Evening star., 1943-08-23
BY WILLIAM L. WORDEN,

Associated Press war correspondent.
KISKA HARBOR. Aug. 19 de-
layed) There is a scrawled sign on
a hut wall here which says:
we shall come again and kill out
separately the Yanky jokers."
There is grave on hill, hard
by the burned-out wreck of an
American p-40. The grave was care
fully laid out and bordered with
exactly laid machine gun shells. 1t
has a cross at the head and a few
feet to one side there is a typical
Buddhist shrine such as might pass
for an outsize cuckoo clock under
a peaked roof.
In English a sign under the roof
declares:
Here lies the body of brave
American sky soldier, who sacrificed
his life ana his youth because of his
valor for his mother country"
Flight Strip Slightly Damaged.
In between those two signs is all
the contradiction that is Kiska.
Coming safely into Kiska harbor
aboard American warships lends un-
reality to the whole affair which
makes the men wonder. None
dreamed they would sail directly into
the harbor with their transport
dropping anchor safely between the
bombed and burned out hulks of
rusty japanese ships without a shot
being fired.
But they came just so and tonight
American warships and transports
lie all around the island. More than
dozen are anchored in Kiska har-
Dor with the bombed ships on either
side, indescribable litter on the
beach directly in front and the
masts of a sunken japanese coal
carrier almost under their bows.
KlSka Harbor was the principal
headquarters of the japanese naval
forces which formed the bulk of the
Kiska garrison. This garrison oper-
ated until 1t was bombed out or
otherwise abandoned the airplane
and submarine base of the well-in-
stalled military city with its numer-
GUS antlalrcraft positions.
About 300 feet above the sea, on a
manmade plateau, is an airport
where no plane has ever landed, but
a landing strip at least $500 feet
long is ready for use with the repair
of a few bomb craters. Any ordinary
crew could have repaired these in a
few hours.
Abandoned in Orderly Manner.
The contrast between living facil-
tiles on much bombed Kiska, which
the Japs abandoned, and little
bombed Attu, which they defended
to the end, is striking.
American observers scurrying over
the island already have reached
several definite conclusions that
the enemy left the island with only
what each could carry on his back;
that the evacua ton was gradual
enough so they were able to take
practically all personal effects
Trucks, engines, guns. ammuni
ton. blankets, food, tools, tele-
phones, staff cars and dishes were
left Here the men took their rifles,
pictures of their families, shaving
kits and the variety of personal be-
longings which Uttered Attu after
the precipitate flight of the gar
risons there toward Chichagof.
With the exception Of that one
flyers grave neither japanese nor
burial ground was found.
Next to the seaplane hangar, long
since bombed out of commission, is
the partly underground headquar-
tiers hut on the wall of which was
found the "Yanky Jokers" sign. In
side japanese cartoons decorated the
walls. One caption in English said
Knock out u. S. A. Bade Roosevelt
destrouy Churchill. Remember Kiska
and you are dancing by follishe in
Deutsch"
Motorcycles Repaired.
On the beach before the shack
are the remains OF the Kiska air
fleet-pieces from rs to so japanese
fighters which the American Air
Forces destroyed and parts of few
larger seaplanes.
Behind the harbor in the valley,
huts, storage caves and various gar
rison shacks were scattered indis-
criminately, connected with a mud
dy, rutted road which today under
a cat and dog" rain is almost i'm
paSsable.
Along the road are the vehicles
which the Japs left behind. There
are dozen motorcycles, some in
good condition. The Canadians
had several running already. There
are a number of tiny two-cylinder
sedans, no comparison to the Amer