Prison on Shikoku

The fate of 366 Americans captured at Gilbert, Wake and Guam Islands was reported in a cable received last week by the U.S. Navy Department. It came from a Swiss International Red Cross agent, long resident in Japan:

"Camp on large island of Shikoku in the north near Inland Sea, on fertile plain between hills covered with pines; good climate; no endemical diseases.

"Market town of Zentsuji with 25,000 inhabitants near by. Camp covers six acres surrounded by barbed wire and a wooden fence. Two Army barracks, two stories high, well ventilated, 12,000 cubic meters in all. Capacity 500; present number 374. One Englishman from Shanghai, two Dutchmen, five Australians and rest Americans, of whom eight are from Gilbert Islands, 20 from Wake and the rest from Guam. Forty-five officers, ten doctors, two druggists, one dentist.

"Barracks recently divided into rooms of from one to 14 camp beds, each having five blankets, a pillow and mattress for officers. Heating by modern stoves.

"Daily rations 300 grams [about twelve ounces] of bread, 300 rice, 160 wheat plus potatoes, sweet potatoes, green vegetables, fish, eggs, etc. Total 3,200 calories. Meat, sugared food and, in this season, fruits are rather rare. Young and active prisoners are losing weight; old and idle prisoners gain weight.

"Cooks chosen from prisoners work in separate kitchens, which are large and clean.

"Tobacco ration is ten cigarets per one to three days according to rank.

"Clothing sufficient for the moment, but 120 pairs of shoes requested as soon as possible. Daily laundering; good hygiene; large hot Japanese bath daily for workers and weekly for others. Latrines clean.

"Infantry in barracks; military hospital near by. Visits from Japanese doctors three times a week. Monthly inspection. Fifteen wounded in infirmary of whom seven wounded by bombs and one had leg amputated above the knee. All getting along well. No dead. American dentist wants to practice. . . .

"Prisoners wish books, equipment for sports and games, piano, typewriters. Protecting power will take charge of that.

"Religious services conducted by minister, who also is prisoner. Two hundred prisoners work voluntarily to clear nearby hill for potatoes, sweet potatoes, wheat. Satisfied with work. Paid 60 to 90 sen a day, according to rank. Necessary work in camp paid 15 to 35 sen a day. . .

"Preparing to organize paid work in the town. Officers receive same pay as that of corresponding rank in Japanese Army. . . .

"Principal need is that of corresponding with families. Letters not sent in view of lack of communications. At beginning of March officers authorized to send personal messages to their families in America by radio, but remain without answer.*

"Prisoners wish to receive financial assistance by cable from their families through intermediary of U.S. Navy Department or Red Cross. . .

"No complaint on subject of treatment; discipline and cooperation excellent. Commanding officer and officers competent and friendly. Prisoners sensible. General impression very good."

* In World War I, one of the best sources of information the German Intelligence had was letters to prisoners in Germany. Skeptical observers last week thought this Red Cross report a little too rosy to be real.

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