FROM THE
NATION'S PRESS

AS ONE of the biggest news events of 1942 the Japanese evacuation was thoroughly covered by all the press news gathering agencies as well as by special writers from newspapers and magazines. Manzanar, as the first of the relocation centers, was especially thrown into the limelight as attested by over a dozen thick volumes of clippings collected from nationwide sources. Following are some of the pertinent extracts from newspapers in all the various sections of the U. S. which followed the establishment and growth of the center.

".. Evacuation Work Well Done ..."

Sacramento—Ten inch editorial commended the Army on its quick and efficient handling of the Japanese evacuation also the "cheerful acceptance" of their fate by the Japanese themselves."—Sacramento Bee, June 9, p. 20.

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"Japanese Girls Still Play Ball . . ."

Sacramento—Three column picture by AP photo showed members of the Chick-a-Dee team at practice in Manzanar Relocation Center—Sacramento Bee, June 25, p. 23.

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"Japanese at Work for the U. S."

San Francisco—Fifty-two inch feature story by Lawrence E. Davies with six photographic illustrations of Japanese evacuee life at Manzanar. The proposed work to be done at other War Relocation projects where the evacuees "will be the instruments through which a reclamation program planned for completion in two decades may be well on the way to realization in two or three years, or less . . ." Location and description of sites given. Personal history of some of the evacuees cited.—N. Y. Times, June 21, p. 14, Mag. Sec.

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Summary of the News at Manzanar

Work speeded on camouflage nets. Two hundred workers active on projects. Shipments made regularly.

Classes in junior and senior high school English, science, foreign languages and other courses begun June 22.

Two supplements in Japanese characters now appear in each issue of the Manzanar Free Press.—Inyo Independent (Independence), June 26, p. 1.

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Guayule

Guayule plantings now in bloom. Dr. Emerson of Cal-Tech anxious to have additional plants set out.—Inyo Independent (Independence), July 3, p. 1.

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"Seeks Japanese Crop Aid"

San Francisco—"Olson to ask Army to suspend evacuation pending harvest . . ."—New York Times, July 7, p. 21.

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"Manzanar Free Press Makes Debut"

Independence—Written and edited entirely by Japanese, the Manzanar Free Press, previously mimeographed, became a full-fledged, thrice weekly printed newspaper on July 22. Printing costs will be financed by national advertising, and the Manzanar Community Enterprises will manage its business department. It is printed in English.—Inyo Independent, July 24, p. 1.

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Victory Garden Results

"Three thousand crates of vegetables are expected to be produced within the next month from the three-acre Victory Garden . . ."—Inyo Independent, Sept. 11, p. 6.

Manzanar New

Feature story. "1,000 laborers leave Manzanar to save sugar beets . . ." Distribution of workers given.—Inyo Independent, Sept. 25.

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Director Appointed

"Appointment of Ralph P. Merritt as director of Manzanar Relocation Project was announced yesterday by the WRA. Merritt's appointment was disclosed by Dillon S. Myer, national director of the WRA, who is in San Francisco for conferences with local WRA officials . . ."—S. F. Chronicle, Nov. 27.

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Soldiers Halt Disorder

"Authorities enforced martial law at Manzanar . . ."—Chicago, Ill., News, Dec. 7.

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Riot . . . One Killed

"The Japanese relocation center (Manzanar) here was under martial law today . . . "—Boston, Mass., Herald, Dec. 8.

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"Evacuation Center Disturbances"

"Some news analysts believe it is most unfortunate that it was necessary to invoke martial law at the Japanese evacuation center at Manzanar . . . in order to quell a riot . . . The reason these news analysts believe the occurrence is unfortunate is that it will be used by the Japs in Japan or Japanese-held territory as an excuse to inflict added punishment on American prisoners . . ."—Ariz. Republic (Phoenix), Dec. 8.

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Letters from the People

Seattle—Harry M. Myers refers to an editorial printed previously, saying that it was unfair to the "loyal American citizens of Japanese ancestry . . . The fact that we are at war does not justify abandonment of democratic processes . . ."—Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Dec. 14.

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Let the Public Speak—

Editor: ".. . When I am convinced that Japanese children were responsible for Pearl Harbor, then I'll quickly change my views . . ." stated Chet Merritt in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat against the tempest which rose over suggestion that Christmas gifts be sent to Japanese children in camp.

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"Some Japanese Loyal"

"Dillon Myer, head of the WRA, who has charge of 110,000 persons of Japanese blood, says he believes most of the ones born in the U. S. are loyal to this country, and applauds the Army's decision to accept some of them for military service. He says the FBI has checked up on those who are "potentially dangerous" and that they have been removed to internment camps operated by the Army. Myer dismisses the pro-Axis riots at Manzanar and some other centers as demonstrations of "emotionalism."—Eureka, Calif., Times, Jan. 31.