Press release (United States. Wartime Civil Control Administration), no. 5-1 (May 1, 1942)
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WARTIME CIVIL CONTROL ADMINISTRATION RELEASE NO. 5-1
WESTERN DEFENSE COMMAND AND FOURTH ARMY
1231 MARKET STREET, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. MAY 1, 19h2.
a PRESS RELEASE--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Because of Re ac ictersans effects of outdoor storage on motor vehicles,
Wartime Civil Control Administration officials today urged all Japanese to arrange
for private sale or storage of their cars prior to evacuation.
"These automobiles will not be made available to Japanese after they are evac-
uated,'' Colonel Karl R. Bendetsen, Assistant Chief of Staff, Civil Affairs Division,
declared, "If they are left for outdoor storage they will rapidly turn to scrap
metal and their value will decrease materially."
The WCCA, through the Federal Reserve Bank, has p id ge for the motor
vehicles of evacuees in open areas near the assenbly or reception centers. Within
a few months time serviceable automobiles disposed of in this manner will become
useless as units of transportation, the Colonel explained. This will result in
and
material loss to the Japanese.
Under existing regulations a Japanese may store or sell his car privately, may
store it with the Federal Reserve Bank in one of the outdoor arcas, may turn it over
to the bank for sale, or under certain circumstances, the Army will buy it. Army
authorities indicated that only those cars which have suitable tires and are other-
Wise suitable for Army uses will be purchased. `The Army will accept an appraised
value which takes into account the condition of the tires and which cannot excced
the bluebook value for the area concerned.
"These automobiles will serve the interests of national defense mucn more as
operating automobiles," Lhe Colanel said. "Every Japanese owes it to his country
as well as to himself to arrange for disposition of his car, either thru private
sale or sale to the Army for war use,"
UPL A LEE LEM.
WPT TTT AT aT
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