The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1949-07-19

ilUllt weary ilOlii AiSA ASAtS
flight from Tokyo, a little amazed
that she is back in Alaska again
after nearly three years in Japan,
Mrs. Peter F. Gilmore arrived IN
Juneau by Pan American Wednes-
day to visit her son and daughter
in-law, Mr.. and Mrs Peter Gilmore.
When Mrs. Gilmore left her home
in Ketchikan in December, 1916,
and travelled by army transport to
ioin her son-in-law and daughter
Capt. and Mrs. Richard Fox who
were stationed in Japan, the trip
across the Pacific took 10 days.
Mrs. Gilmore's return trip, made
with the Foxes and their three
children, took less than half as
long and included stop overs OF
several days in Guam and Homo
lulu. Planes of every branch of the
service were used: army, marine
and navy. The last part of the
trip was aboard the nayys huge
stratocruiser Mars, and the Mars,
according to Mrs. Gilmore, an eX-
perienced air traveller by the time
she reached Honolulu and boarded
the super ship, provided the very
last word in comfortable deluxe SER
vice and transportation.
Her route was from Tokyo to
Guam and Kwajalein by army
plane: from Kwajalein with a stop
at tiny johnson Island to Homo
lulu by marine plane and then the
giant Mars from Honolulu to Ala
media airport and home.
I'VE wore Mae Vests. We were
briefed time and again about what
to do in case of accident at sea,
but when the briefing quoted the
Bible with instructions for our
souls as we'll as our bodies, really
became little alarmed" admitted
Mrs. Gilmore with a twinkle in
her eyes that did not conceal the
courage of this little lady from
county Mayo, Ireland.
Until she left for Japan in 1916,
Mrs. Gilmore had lived since 1904
in Ketchikan, with only few trips
south and never a trip as far
north as Juneau before, and by
1916 she had almost forgotten her
Journey from Ireland many years
ago.
Now a world traveller, she would
just as soon start out again.
Japan was an interesting ex-
perierce. Mrs. Gilmore was i'm
pressed by the rapidity with which
Japan is being rebuilt; by the
friendly manner of the Japanese to
the Americans. Most of the people
who really have Japan's interest at
heart are glad that the Americans
are there. They respect General
Macarthur and believe he is their
only bulwark against Communism.
The Communists, of course, are
taking every advantage of the hun
CRY, the jobless, and the home
less. But the Americans under
General Macarthur are doing SO
much for the people that Com
munism is not making much head
way"
Since Hirohito has let his people
know that he is not divine, he
seems to be enjoying himself more
than formerly. Previously, he was
never seen by the people. His car
with chrysanthemum emblem on
its door would go through streets
with curtains drawn and people in
the street would bow to his divin-
ity. Now he drives through the
streets with his family in an open
car. smiles at people, seems happy.
More Japanese haunt American
headquarters to take pictures OF
General Macarthur when he APP
pears, than they do Hirohito."
There was little Mrs. Gilmore
and her family missed while they
were in Japan, and everything was
interesting to them, even desolate
Hiroshima which is being rapidly
rebuilt. Kyota, untouched by the
war, the travellers thought beauti-
ful. Il didn't think there were so