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March 16, 1933
Canton
I am becoming a bit acclimated and know a little more what it is
all about. Thank you again and again for the cable saying you are
all safe. I arrived here before I heard about the quake. It saved
me a terrible worry. I can't imagine Los Angeles in ruins; it must
be horrible. The account in the paper here painted a hopeless scene.
I am on pins and needles until I have a detailed account telling
how you fared. I can only pray it didn't do any damage to your lovely
little house. I surely thank god that you all came through unscathed.
I can't report on any such startling news over here. It has been
almost impossible to find out what they wanted me to do. At present
I am as busy as the devil laying out plans for the gunnery and bombing
range, - down to the last detail as score cards, etc, preparing
plans for gunnery and bombing courses, gathering together an armament,
preparing lectures in machine guns and bombs for both Officer and
enlisted classes, also have a class in radio code.
It seems that I will have charge of the Armament and Gunnery and
Dive Bombing until April 16 when a new class graduates from the
primary school. Have 132 officers now. When the new classes arrive
I will have pursuit too. My work will be mostly lecture I believe
for a while. It is all quite and experience because I must lay out
details of necessary equipment to the nth detail. Of course, that
is what I am being paid for. I haven't done any flying as yet and
do not expect to do much in the future. The men here fly all day
long. The field is a peach and has new brick buildings-more going
up all the time. It is a real establishment. Classes are difficult
because I work because I must work through a interpreter. However
a surprising number of the boys speak English.
I have been so busy at the field that I haven't seen much of Canton.
I live about three miles from the center of town. I have been down
town about four times buying a few articles and arranging my finances
at The Bank of Shameen. The streets are simply alive with people,
rickshaws, and every conceivable kind of cart and vehicle. The streets
seem to be devotes to one article, for instance, all of the silk
shops on one street, shoes another, blackwood another, etc.
I am learning what not to eat and do. Must only drink boiled water,
eat only cooked foods and no green vegetables, do not touch fruit
with your hands after peeling it, bathe all cuts in iodine, never
let your bare feet touch the floor, etc. People here take shots
for typhoid, malaria, smallpox, cholera, meningitis, and diphtheria.
The skin diseases must be watched. It all sounds bad but Americans
have been living here 40 years. They say just use common sense and
you will be all right.
Mosquitoes are bad and I am a choice morsel it seems. Have to sleep
under a net the year around. The above sounds worse than it is.
I am beginning to like the place. It is entirely foreign to anything
I have ever known and it takes me time to adjust myself. People
who live here (foreigners) love it and never want to leave.
I will be glad when Jeannette is here. It takes one person to see
that the correct water is used, correct food is purchased, and safely
prepared, etc. This will be the most valuable experience I have
ever had. At present it is lonely but Jeannette will soon be here.
I am receiving your good letters. Keep it up-I count the days until
I have another. Please tell me all the little details of your lives-I
am intensely interested.
I am having a summer uniform tailored. $10 Canton, $6.50 Hong Kong,
or $1.60 I think my first month here will be $45 U.S. Give my love
to Mala and Grandad.
All my love for you all,
Stu
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