LAST DAY’S SHORE LEAVE FOR AMERICAN SAILORS

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28440, 21 November 1957, Page 7

LAST DAY’S SHORE LEAVE FOR AMERICAN SAILORS

‘‘Say, honey, you're cute. How about taking in a movie tonight?” Who else would say this in Christchurch but an American sailor?

“Honey” does not always say “no,” but very often —too often, say many of the 1 sailors—she has a “date” with another American who arrived earlier.

Cathedral square is the sailor’s favourite haunt; women their favourite targets. “But what else is to be expected after 21 days at sea?” they say “American sailors are only human. They all want girls and entertainment.” The trouble is there are not enough girls left unattached, and the public entertainments provided are all too few for these visiting servicemen.

The general opinion among them is that they wish they were in Wellington rather than Christchurch ‘‘although as a city Christchurch is nicer.” “In Christchurch we can go dancing, to the movies, or just wander round doing nothing, and go back to the ship early. Me. I'm going to a film on Shakespeare tonight, but I'm married and don't really want to meet any girls. These other guys are different. They like to take out girls,” was one sailor's comment. Another said of Christchurch: •‘lt's nice, but man. it's dead. Give me Wellington any day.” The executive officer in one ship endorsed the opinions of his men. ‘‘There is quite a bit of entertainment organised for officers. but the ordinary seaman gets a pretty raw deal in many cases.”

Some of the ratings have hired cars motor scooters and bicycles. One sailor spent almost the whole | trip from the United States in joyful anticipation of the fun he would have in Christchurch when

he could hire a motor-cycle. He and a friend have been able to hire a motor scooter each and are quite content to ride them in the city and on trips to outlying districts. Some others are renewing friendships and acquaintanceships from their last trip, looking up girls they met before and with whom they have corresponded over the months. In some cases it is a full year.

Since the arrival of the ships the Navy Public Information Officer has had dozens of telephone calls from people offering private hospitality to the visitors Many more have called the ships.

The Glacier. Atka and Greenville Victory, will leave early on Friday morning. Today the sailors will have their last fling before spending a summer in the Antarctic, where there are no women and fewer entertainments than in Christchurch.