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safety precautions. These members of the crew had no option. It was an order from the Japanese. A Japanese invasion barge came alongside and we all piled into it. Our Sikhs, with remarkable foresight, had several sacks of rice piled with their belongings. Food had suddenly become even more precious than it normally was in China. Before leaving the vessel I met a Japanese Rear Admiral who had come down from the Japanese Navy Headquarters to look over the prize. He was courteous and, in return, I asked him to thank his subordinates for the orderly way they had taken over the ship. A nervous or uncertain boarding officer might have caused a stampede, resulting in casualties. The invasion barge brought us to the Shameen where we joined the group in the gardens in front of the British Consulate. There we registered and were assigned to different residences on the Island. An apologetic Japanese junior consul had searched our baggage, and I had managed to get my binoculars and telescope passed without detection. Binoculars are always eagerly sought by victorious troops from their prisoners. My assignment was to house with a Mr. Wood, head of the firm of Deacon & Co., whose connection dated back to Clipper Days. We were together under house arrest for four months before we were transferred to an assembly centre. After my "all clear" from the Japanese examining army officers I met my Chinese crewmembers who were landed after us on the Shameen. They were told to billet themselves in the Shameen Club and I went with them to see how they would fare. A number of them were greatly upset about the fate of their relatives in Hong Kong and had to be consoled. There was the question of funds, pay, etc. I had no cash, nor had the agent. They had been paid the first of December, and were on a monthly basis. Overnight the Hong Kong dollar had nose-dived and food prices had shot up. Their livelihood gone, separated from their families, nowhere to go, hunger everywhere, is there any limit to what
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