March 12 1933
Canton

This is the first opportunity I have had to write since arriving in Canton. We arrived in Hong Kong March 5th and were met by Mr. Barringer, U.S Trade commissioner. We docked about 8 A.M. and spent the day seeing Hong Kong. It is a lovely place and quite European. As you know it is governed by the British. The European touch predominates to a surprising extent in the buildings. The European style hotels have every convenience. Of course, China puts it's stamp on everything but things are pleasingly familiar. We met Mr. Barringer who is a peach, and had a fine time. We left for Canton on the river boat at 10 P.M.

Next morning at 7 A.M. we awoke at the dock of Canton. Believe me, Canton is a far cry from Hong Kong. Canton is China. There are forty Americans here. We were met by General Lym, the Chief of Staff, the man instrumental in our being here, and Captain Malley, the Australian advisor. There are no other Europeans connected with the Air Force.

We are taken to the Air Force Club and given rooms. The building is very nice, Spanish-Moorish type. The rooms are about eight by twelve [feet]. The ceilings are about 14 feet high. Have to be to live here in the summer. We sleep under mosquito nets the year around. Droves of mosquitoes here now.

The field is a hive of industry. New building are going up rapidly-all good brick buildings. The hangars are fine. Millions are being spent. March field will have to look to its' laurels. We have desks in Headquarters, by the generals. We wear uniforms- Chinese. However, I had the buttons and insignia changed on my uniform and it does beautifully. It is quite difficult to find out what my duties will be, definitely. It seems I will be have charge of Armament Gunnery-both lecture and practice. Probably will teach pursuit later on. My duties will be much like an instructor at Kelly Field.

They have just been flying formation just two months but do quite well. I have designed a set of machine gun bobbing targets and a gunnery and bombing range so far. I enjoy my work. I work from 9:30 to 12 and 1:30 to 5, six days a week. We have been entertained every night this week.

General Wong in command of the Air Force gave a dinner for us. Chinese chow-you should have seen me with chopsticks. Shark fin and bird nest soup etc. They finally gave me a fork ("cha" in Chinese). Dinner with Captain and Mrs. Malley one night. A Chinese wedding dinner-chop sticks again. The groom passed out cold and had to be revived with hot towels. Dinner with Biggs, the Standard Oil representative. Between the dinners and work I haven't had time to unpack.

This surely is a different world. I can't explain it. I will send some pictures and try to describe it all. Life simply teems and dirty-ye gods! The silk shops would make your mouth water, in fact the things here in the shops are gorgeous. I am filled with a multitude of reactions but haven't been here long enough to classify them and reach any conclusions. As soon as I can I will write them to you.

Weddings and funerals with all the attendant gayly colored paraphernalia pass through the streets constantly. Graves cover almost every hill and this is a hilly country. Not a forced landing field in the whole area.

The exchange here is intricate here [and is] changing every minute. For instance, $1 gold is worth $4 Hong Kong-varies constantly. $1 gold is worth $1.44 Canton-varies constantly. The crisis in the U.S. is raising the devil with our exchange here. I can see that I must take one item at a time and treat it thoroughly. I will do that later. I have received my check for March.

Have been intensely interested in the bank trouble in the U.S. I am anxious to know how it affects you all. I do hope you aren't having trouble. If I can send you money from here and help please call on me. I would be tickled to death to do it.

I won't hear from you for a month concerning the bank moratorium. I received a letter mailed Feb. 7th on Mar. 7th.

I don not know just when I can send for Jeannette. If the exchange stays four to one we can live O.K. Not extravagantly but all right. However there is not a decent hotel in Canton so I have to find a house or flat, furnish it and get servants. This is quite a problem because there are so few foreign type houses here. I must admit I am very lonely and unhappy without her. I guess I should be thankful that I have a job and am making money. The States must be awful that way now. I apologize for the letter, I know that it is unconnected but so am I at the moment.

I am greedy for news from home. Please write as often as you can. As soon as things shape around I will write better letters. There are about sixty ships at the field, some Douglas and some new Travel Airs, also some new Curtiss Hawk pursuit coming.

I will sign off and unpack my clothes before the moths and mold disintegrate them.

All my love, Stu (my chop)