COMRADE IN ARMS WITH SONS OF JAPAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23339, 6 May 1939, Page 1 (Supplement)

COMRADE IN ARMS WITH SONS OF JAPAN

A New Zealander Looks Back Across the Years

By TOKIO

I left the Japanese Navy and finally caxne ashore to be a civilian there was no talk of Axis Powers and no casting of anxious eyes at the Pacific. Even now, when so much has happened in the way of national re-alignments and the profession of new friendships, one cannot believe that the character of peoples has changed and that old friendships have turned to enmities. In my own memory the Japanese remain a charming and friendly people, and if I were to write say, to my old friend I trust, is still enjoying life somewhere in Japan—l know my letter would receive a friendly, welcome. We had some good days together, you and I (I would say) You and the others were all so friendly, so cheerful and so thoughtful. I was the only European in your ship, and each an every one of you did so much to make me feel at home during those months. Unobtrusively and with so much courtesy you did all that you could do for my comfort and happiness. You were all, if I may use the term, such gentlemen.

telling mo how old everybody was. And you hissed very politely when 1 showed you my photographs. Certainly I found 'it disconcerting to be asked how old -were mv father and my mother, and to watch you appraising all my belongings' with your fingertips, until I learned that you were doing so , from courtesy. The ceremonious little bow with which you always greeted me and left me was very "catching." I found myself doing it long after I left you.

And you, Ishikawa —I have not written to you for twenty years. I wonder what you are doing now. Possibly you have retired and arc growing chrysanthemums, or tomatoes, or whatever it is that the suburban gardener grows in Japan, and living a peaceful family life somewhere. I do not think you are serving in China, for you wero much older than I. It is very likely that you are teaching jujitsu, of which you were once an outstanding exponent, for I know how much pleasure you found in it.

Jujitsu Lesson Do you remember how wo spread the mats, and how you made mo follow your example, bare my feet and dress myself in shorts and kimono'( "Please push me," you said, very politely. And when I tried to do so I found myself floating over , the top of vour head and then sinking like thistledown 011 to the mat. How you were able to do it so gently yet so thoroughly I have not yet been able to guess. I have said it is twenty years since I wrote to you, and so it is, yet I still have some of your letters. I wonder if you remember writing this to me: —

Talk of Home It was an odd situation for me until I becaihe used to it, and I dare say it was an odd one for you, too. I spoke no Japanese and only two or three of vou spoke some English, let it was amazing how we came to understand one another. We could never have done it without much patience and a rough ability to sketch. Do you remember ?hose evenings round the improvised blackboard on deck when we talked about each other's homes and the days of peace we had left behind half a dozen words and a sketch, another half dozen and another sketch, and so on? After a time Ave seemed to develop a telepathic sense that helped us out considerably. I had not been in "the ship half an hour when you gave me an indication of the hospitality I was to receive throughout my stay with you. One of vou entered my room with a JargQ green leaf on the flat of his hand, and in the middle of it a little pile of rice and chopped vegetables. It was my lunch What you do not know is that when 1 went ashore and reported on the food situation to my own British authorities my superior, an imaginative man, got on the telephone and asked someone at the other end what he was going to do about it. Tliey gave him rice for lunch, he said ''and they are going to give him birds nests for dinner." Visitors With Gifts

Dear My Friend, —How are you. I thank you for your assistance and many attention.

Well you never did offer me birds' nests, 'though you made mo free, of vour huge stocks of seaweed and rice. 'But I made my own food arrangements, as you know, and somehow L muddled along without great hardship. What I liked about you all was your gift for anticipating my wants in the things of creature comfort, such as hot water for bathing, a boon under the makeshift and cramped conditions in which we lived. And you had a very pleasing way of never coming to my room without bringing a small gift, a picture postcard, a little bpg of Japanese sweets, or, on occasions, even an egg later fried on a piece of brass turned up at the edges. _ You took great pleasure in showing 8» photographs of your families and

I have busy now than at Akashi, no wonder small your ship. When I parted you I feel verry sorry myself that I lost my English teacher. Now is lonly. If you please give mo a letter once a week. I should study by your kindly letter.

You asked for a letter once a week. I have failed you badly. Perhaps you remember writing this: — My Dear Friend, —I was very pleased when I received your kind letter, but I could not write so fast as you. I am very unsatisfaction.

New ship? Now is very happy, for I can teach jujitsu every evening. All so wc have not to sea. How do you like new crew? Is there speak English anyone with you? Photograph is very good. In our opinion. Although you have kind-hearted, parpapsc we nan not take it. Therefore we are very SiaU and wcro satisfaction. „ , Do you know by anything that the war must end some day? If you please tell me.

No, I did not know anything, except that it seemed as if the war was never going to end. No Thought of Malice

I have only one more thing to quote, and that is a brief cablegram from London which I discovered in the files of tho New Zealand Herald. It is dated July 29, 1917, and runs:—

The Japanese Naval Attache announces that Japanese warships which were escorting a British transport in the Mediterranean on Sunday last attacked an enemy submarine. They smashed the periscope and undoubtedly destroyed the submarine

That, I know, will stir your memory. You will recall how the submarine fired a torpedo which went between us and the transport. I arrived on the bridge while the forward gun was still barking and vou lent me a pair of glasses, though the submarine was only a few hundred yards away. Together we watched the periscope shattered by the falling shells before the depth charges started their major work.

I hope it is never your lot to be concerned again with shells and depth charges. If it is, and you find yourself down this end of the Pacific, I know vou will do whatever you believe you have to do with no thought of malice. And I shall bear none for you. But for old time's sake, my dear friend Ishikawa, T hope we shall incet in happier circumstances than that.