nonsensical questions which they
fired at me.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06
Rough Box Toilet

Although l was impressed
particularly by the congested
condition of the cell, soon dis
covered that there were other
elements of even greater serl-
BUSINESS.
There were no facilities for
washing, and the toilet consisted
of a rough box i'm the corner
which was open to the room and
was cleaned out every morning
by Chinese prisoners who were
pressed into service. The toilet
was covered by a heavy wooden
lid, but the place, due to its use
by so many people, was the most
insanitary that j have ever OBJ
served In many years of travel
in the Orient.
The women prisoners had to
use the same toilet facilities as
the men.
The place became so offensive
that IL was almost impossible to
get near 1t.
Since 1 had been informed 1
was only being taken to the
Bridge-House for questioning, l
wore only a light overcoat and
did not think of bringing along
a blanket.
The building was entirely
without heat.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06
Riot for Blankets

At 9 p. m. however, the guard
brought into the cell a large
bundle of blankets. which Gre
ated a near riot as the prison.
ers fought each other for
possession of the heavier cover
ings--I found the prisoners had
formed groups of two to six,
and by smuggling close together
they were able to cover them
selves with one blanket.
There were vermin of all
types, the worst being the body
louise or "cootie" which quickly
moved into the seams of ones
clothing. Men removed their UNI
dershirts and captured as many
as 100 of these voracious insects.
The place was literally alive
with them, and since the pris-
oners included several who were
dangerously i'll we naturally ex-
pected every one TO die of some
kind of epidemic, the worst in
Shanghai at the time being
typhus.
Luckily in my case friend
who suspected the louise situa-
ton sent me a Jar Of ointment.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06
Plot Story Recalled

One article my inquisitors re-
peatedly produced was one which
had been reprinted from the
New York Herald Tribune, the
Nation and Asia Magazine. 1t
was written originally by Will
fred Fleisher Jr.. former editor
OF the Japan Advertiser in To-
kio, and contained a reference
TO a plot of an army officer in
Toxic, TO overthrow the emperor
and establish a Fascist dicta-
torship.
They insisted that this ar
ticle was disrespectful TO the
emperor. My attention had been
called to the same fact by the
japanese consulate general some
time previously, and as a result
/ had printed a statement that
there was no intention to in
suit the Son of Heaven. This
appeared to satisfy them but
the subject was brought up sew
eral times later.
Since the japanese military
had had control of Hongkew
since 1887. the existence of
Bridge-House Prison had been
kept a profound secret. Since
there were a large number of
Chinese prisoners, we realized
at once that many Chinese who
had disappeared from the Inter-
national Settlement had been
thrown into jail here.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06
Papers Examined

The examiner produced a large
number of copies of the back
issues of The China Weekly Re-
view, extending over a period OF
several years, and asked me
about certain passages which
had been underscored. Luckily,
1 was able to explain the cir
cumstances and background in
most instances.
There was an amusing devel-
opment in this connection when
the japanese produced a recent
copy of the Review which con-
tanned a brief article referring
to the wholesale theft of motor
cars in Shanghai. The article
said cars were being turned over
to the Japanese army autF)rl-
ties, who were at that time PLAN
ming their campaign into French
Indo-China.
They wanted to know where !
had obtained this information,
so told them il came from the
police but refused to give any
names.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06

poisoning the night before. This
did not increase my peace OF
mind, but l was nevertheless
glad to get a corner place.
The room, which was about Is
feet long and II feet wide, could
accommodate 20 to 25 persons
sitting in rows on the floor, but
for several days after my arrival
there were more than 40 prison
ers in the room.
For several nights, il was nee
esSary for many to stand up
most of the night as there liter
ally was no place to sit down.
Events had occurred so rapidly
that morning that my head was
in a whirl.
It was not long before a gen.
darme appeared at the door and
called my name. The door was
unlocked and 1 was told to ac-
company the man upstairs.
Here, l had my first expert
ence with a gendarme examina-
tiOn
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06
VenereoI Disease

The worst phase of the daily
visit of the Japanese nurse and
her assistants was the treatment
in the cell of several venereal
cases. Since these cases had
been neglected in some instances
for many weeks. the men were
in a desperate condition.
1 had not been in prison many
days before 1 began TO have
severe pain in my feet, particu-
larly in the heels.
AS there was at that time no
external indication of the all
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06

ment, the Japanese doctor just
laughed at me when l told him
that the pain was so severe l
could scarcely put on my shoes.
Il should explain that all prison
ers were deprived of their shoes,
which were piled in the narrow
hallway outside. Whenever any
one was removed from the cell
for questioning or other reasons
this always led to a mad Scram-
BILE for the right shoeS).
- Only once did / succeed In get
ting the japanese nurse TO paint
my feet with iodine, but this had
little or no effect on the pain,
which increased day by day.
Several other prisoners also
complained of pains in their feet,
and many OF the Chinese had
large sores on their feet and
legs. / did not know then that
this was due TO the food we re-
CpiV0d
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06
Coolies Destroyed

BY judicious use of the oint-
ment ! rid myself of the coolies.
The man who sent me the ONT
ment was Bob Gregg, and will
never forget him as long as l
live.
The gendarrnes maintained
medical service of sorts among
the prisoners. II usually con-
sisted of a daily visit by Japa-
nese woman nurse, accompanied
by two officers.
Any one with a fever or any
kind of ailment got an aspirin
or, if they had boilS. an epidemic
of which swept the place, they
were tire at e d with mercuro-
chrome, of which the Japanese
seemed to have a liberal supply.
The floor and walls we're so
impregnated with germs that
the slightest scratch immedi-
ately became infected. In my
case. I had a b d ly infected
finger which swelled 10 about
twice normal size. Since the
wound was not open the applica-
ton of mercurochrome did little
or no good.
After about two weeks of beg
cling for medical treatment was
taken upstairs to the dispensary,
where the Japanese doctor, with
out the administration of an an
esthetic, literally trimmed all
the skin off my finger with his
scissors.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06
History of Life

First, / was told to write APP
proximate dates OF the entire
history of my life. with special
emphasis on what 1 had done
since arriving in China in the
spring of 1917.
I do not know how many
times this was repeated, but l
believe / was told to write out
my personal history at least a
dozen times. The examiner then
read il over and proceeded to
question me on various points
mentioned in the memorandum.
The man who questioned me
on most occasions was named
Yakamoto. His knowledge of
English was not perfect, and he
used an interpreter who was lit
tie better equipped. Later, an
other interpreter was brought
in, a man who said he had lived
in San Francisco many years and
had a wife and child living there.
The questioning, which ex-
tended from December 20 to
February 26, followed a general
pattern and seemingly was de-
signed to link me with Ameri-
can and British intelligence
services.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06
Routine Questions

One of the men then produced
a printed form and asked me a
number of questions concern.
ing the place and date of my
birth and other personal mat
tiers. When this statement was
completed / was asked TO sign
and fingerprint it.
i was then taken downstairs
to the ground floor and into a
section of the building which
had been constructed for shops
but later converted into a sort
OF stockade for prisoners. The
gendarme who accompanied me
opened the door and pushed me
into one of the cells.
The room was alrea
crowded 10 suffocation and
there was no place 10 sit. even
on the floor.
Finally an American. Rudolph
Mayer. a brother of the Holly
weed movie magnatc,- who had
been arrested some time previ-
ouSly, recognized me and asked
me 10 join him. / made my
way through the crowd 10 the
corner where Mayer was sit
ting on the floor. He asked one
or two of the Chinese prisoners
sitting next TO him TO move
over 10 MAKE room for me, and
as a result / got a fairly COM
Portable seat in the corner OF
the room. / say comfortable"
because / could lean against the
wall, which was far better than
sitting upright IN the middle Of
tho rCOu1
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06
Services Message Urges
Greater Labor Effort

Ford workers were urged 10
help the armed services attack
and keep attacking" now that the
United States Army and Navy
have begun to take the offensive
and repay early setbacks, in a
Labor Day message from Under
secretary of the Navy James V.
ForreStal and War Undersecretary
Robert p. Patterson.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06
Directs Relief in France

PHILADELPHIA. Sept. 5 (UP).
The American Friends Service
Committee today announced the
appointment of Burritt NJ. Hiatt Of
Wilmington, o.. as relief director
in France, succeeding Howard +.
Kershner. who had been in charge
of the work in France and Spain
for the last three'years.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06

The message, pointing out that
continued support of labor and
management is necessary TO any
Wholesale offensive. was read 10
the workers Saturday and distFib-
uted TO the plants in the form of
huge telegram-posters.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06
CONTINUED from Page One)

(COntinued from rage One)
money. After counting the
money, the gendarme said:
I'VE are not interested In
money. only letters and papers"
Prior to my residence at the
Metropole Hotel. I had lived at
the American Club, but (to-
gether with the other members)
had been elected with two
hours notice by the japanese
military.
/ had lost practically all my
clothing in the hurried removal.
This was a serious matter in
Shanghai at that time because
il was almost impossible to OBJ
tain new clothing except at
exorbitant prices.
A suit cost $1,000 to $4,000,
and an Overcoat ut least $1,000.
After 1 entered their car, the
officers drove across Schechuan
road bridge and into the COM
pound of the Bridge-House apart
ments (now converted into a
PRISON., where ! was taken to
the third floor and introduced
to the gendarme in charge.
While / was being questioned,
a number of other foreigners
who had been picked up that
morning were brought in.
The officers asked me TO re-
move all articles from my pock-
cts and place them on the
table. The articles were put in
an official envelope and labeled
with my name. / was not per-
mitted to have more than one
handkerchief.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06
Could Be Folsified

All my statements were taken
down by the chief examiner IN
japanese on large sheets Of
japanese ruled paper. These
sheets are then folded into q
sort OF book and I-waS aSked~to
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06
Rice, Fish Heads

Our food was of such n low
order that no japanese cOOlie
would have looked at II.
In the morning there was n
bowl of rice which was fairly
palatabIe because II was warm.
Noon and evening meals con-
sisted OF a bowl of rice which
few Of the foreigners could eat.
IL was stone cold, usually con-
tanned three fish heads and ap-
parently was prepared once n
week and left standing In the
hallway or courtyard.
Very few of us could eat this,
so we made a deal with some Of
the Chinese prisoners whereby
in exchange for our rice they
agreed to search out the coolies
in our undergarments every day.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06


rsandh
lent
All the 5 $4,000
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06
~ Barred Cells

Several OF the Chinese told us
that they had been there for
many months, so long, in fact.
that they did not remember the
cause OF their incarceration. II
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06

from
gphur America
Wake hides the
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06
Navy Link Claimed

Once. l was fatty accused OF
receiving large sums from the
office of Maj. G.. A. Williams,
United States attache, stationed
in Shanghai. The examiner told
me they had seized all of Major
Williams private papers and had
the proof, despite my denials.
/ told them 1 frequently talked
10 Ma or Williams about particu-
lar developments in the Chinese
situation. but on no occasion had
/ received so much as a penny
for my services.
Once, The examiner told me
they had found a record in Major
Williams office listing my name
with those of Morris Harris OF
the Associated Press and Fred
Opper and II. G. Woodhead OF
the Evening Post. as being on
Major Williams pay roll. Sew
eral times. they tried also to
link me up with British intelli-
gence. but. since / did not even
know the names of the persons
in charge. they finally gave
this up.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06
No Canned Food

This arrangement proved sat-
isfactory except it left us with
only one bowl of rice a day,
obviously not enough TO keep
body and soul together. This
was the cause of much OF the
illness. Many weeks later. after
1 had been compelled to have
most of my feet amputated, /
learned that this was a form of
malnutrition.
Owing TO efforts Of friends
outside. we were finally able TO
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06
Dead Mans Corner

Mayer lsughingly told me he
had saved that place because a
Korean died there Of blood
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06
Wanted: 10000
More Wardens
in City Defense
Appeal for Volunteers
to Protect Detroit, il
Bombs Fall, Goes Out

Wanted-20.000 more air raiC
wardens. That's the number thai
Frank NJ. McLaury, chief air raic
warden. says Detroit needs to aiC
TO the 10000 volunteers now al
their posts. McLaury says:
Detroit needs a minimum of
10000 wardens II its people are
20 be properly protected In case
of falling bombs. Particularly
do we need volunteers who have
time 90 devote TO warden duties
during the day q. housewives
or men and women working the
night shifts who can give us a
few hours during the day"
How does one become warden
Inquire ut your area Office"
says McLaury. Each area Of
fice II open during the afternoon
and evening and n you don't
know what area you're in. call
the headquarters downtown for
Information"
Classes are arranged for about
so applicants from any one area
Most of the classes going now are
night ones. II is hoped to star
several day classes.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06
Cooperation o. X.

Most of the 10000 wardens now
on the job are well satisfied with
the cooperation they have re-
ceived from householders in their
areas, a checkup with several
wardens through the city sections
shows.
Take the opinion OF Alfred
Schneider. 172 South Military,
senior post warden in area two:
"We've got a big post here -.
about 500 people and every
body IL cooperating. Sure.
few get discouraged, but It's
mostly because things don't
move fast enough. People think
there's not much chance OF
bombs coming, but there's a pos
sibility. I spent 81 months
abroad In the last war with the
combat engineers, and, believe
me, IN those bombs ever start
falling here the people will know
they've gotten into something"
Women's have taken their share
OF the warden posts. Mrs. r. Will
son. PISS LeMay avenue, has a
-wsrdep,S- Job IN area three--
Every ones been reaily.won-
derful," she finds. I'm terribly
surprised. Even when IL came
20 ages. which people usually
balk at, no one I talked TO hest
tsted In being questioned. ! was
. bit leary about checking at
the houses, but the people were
swell.
due 20 a little mlxup, some
people In our area got ques-
TONED twice even they didn't
seem 20 mind. The people do
not think they are going 20 get
bombed, hut they get kick out
Of all the precautions we're
taking.
Its certainly one way Co get
acquainted with your nelghbor-
hood. Everybody I see In the
s6essf aayx Hello now"
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06

The gendarme guard refused to
permit it to be brought inside
my cell until l had demonstrated
by tasting it tn t it was not
poison