REGULATIONS TIGHTEN

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 7, 3 October 1944, Page 5

REGULATIONS TIGHTEN

American Servicemen In Sydney (Received October 2. 9.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 2. The United States Army is tightening up regulations governing the behaviour of soldiers on leave and on base duty in Sydney. Servicemen are ordered not to walk in the street with their arms around girls not to hold girls’ hands in the street, not to carry girls’ handbags, stand in shop doorways or sit on the. grass in park’s at night. American soldiers have also been instructed uot to rush for taxis ahead of civilians, not to demand dishes in restaurants if these were not available to civilians, and not to be conspicuous when carrying liquor through Ihe streets. All personnel on 'base duty in Sydney, including high ranking officers. must be at work by 8 a.m. Mirny men have been required to give up living in private apartments, and live in eamps to whieh they must return by (> p.m., unless on special leave. Black Market Problem.

Appealing to Australians to cease buying black market cigarettes, and other comforts intended for United .States servicemen and women, the Sydney base commander, Colonel F. L. Burns, said the loss of American services property being sent to troops in forward areas was one of the most, serious problems confronting the American authorities in the South-west Pacific. Civilians were paying up to 30/- on the black market lor a carton of 200 cigarettes. Many thousands of cartons were being stolen to feed Ihis black market. Arms., clothing, canned food, tyres, petrol, wrist watches and other goods hud also been, stolen. Last month Hi people Were convicted oil charges of pilfering goods belonging to ■ the United States Army.