CODE OF BEHAVIOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 81, 3 October 1944, Page 6

CODE OF BEHAVIOUR

AMERICANS IN AUSTRALIA

':'mu-■■•■«'■■."; ', ■«■■'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 streets, not* to carry girls' handbags, stand in shop doorways, or sit on the grass in parks at night. . . . : - i American soldiers have also been instructed not to rush for taxis.ahead of civilians, not to demand dishes in restaurants if.these were not available to- civilians, and not to b.e conspicuous when carrying liquor through the streets. , -» ,

.All personnel on base duty in Sydney, including high ranking officers, must be at work by 8-a.m. Many men have been required to give up living in private apartments, and live in.camps to which they must return by 6 p.m., unless, on special leave.

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 Southwest Pacific.

Civilians were paying up to 30s on the black market for a carton of 200 cigarettes. Many thousands of cartons were being stolen to feed this black market. . ■ ••■' '■"

Arms, clothing, canned: food, tyres, petrol, wristwatches, and other goods had- also been stolen. Last month 16 persons .were convicted on charges of pilfering goods belonging 'to the United States army. ■ ; '