Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-12-16

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den in thick underbrush not far
from the most travelled part OF
the island near Garapan.
Those Japs who still had guns
continued to shoot until they were
killed Enemy soldiers and civil
isns had interchanged clothing so
that il was impossible TO distin-
guish between them.
SEVERAL KILLED DAILY
Scarcely day goes by with
out several Japs being killed
when our patrols stumble over
them or when they come out OF
their holes to search for food
Food is about the only induce.
ment that can get them TO ap-
proach our camps. Even when
they were fairly well organized in
large numbers, they made no i'm
portant attempts TO destroy Our
supplies or sabotage construction
of our air base.
Some Japs have surrendered In
small groups. Five enemy soldiers
padded raft out near an Ameri-
can patrol vessel which turned its
searchlight on them. Fearing the
Japs might have grenades con.
cealed in their clothing, the
American captain shouted to then
to undress. Then he made ges'
lures.
The Japs stood and watched
with interest, but without com
prehension. Then the skipper re-
moved his own clothes. The Jap.
got It, They stripped and swan
over TO the ship. Provided with
blankets, they bowed and hissec
their gratitude.
Those Japs who prefer starva'
ton to surrender have two rea'
sons for holding out: they are
still afraid of being tortured anc
Killed if captured. and they still
think the Jap navy is coming
back to rescue them.
MOSQUITOES CLEANED OUT
One of the changes in Saipar
life that most surprises the Jar
soldier and civilian prisoners /,
the disappearance of the million:
of mosquitoes and flies that unit
recently constituted a continuous
disease threat. American doctor,
were warned before the invasion
that insects were a serious men
ace. Their answer was to burr
out the breeding places, spread
DOT, and in a few short week,
completely eliminate the mos
quitos. There are a few flies, but
very few.
Americans on Saipan live in
screened tents, wooden barracks
and corrugated iron, oval-shapec
/ Quonset huts. Because showers
are frequent and during much o
the year very heavy, all building
and tents are raised off TN,
ground. Coral is in great demand
for surfacing muddy roads ant
paths in the lowlands.
SAIPAN DUTY POPULAR
Most of our troops like duty OF
Saipan. For one thing the islant
is big enough, Is miles long b,
five wide, so that you feel you ar,
living on land, which Is not thu
case on tiny, coral atolls STANDING
only a few feet above sea leVe
and barren of vegetation.
There are good beaches fol
swimming and fishing here. anC
hunting for cats eye" shell,
through glass bottomed boxes ha'
become a major CT off-time occu'
patton. Prices for a necklace rur
up to $50 and higher.
The troops get an average oI
six cans of beer week and there
are nightly movies. Officers have
an occasional dance with army
nurses for partners. Nights are
cool enough 10 be comfortable.
But comfortable living is sec.
ondary preoccupation. We cap,
tured Saipan at a cost of 1900
casualties for one primary pur.
pose-to get a base from which
the global goth Airforce coulc
send its B-29 task groups tc
knock out Japan's war industry
HARD WORK DID 1T
Construction of the base which
lie nnarafipc baadcnarfarc for 81.