Says Spokesman; Fighters Being ^Kept Happy"
LI goods now being transported on the Yangtze, in addition to ordinary military equipment, are destined for consumption by the Japanese military and naval forces, Japanese spokesmen declared at a press conference yesterday.
These shipments, it was pointed out, comprise a wide variety of goods as a huge army and navy must be fed, clothed and "kept happy." As a result commodities needed for the recreation and comfort of officers and men which are not part of the issued equipment but are purchased in canteens are being transported. Sold in canteens were in addition to canned food, beer, sake and other goods, commodities like cigarettes, flashlights, and matches, the spokesmen said.
All Japanese vessels operating on the Yangtze, the spokesmen continued, were acting under the orders of the Army or Navy Quartermasters' Corps. Specific permits were required for any shipment destined for a canteen at the front.
A varied range of commodities, including matches, cigarettes, and candles, the spokesmen continued, were being purchased in Shanghai where those goods were found to be cheaper or more abundant than in Japan.
None of the goods shipped on these vessels were being permitted to be sold to the Chinese.
The ships, a naval spokesman said, returned to Japan "virtually empty." Sometimes they were loaded with war booty, scrap iron or iron ore to be taken to Japan. Discarded military equipment and baggage" even that of foreign correspondents who were left in Hankow" was also being carried, he said.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.