JAPAN’S POLICE FOSTER CRIME IN SHANGHAI

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23202, 13 December 1940, Page 8

JAPAN’S POLICE FOSTER CRIME IN SHANGHAI

» ' V''v‘ l -V IN OCCUPIED CHINA , !

[By a Correspondent lately in China,]

When the full history of the Japanese occupation of the Shanghai area during the present hostilities conies to be written, all decent Japanese may be expected to blush with shame over the enormities of their military gendarmerie. The Japanese gendarmerie, working in association with their socalled ‘‘Special Service Section, appear to be a law unto themselves. Neither the regular military authorities nor the Consular officials exercise any control over their Cases have even occurred in which the gendarmerie have openly flouted the authority of the Japanese Consular Police. The Japanese gendarmerie first made their appearance in Shanghai within the British defence perimeter, in the western outside roads area, soon after the Chinese forces had beep driven out of the Shanghai region. Why the British military authorities tolerated this incursion of a Japanese military unit into a sector for the peace and security of which they were supposed to accept sole responsibility, is a mystery. Suffice it to say that the gendarmes were permitted to establish themselves in a large building known as 76 Jessfield road, which was soon converted into a veritable fortress, and used as the centre for directing their infamous activities. Illusion Shattered Before the outbreak of the present Sino-Japanese hostilities all units of the Japanese Army were supposed to be impeccable in the matter of corruption. Indeed, officers and men were supposed to regard with contempt those of their fellow-countrymen who concentrated upon amassing wealth, even by honest methods. The idea of bribing a Japanese Soldier would have appeared preposterous, and an unspeakable insult to the Emperor’s uniform. The gendarmerie, once established m Shanghai, set to work to shatter this faith in the integrity of the Mikados forces. They have in the interval succeeded in completely disillusioning foreigners and Chinese in Shanghai, and making their branch ■of Japans military forces a by-word for corruptioWithinCa*Tew months of their occupation of 76 Jessfield road, houses, opium dens and brothels had sprung up all over the area. It was .common knowledge that these were under the protection of, and paid heavy tribute to. the gendarmerie headquarters. In one instance in which a foreign-owned cabaret decided to start roulette tables the proprietor received a blackmailing visit from a enda l s' merge major after he had, a s h e thought, successfully his col--o lThe springing up of these centres of vice led, as might be expected.toan enormous influx of armed robbers, kidnappers, blackmailers, and murderers, whose activities we so-called Ta Tao police—a nondescript Chinese forde enrolled by the gendarmerie—made no efforts to suppress. Indeed, many of these “policemen” were reported not only to be in league with the gangsters, but to augment their pay by themselves engaging in robberies and other crimes when out of uniform. The S a nSr ster elements were further augmented bv organisations supposed to consist pt supporters of the Japanese-sponsored Wang Ching-wei regime. Many of these ruffians, in plain clothes, and armed with Mauser pistols, preyed upon lawabiding citizens in the area, or lent their support to rival gangs of desperadoes. The Crime Centre Lawlessness in the outside western roads area became a by-word throughout Shanghai, but the responsible Japanese military and consular authorities would not or could not do anything to curb it. So the gendarmes became bolder, almost daily. During the last few .months it is common knowledge that* most of the terrorist crimes committed in the International Settlement and the French Concession of Shanghai—one might say practically all such crimes as have not been of an anti-Japanese complexion—have been directed from 76 Jessfield road- was desired to terrorise the local Chinese press—including newspapers of American or British ownership—into refraining from criticising Japan’s puppet Government at Nanking. Two Chinese members of the editorial. staff of an American-owned evening paper were assassinated, and the paper’s accountant after being kidnapped was taken to Jessfield road and there subjected to third degree methods for a week or

more.'He was only released. after ing some kind of undertaking to Z' ply his captors with any informal they required. Among the asked.of him were several relating? possibilities of introducing or incendiary material into the room. i The Japanese have ifiade no sen, of their desire to take over the 2 administration of Shanghai's ftJJj areas—under the pretence of actfaell their Nanking puppet. A miirdK attack is made upon the Secrete!? General of the Shanghai Munich Council within a few hundred yards# his residence in the western outsk roads area. He escapes injury miracle, and the Japanese-sponsoJ Mayor of Greater Shanghai, when ing up to congratulate him an hour * so later spontaneously reports that assassins have been captured and S at Jessfield road. Later the same dh the Japanese/ gendarmerie deny knowledge of the arrests and aIW, that the Mayor has made a “mistake,* A Strikers’ Union Following the murder of the tv™ newspaper men the Jessfield road cam actually had the audacity to approjrt the owners of the journal for a 'w tection fee,” payment of which, so th» maintained, would relieve,the oAU and staff of the paper from molestation. Time and again the Shanghai Muk cipal Police have traced individual assassins, and the weapons and motet, cars they employed, back to No, In no case have they been able to secure any action on the part of the gendarmerie. Large scale assassinations have cently been followed by almojt daily kidnappings. Prominent and wea% Chinese are usually the victims. Some of them disappear entirely.. Onejm been reported to have been taken to Nanking and “executed.” Others halve gained their release only alter p|y. ment of huge ransoms to their afctgn An even more recent development Kar been an attempt organised from Kl 76 to organise a so-called General Labour Union, to undermine foreig enterprises, especially public utility By open intimidation the employe of the settlement and French Conga, sion tram and , bus companies wpi compelled to go on strike, and, one (( the main demands made- was' {9 recognition of this new “union.” Loyf workers were shot or beaten up. la some instances acid was thrown hi their faces. The employees. of pne British concern were approached by a Korean agent who offered them double their usual pay if they would go on strike, and remain on the premises at 76 Jessfield road until the strike was settled to his satisfaction. In this’instance the mere mention of the field road address was sufficient'to scare the coolies off. Trade Blockages It was unquestionably gendarmerie officers who raided the apartment cl Rlr Hallett Abend, China coryesppntlent of the ‘‘New York Times," ransacked it, and carried off a number of - his papers, including a nearly completed life of'General.Frederick W?ri They knew from his applications to visit and photograph the general's tomb that he had such a book in preparation. They also knew that he was vacating this apartment at noon the following day. It is hardly surprising that' other units of the Japanese Army, cognisant of the wholesale graft and terrorism prevailing among the gendarmerie, should follow their bad example, : In all parts of occupied China to-day “military necessity” is used as a pretext for spoliation and “squeeze".The Japanese Army has been confiscating for resale for its own benefit ,br preventing the transportation of numerous commodities, including furs'and skins, silk cocoons, bristles, cotton, and numerous other products! It is fostering transportation and other monopolies. • The present acute rice shortage in Shanghai, which has driven the price of the necessity of life up to a figure far beyond the means of the poorer classes, is due to the refusal of the Japanese Army to allow th( free movement of rice from the lowa Yangtse valley. Foreign-owned cargoes of various kinds are constantly being held up in order to extort illegal levies. More than two years have elapsed since the Japanese occupation of Hankow and Canton. Not a single third Power vessel, however, has been permitted to trade with middle Yangtse ports.