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War Trophies for The Asking Await Soldiers Leaving JapanTOKYO (ANS)—When GI Johnny Jones, lately of Tokyo, Osaka, oy Yokohama goes home from the wars, he will lug along with him a Jap trophy presented with the compliments of the Eighth Army.What Johnny’s wife or motheranr-y when he proudly places sy, deadly, dust-collecting Jap “Nambu 14” pistol on the mantle is another matter. Forwill s grea while, undoubtedly, Johnny’szev-icvsa-ieofsr.,kedhers;h-heicedornearest and dearest will put up with the evil thing Just because he is back.What Can Be TakenBut Uncle Sam’s occupation veteran isn’t looking that far ahead. Let the battle with the little woman come when it may. Right now he is thinking in terms of what he can take back —sword, pistol, rifle, binoculars, or even a bugle.Every American soldier in Japan who is going home is entitled to one of these items if he does not already have a similar trophy.All he needs to get one of the free war trophies is to have been regularly stationed in Japan, to have a copy of a signed request for a trophy from his CO, and have a copy of his orders sending him stateside.Binoculars First Choice If he runs true to form he will probably ask for a pair of seven-power binoculars first. His next choice, if field glasses are not in stock, will be a pistol,. then a sword, then a rifle, in that order If he is desperate he may even ask for a Jap bugle. But so far there has been only one request for the ear-splitting item and tha came from a chaplain who said he needed it to blow church calls Jap-manufactured seven-power or German-made six-power bino cuiars are most popular. „ Pistols’ are scarce, but on lucky days a fellow sometimes has his choice of weapons from eight countries besides Japan.These weapons, once the per sonal property of Jap officers include the French Simplex am colonial models, Belgian Browning automatics, various and sundry Austrian weapons, English Webley and Enfield models, the Spanish Royal and a number of German makes, including the popular Lugers, Mausers and the latest Walthers.Few American Pistols A few American made pistols have been taken from Jap officers but they have been civilian type models. No regular U.S. Army pistols have been uncovered so far.Many of the occupation soldiers have their heart set on taking back a Jap sword, but not just any old sword. He has heard so many tales of the officer Samurai sword that no other blade will ever really satisfy his passion for ■his most-perfect of all souvenirs o collect dvist at home.There are few honest-to-gosh Samurai swords left—the kind with a long family history and studded with jewels—and those ?o like hoteakes to a few lucky GIs.Most souvenir depot swords are of Jap army issue which include a two handed affair with no guard but with a fairly decent blade, and a saber type with a curved blade.Into The Ash CanMany of these swords will hang over fireplaces for years, always danger of being tossed intoIVtlt]ninthe ash can. As for rifles: if GI Johnny is strictly honest he will admit to the little lady that he was warned that firearms should not be left lying loose around the house, and that they will never be able to get the right nmmuni tion.The lady erf the house has one advantage,'however, and that’is Johnny* can only take one war trophy home. His baggage will be thoroughly checked before he leaves Japan and will be subject ot another check when he hits stateside.We Are Losing Peace, Says Ex-OWI ChiefANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP)-“We are losing the peace be
Newspaper Details
Middle Pacific Stars and Stripes
Honolulu, Hawaii, US
Mon, Nov 05, 1945
Page 10
Full Page
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Anonymous
USA 21 May 2024
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