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3730
1923
chiefly on vegetarian diet, eked out with tins of corned beef... Mickey and infant were weli. Neprud was wounded and beaten up. Our Consular people have been removed to Stanley, couldn't put them in a place with barbed wire enclosures so put them in a place with a nice brick wall. Apparently the regular food hand-out for the internees is two bowls of gruel (hsi fan) per day with occasional vegetables and meat. Elsie Fairfax Chomondley is gotten out of H.K. and en route here. Some of the escapees (foreigners) have had rather gruelling times." NOTE:- Miss Hahn is American journalist. Carl Neprud is American and was working with Dr. Selwyn-Clarke and others. He was caught in an attempt to escape.
(B) Letter from S.V. LAVROV, c/o American Embassy, Chungking,
dated 26.4.42.
"Mr Lee brought a note from HÜBER. He and his family are O.K, however situation in Stanley is much worse than when we were interneč. Consular Officers were brought to Stanley early in March and placed in a small house. An eight foot wall was erected round the house and they are not allowed to go out. The only exercise they have is to walk a few paces on the roof. They are in unhealthy surroundings and insanitary conditions. Feeding is no better than before. All they get is two cups of rice and one ounce of fish and one and a half ounces of meat a day. Canteen which was operating from the start is closed and now it is impossible to add anything to one's diet. Children under four years are not given any ration except a quarter of a pint of milk per day.
Internees are still very crowded. Recently there were as many as eight persons in a room of 16 x 18 ft. Of course it is not as bad as when we were 13 persons in a room of 5 x 64 ft. I only know of five who escaped from Stanley, among them are three women. Americans are under the leadership of Bill HUNT who seems to enjoy the trust placed in him by his fellow-countrymen, They are now sharing all of their assets instead of 'First come, first served.** NOTES- The writer escaped with Dr. MARSMAN from Hong Kong in
Feb.
(C) Letter from L.L.CORDON, Texaco, Chungking, dated 1.5.42,
"So far as can be ascertained conditions of prisoners in H.K. are not too bad. I have talked to recent escapses.. The American civil prisoners have organised themselves into a group. Numerous activities in the interests of the whole are carried on thereby giving everyone occupation. They run a Bark of their own, a Post Office for sending local chits, a Construction Department, Stores and Supplies etc. The Red Cross Unit of which Albert FITCH is a member have liberty of action and live outside the camp at Stanley. They are he to execute orders placed by the prisoners for building bricks etc. Ey operating even the smallest thing on business lines, they have found occupation for everyone which is much better than sitting round doing nothing. The food situation is not good but prisoners get enough to sustain life, children are now getting extra milk ration."
(D) Letter from Jim PICKERING, Chungking, dated 3.5.42. Writer had met Mrs. PRIESTWOOD and reports from having talked to her.
"She had talked to Dick SANGER and A1 BOURNE on March 17th when she found them in good health and spirits. Apparently the American internees have gotten themselves pretty well organised and are not doing too badly though food is short, and their living conditions are badly cramped. After the many rumours we heard to the contrary we are pleased to hear that our people down there are getting along alright, As I nava previously told you, I am afraid that when things start to go badly for the Japs, they will take it out on the people in the (Ocenoted Areas - but so far they haven't had too bad a time."t
1700K......
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