'Bomb Cache turns out bigger than expected'

The Front page of the Stars and Stripes read on Tuesday. The day prior had our McDonalds and the newly built gym in the front picture with the caption: Bomb Cache Found at Sasebo. An interesting couple of days to say the least. I look out the clinic door on Tuesday afternoon and they have the back section of the base closed off due to the discovery. It has happened a couple of times, construction crews unearthed some artillery bunkers dating back to the days of the Japanese Imperials Navy, so no one took great alarm. Inconvenience was more a factor as that part of the base was near the only bank and the before mentioned fastfood establishment. Not to mention several areas of employment.

What was found was originally a bunker with what was estimated a dozen or so shells. After exploring a little more they found a new bunker with a alot more shells in them. About 100 more, along with boosters and mortars. Of these only two had explosive capability. This extended the inaccessibility to the area for another day. People that worked in the vicinity got an unscheduled day off. Those two that had explosives, had no fuses and were taken out by JGSDF bomb crews. Debris cluttered the rest of the bunkers which had to be cleaned out. The area was reopened late Tuesday.

This is about the third time this has happened. The last time was right around where they are building the new shopping center. They found one shell there and had to close the base down due to its proximity to the main gate. With as much construction that goes on here I would be suprised if that was the last discovery.