Japs Evacuated, Bainbridge Life Eases Back to Normalcy

Life on Bainbridge Island eased back to normal today after eight hectic days in which evacuation of the island's Japanese was completed.

The Japanese, the entire 227 of them, left the island yesterday, and today were bound, in a special train, for Owens Valley, in Calif.

Guards were absent this morning from the ferry docks at Winslow and Eagledale and commuters rather missed them. The soldiers had been on duty since a week ago Monday, investigating every automobile that boarded or left a ferry and interrogating some passengers.

Some Soldiers Remain

Not all the soldiers had left the island, however. There still is a detachment on duty guarding the farms and homes of the departed Japanese until such time as new tenants take over.

Most of the soldiers, however, including Maj. C.F. Bisenius, who had charge of the evacuation, went with the special train which carried the "orphans of the war" southward.

Residents of the island were somewhat nonplussed today as they went about their business in a non-Japanese area. School children especially felt the situation. Many a seat in the grade schools and high school was vacant, the occupant having left the island under the Army's order.

At the Eagle Harbor Market, established by John Nakata, a Japanese born on the island, white men served the customers. Some berry and pea fields were being cultivated, but by Filipinos, not the usual Japanese.

Ferries late last night carried many automobiles, loaded with Filipinos and bearing California licenses. These men had been summoned to take over the work on some farms.

At the Kitayama greenhouse at Pleasant Beach soldiers stood guard to protect property until new tenants would take over.

There was no work in progress at two of the largest strawberry fields, one at Fletcher Bay and the other near Manzanita. The fields have been leased but the new operators had not had time to take over. Soldiers watched these properties also.

Removal Commended

Island residents had great praise for the efficient and humane manner in which the Army conducted yesterday's evacuation. Most of the Japanese removed had been born on the island and the majority of the elders had lived there as long as 30 years.