The Phoenix Jewish news., 1954-09-30

most interesting summer junketS
taken by PhOenician was that
of Mike Multer, SON of Mr.. and
Mrs. Herman Multer of 20 E.
Ashland. Mike worked his way
to the Orient and back on a us.
cargo ship, and the following is
a partial account of his adven-
lures, contained in letter which
he wrote from InchOn, Korea, to
M. b. Goldman, Jr., publisher Of
The Phoenix Jewish News. Mike,
whose photos have appeared at
various times in The News, has
since returned home and will at
tend the University of Arizona
this fall.)
DEAR BUD,
just thought you might like to
hear from your star photographer.
Right now Phoenix seems a mil
lion miles away.
The trip from San Francisco to
Yokohama was pleasant yet un-
eventful. I learned the ropes and
developed my sea legs. We trav-
eled the Great Circle, and it got
extremely cold. We sighted a great
many whales. They came quite
close to the ship and have a hor-
rible odor.
We were 13 days in transit, leav-
ing San Francisco June 20 and
arriving in Yokohama July IL. we
stayed only one night and one day
in Yokohama, so L didn't get to
do much sightseeing. However,
We were in Kobe for two days and
a night and I'm now on firmer
ground. The people are proud, SEN
sitive and want very much for you
to like them. They are extremely
courteous and helpful but by no
means do they spurn the American
dollar if it is offered.
Prices are quite low and you can
buy absolutely anything. They have
some of the most beautiful fruits
and vegetables I have ever seen.
FROM KOBE WE SAILED
through the Inland Sea, up the
Yellow Sea and into Inchon Har-
bor. We passed within four miles
of the Red Chinese mainland but
were not bothered. Between In
chon and San Francisco we have
seen seven Russian warshipS.
Korea is to Japan as the South
Phoenix slums are to Phoenix
proper. Inchon Harbor Is a beau
tiful place, but that's all that can
be said for it. I attached myself
to some soldiers and on an inspec-
ton tour saw quite a bit of South
Korea, including Seoul and Pusan.
You may have read of the floods.
I rode down the Han River in an
Army leu. and saw the houses
floating by. The people had moth
ing to begin with and now have
even less.
Because of this, they steal any
thing they can get hold of. ALI our
hawser lines are slowed below as
they'd even take those, though
they're three inches in diameter
and weigh at least pound per
foot.
ASHORE YOU MUST always 90
armed-never alone and rarely at
night. They'd kill you to get
fountain pen, and if they couldn't
remove a ring or watch, would cut
off the finger or hand. They live
in squalor and filth such as you've
never dreamed of. FloorleSs, win
dowless Shacks with no furniture.
A dozen people living in one room
g. X g., while the larger buildings
stand gutted without roofs, and
parts of the walls are crumbling
from the shelling they received.
On top Of all this is the mud-you
can't escape it anywhere-mud of
every color and consistency, from
depths of one inch to six feet.
In this devastated and forSaken
peninsula, Americans fought and
died and proved nothing. All they
succeeded in doing was instilling
in the Korean people very deep
hatred for the U. S. A.
Another lie of the newsreels is
the r. o. K. Army. The "crack
regiments" of the newsreels are
NANCY, emaciated, half-starved
beggarS and thieves, any one of
whom would gladly trade his out
dated, rust-encrusted rifle for a
bowl of rice.
The only part of Korea for which
I have any sympathy is the youth.
We have 9-year-old boy aboard
who does errands for us and has
proven bright, intelligent and eager
to learn. It's a pity that there are
thousands of these kids and none |
of them has any chance at all.
WE'VE LAIN HERE in Inchon
Harbor for nine days now. We're
four days behind schedule and the |
barley we've bRought is growing