Like the Circus

Army headquarters in Tokyo put the souvenir business on a bargain-basement basis last week. In the lobby of the Dai Iti Hotel was a conspicuous sign: "War trophies will, be issued here--men must be assigned to GHQ--one sword per man." Somebody with a high regard for accuracy had crossed out the words "men" and had substituted "officers."

Majors, lieutenant colonels and colonels trampled and jostled each other to get places in line. Japanese boys seemed to enjoy the spectacle as they opened packing cases of field sabers, the poor man's samurai sword, and stacked them for the issuing officers. Lieutenant colonels and colonels got an extra dividend: a pair of binoculars.

G.I.s who had fought in battle for their souvenirs were vociferously disgusted by the antics of the rear-echelon boys. Said a naval reservist, well supplied with well-won combat stars: "It's like the circus, when the death-defying aerial act has ended. Out come the clowns, beating each other over the head with bladders and whacking each other's backsides with explosive paddles. Well, the clowns can have it. I'm going home."

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