American Japs In Italy Like To Stay at Front

ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, Algiers, Nov. 16.--(Delayed)--(AP)--It is virtually impossible to evacuate to rear areas any of the Japanese-American troops fighting for Italy except in the case of very severe battle wounds.

These boys don't want to go back, even with injuries requiring days of rest, for fear they'll never catch up with their friends again. Soldiers hospitalized beyond a certain period are sent to replacement centers when they recover and thus may never team up with their old buddies again. They are more likely, under the laws of chance, to be assigned to some other unit.

One Japanese-American surgeon who had been injured appeared unexpectedly at the force's command post and was greeted with surprise there by a high-ranking officer.

"Thought you were in the hospital, Captain," said the officer.

"I was."

"What injuries did you have?"

"Four broken ribs."

"Four broken--what! Why didn't they send you back to Africa?"

"Well, they almost did," grinned the captain. "But I'd never get back with the outfit if I once got separated that much. I fixed it up with the division surgeon. They're carrying me on the records of the clearing station."

And he set off for the clearing station, where a man could let his broken ribs heal--if he didn't mind being only 1,000 yards behind the battle lines.