46
For the first few months of interiment the Camp was tobacco less, which was a terrific blow to smokers. Cigarettes could be obtained through the guards, and black market occasionally, but at very high prices, usually costing around H.K. $3.00 for a packet of ten. When an allowance of 40 cigarettes per person per week was eventually made, costing H.K. $0.60 for ten, there were few with financial resources to buy them, while those with money deliberated on whether to buy cigarettes or extra foods. Those first months men were smoking pine heedles, tab ends and even tea leaves in their pipes, and even today many pipe smokers are mixing the cheap Chinese tobacco, with tea leaves, there being no pipe tobacco.
The problem of communication with the outside world was a difficult one. On few occasions Red Cross forms were supplied for territories other than under Japanese control, one form being given each adult, however, a married couple only rated one. form, and children under 21 years of age, none at all. On the same basis one card was issued monthly for Prisoner of War Camps and Japanese occupied territory, however, these cards even when delivered, took anywhere up to six weeks to travel the four miles to town. In all cases the internees had to pay for these cards, and in one case, as much as H.K.8/2.00 was charged for a letter form. The mail that was brought to the Far East on the first repatria- tion ship, was still being delivered to the Camp in dribbles six months later,
The one thing that helpod koep the morale of those in Camp high, was the much looked forward-te air raids, and although they were always followed by at least a week of black-outs for us, this was the least of our worries. During these raids we were all warned to stay indoors and not look out of windows, not for our own safety, but so that we should not be able to soo the opposition they were unable to put into the sky, In all the raids directly over Hongkong, as far as we could sce, not once did our Allied planes receive any opposition, except only in the form of anti-aircraft, which then, was very poor. On Sunday, September 12th, the Camp was wakened out of it's reverie at 4.15 p.m. by 9 Lockheed Lightnings, P-38's, which came diving over the Camp, and which we heard later, had already visited parts of Hongkong and Kowloon and the Race Course. Disregarding the Japanese orders, the Camp turned out in mass to welcome the ground-hopping dare-devils, and the climax of the visit came when one plane came in at less than 100 feet and shot up the Gendarmeric headquarters which was less than 150 yards outside our boundary. Needless to say this five minute display over the Camp gave food for conversation for weeks to come.
The children in the Camp did not fare so badly, but this was only as a result of the untiring efforts of the Director of Medical Services, H.K. Government, Dr. Selwyne-Clark, who was permitted by the Japanese Authorities to remain outside in the city. He arranged for a daily fresh milk supply to be sent into Camp, in addition to periodical receipts of medicines and foodstuffs. There had never been any special foods supplied by the Japanese Authorities, and as is usual, parents often went without their own rations rather than see their children go hungry.
The daily routine in the Stanley Camp was much the same as in any other internment camp. The day started and finished with a roll call, while the interim seemed to be spent in queuing and routine work. Internees were in their rooms at 9.30 and lights out at 10 p.m.
With the latest repatriation from Hongkong on September 23rd, 1943, the thoughts uppermost in the minds of those remaining, strange to say, did not centre on repatriation, so much as they did on the Red Cross supplies expected on the return trip of the Teia Maru. Repatriation has mostly boen secondary in the thoughts of all, showing that morale is still fairly high. It has been my sincerest prayer that those food and medical supplics will reach their proper destination. If they do not, then I hate to think what will become of the remaining internees if they must go through another winter on their starvation dict. The medical officer of health for the Camp, Dr. N. Macleod formerly Deputy Director of Health Services, H.K. Government, made the following state- mont, which sums up the situation very clearly, "The internees of this Camp are starving."
64251-1
17