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was to telephono him inmediately. Mr. Yarno was the Consul General, who had returned with Mr. Oda, who I met a little later on, after Mr. Kimura's departure. On the 4th of March I was given my 36, a Military one this time, issued by the Amy, allowing me to go in any part of Hong Kong, even military areas. It ensured courteous treatment even from sentries, who were notoriously difficult at that time. As I kept away from sentry posts, took other roads, and had no desire nor need to go into military zones, I kept out of trouble, but it was very special, Mr. Oda's getting that pass for
It was his way of doing things. He does not believe in half measures,
me.
During the month of Maroh, martial law became a constant source of delay and annoyance. While it was enforced all traffic stopped and in town everybody on the streets was obliged to squat on their heels with their hands on their knees, sometimes for half an hour, sometimes for several hours, this applied to uropeans as well as native and was enforced with plenty of face slapping. The reason, as far as anyone know the reason, was because some notability was passing, this for short delays, or a search was being made, or sometimes because whole districts were being combed, house by house, for arms. e heard that many were caught with guns and ammunition, and got short shift from the Japanese. Although the thing which seams to worry the Chinese moat was their being forced to sit in so undignified a position. They soon learned to keep off the streets when martial law was in force, or to slip away up the side streets. People in buses or trams were usually allowed to remain quietly in
their seats.
Cne entertaining story I heard was of Sister John of the French Convent, who was returning home from town, where she had been shopping, with many parcels. She was a fine stout old lady, with a genial smile and a cheery voice. When searching parties stopped the tram and ordered everybody out to be searched, as she was in the top floor, and a bit tired after her shopping, she put her head out of the window and called in Chinese, "Hey, you soldiers down there! I haven't got any guns, an old woman like me, must I come down, or can I stay here?" And the solaiers were as cheerful as she was, and told her to stay where she was.⠀ Even Japanese soldiers have a sense of humour at times.
In March my husband's condition had been gradually getting worse and I was very worried about him. I had found out that in the Black Market in Hong Kong it was possible to get liver injection and other medicines which my husband needed. Dr. Wu hau told me this, although he was very vague about it all and said they were very expensive. I told him that I would try to get money from the Japanese authorities if he would get the medicines. on the 13th of March I saw Mr. Fugitą, as Mr. Oda whom I had not yet met, was at the Peninsular Hotel. The Bureau of Foreign Affairs had been established in the Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotel. Mr. Fugita telephoned kr. Oda having a long conversation with him returning to
I tell me that Mr. Oda would give me a personal loan of $200. also spoke of Mrs. Reeves who had been running herself into a nervous decline by refusing to eat, and crying all the time. asked to call the next day to collect the $200, am on my return to St. Stephen's found that Mr. Oda had personally telephoned Mrs. Reeves inquiring into her condition and saying that he was sending his representative out to see her the next day.
I was
All this was done, I got the $200, which proved inadequate, as the medicines which Dr. Su recomended cost $265, and negotiations
Her husband had were speeded up about repatriating Mrs. Reaves.
been working from the Kacao end to try tỏ get her out, but up to that time he had not been successful, I was able to persuade Dr. Wu to begin to get some of the medicines, and bought some from a Portuguese doctor who was handling them in the
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