lain of the Houston, was to select a site for the burial of the American dead. They chose a corner of the cemetery in Jokyokarta, up in the hills on the island's south shore. Sixty-seven officers and men from American ships lie there under the crosses the chaplain and doctor had Javanese carpenters carve, with the names and ratings of each man. There were mourners at those burials, Dutch and Javanese men and women who heaped the fresh-made mounds with exotic tropical flowers, strange to American eyes, but no less meaningful than the lilacs and snowballs and poppies associated with American Decoration Day.
Once in the midst of that grim duty the doctor stopped to stare at one of those dead faces. A Chinese face, but he knew it well. Ten years before, when the doctor was serving aboard one of the American gunboats on the Yangtze, that "boy" had come to him and begged for employment as a mess boy. For ten years he had served the United States Navy and now had died in its service.
As February wore on and nothing seemed to halt the Japanese advance, it was a foregone conclusion that the enemy's pincers would reach out and close on Java next. In Surabaya and other towns fifth columnists were active spreading reports and reporting to Tokyo all that went on. Surabaya was atwitter with whispers. Moreover, what was whispered in its bars and streets between raids on Monday was broadcast over the Tokyo radio on Wednesday and Thursday. Dutch, British, and Americans looked grimly at each other as the words came over the loud-speaker.
Orders came to Dr. Wassell from Admiral Hart to evacuate the American wounded to a town up in the hills, less vulnerable than Surabaya. It was already crowded with refugees from all parts of the island. Medical supplies were scanty. Soon they had no more boric acid and no more cotton flannel. Dr. Wassell began to use a substitute remedy, such as he had often had to use as a medical missionary in China. Meanwhile, at Tjilatjap and other ports on the south shore preparations were going on for the retreat to Australia. All anyone could hope for, now, was that as the Japs
