UNCOMFORTABLE TRIP

Chronicle (Levin), 1 May 1946, Page 5

UNCOMFORTABLE TRIP

WAr HitliiES AND CHtLDfeEN Received Tuesdav, 7.5 p.-m. SAN FRANGISCO, April 29. In what must have been Ihe iiiost arduous tfip m'ade by . wai" brides to America, 422 Alistralian and New Zealand Wives and children of United States servicemert arrived at San Ffancisco ab'oard tlie battered army tfansport David ShUnks. The gifls complained of .a iiiost uncomfoftable voyage;. JUost.of them slept ih inakeshift butlks belbw deeks in dormitories acconimodatihg up to 45. Mothers and children wferfe given sligh+ly better and less Cfdwded quarters biit the 'mothers complained of no plavground space for 320 children. ; / The transport's AectkiS^are steel and slipjiery'evn'rt for adultMand the- travel lers said the lieat in the dormitories in the tropies wUs almfest uli'bearable. Nearly all the passengefs siiffered froni lieat rash and because .of the Crowded eonditiohs, wlieil oiife child contraeted bronchitis, tlie others were quickLy affected. The sauitary facilities were inadequate, aiid the women found it extremelv diflicult to keep the ehildren clean. There was no critieism of the crew who, the travellefs agreed, were considerate and tirelesa- sin- their at-' tempts to maka them c-omfortabl'e.