N.Z. TROOPS IN KURE

Chronicle (Levin), 7 March 1946, Page 5

N.Z. TROOPS IN KURE

( Xi",v Zealand OHicbil ( 'on-esiiomlcnt

JAPS' SURPRISING DOCILITY SIGHTS OF OITY SEEN

Wdli .1. Ffiivp.l " Received Wednes'ila^, 8.30 p.m. KURE, March 2. The New Zealanrlers who arrived yesfcerday as members of the advance party from Italy wasted no time in P'eing such sights as are to he seen in the vicinity of Kure. The Japanese are rapidly becoming accustomed to the uniforms of the Commonwealth forces and tnke no notice of the new^comers unlers snol:en to, in which event ■ they bow and hiss hke startled turtles One thing which intrigueci the newcomers was the apparent mobilisation of all Japanese males in si.me branch of the Services. Actually the explanation is that, foliowing the bomhing and the typhoon, Japanese stocks of surplus clothing were distributed among the civilian populaticn. In consequence, nearly every male above tbe age of five is wearing some kind of uniform, or parts of one, in weird combination witli modern civilian garb or ancient costiunes. Another civilian feature, for which the newly-arrived New Zealanders sought an explanation, was the habit of about a quarter of the population, male and female, of wearing gauze masks over their noses and mouths. They loop strings «'hich hcld these devices behind their ears. The masks are not a wartime sanitary measure, for the Japanese have used them for years. As sanitary devices they are absolutely useless, but they do give the populace a rakish, "Oriental Lone Ranger" air. The sight of a Jilue-uniformed policeman, with sword and facemask, directing pede§trian traffic on a tram stcp in the dusk,- .with a gaudy paper lan- 1 tern (garden party variety), is straight musical comedy. The occupation troops are surprised ' to learn of the docility of the Japan- 1 es-o. The only sabotage going on is the | result of the Japanese tinkering with the English language, some of their i carefully-lettered signs being master- . pieces of mangled phraseology. One ' American correspondent admitted that j he had been baffled for several minutes-; by a sign reading, ' ' Care of f oot, ' ' until he realised that it meant "watch your step." When the first British women members of the Occupation Force went I sightseeing in Kure's shabby markets 1 ycsterddy, they joltcd the Japanosa i out of their apparent lack of interest. Civilians were noticeably interested. especially in one blonde nurse, who at-, tracted an open-mouthed audie'nce at a respectful distance.