How Captain Jimmy Smith

Kept His Watch

THE fact that Captain Jimmy Smith, of Abemama, lived through the Jap invasion, when a large proportion of the other Europeans who had re mained in the Gilbert and Ellice Groups were murdered by the Japs, was dis missed lightly by the veteran on his liberation. (He died a few weeks ago in Fiji, at the age of 86.) But an old friend of the skipper says that, at one time, it was touch-and-go.

When the Japs arrived in Abemama, and began looting, the skipper was philo sophical, Without protest, he watched a party of about 20 going through his house like a swarm of locusts, grabbing everything they could see. But, when he saw that they were carrying off a gold wrislet watch, he went into action.

Captain Smith had been married to a woman ♦ who was the daughter of an American father and Samoan mother; and a daughter of this marriage became the wife of the High Chief of Abemama —himself an educated Euronesian. When the latter wedding took place, the wife of the British Resident Commissioner presented the watch to the bride (Cap tain Smith’s daughter).

The 83-years-old captain could not bear to see this valued gift being taken by the Japs, and he seized it. A Jap hung on to the other end of the bracelet, and there was a tug-of-war. Other Japs jumped in, and severely battered the old skipper with their rifles. But Tie clung to the watch; and, extraordinary to re late, he was not killed, and was allowed to keep it.

After this, the Japs left him alone — probably the result of their veneration of age—but they never lost a chance to steal from him. They visited him nearly every day. He said thaj he believed, if they did- not kill him in the first 10 minutes, he would be safe until the next visit —that seemed to be their system.