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Each guard carries a .303 Service Rifle with five rounde of unition. This sumunition is passed on to ench relief, thus the entire Indian group is never fully armed at the same time. It is wident from this Botion that the Japanese do not trust the Indians,
American lanes have boubed Hong Kong regularly since October 25th, 1942. They would arrive in perfect formation and leave in the same manner after completing their mission. The Japanese never claimed to have brought down any planes over Hong Kong, but according to internees mat on beard the "Gripshola" from North China and the Philippines, their newspapers invariably carried accounts of how 80 to 90% of the planes in every raid over, the Colony were destroyed by the Japaneco.
Significant is the fact that with the repeated visits from the U.S. Air Poros the attitude of the Chinese superintendente and Indian guards changed to a completely pro-ally one, It is my personal belier
that the majority of Indians and Chinese in Hong Kong will work hand in glove with the relieving forues.
During air reids we were forbidden to look into the acy or show my signs of Jubilation. De were ordered to remain in our respective quarters or be dealt with according to Japanese Military Law.
we were uɛually punished for raids by having to black-out whilst the rest of the Colony was fully lit. On one occasion no food was sent into the camp for two days.
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Shortly after the first raid on october 25th, 1942, the Japanese took a census of all men of military age, with the exception of those who had wives in camp. Towards the end of zovenber they decided to look these men up in tenley Osol from 6 7.1 to 8 a.. each day for an indefinite period on the pretext that it was a protective measure ne the Japanese wore holding
Blackout" exercises and did not want any attempted escapes. The Jerenese claimed that technically the men were not geoled se oply the outer gates of the prison hells were locked and not each individual cell. This state of affaire continued for about a month, and it was only after many protests by Hon. kr. 3.G. GiMBON and his assurance that no one would attempt cacape that the gaoling ceased.
The Japanese ordered that the camp be completely "blacked out" in the event of a night raid which, I understand, is contrary to International Law.
Each succeeding reid met a new "high" in morale and did much to relieve the feeling of complote isolation. In the main, morals is good, particularly whan one considere how the majority are suffering through leak of food, clothing and privacy.
One thing which impressed as upon reaching the exchange port of Goa was to find how over-optimistic internees are gene...ally concerning the war --
many beli that both Germany and Japan will be conquered before the middle of 1944. Even in the first derk days of in tärnment, optimism was the keynote, and rumoure of great Allied victories are always rits.
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