The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-04-07
The RED CROSS
Has Taken a:Strong Foot.
hold in Japan.
They Have Built Hospital Ship Well
Arranged for the Care of Sick and
Wounded-A Grand Idea.

Lying alongside Tanjong Paga
Wharf, says the Singapore Free Press
of the 2Sth February, there is at pres
emf ship which presents features
which are unique in history. And the
leaders in this effort are the Japanese,
who, If they have but recently begun
to vie with European nations in the
arts that accompany civilization, have
certainly made great progress in re-
cent years, perhaps greater than they
are often given credit for. The care
of the sick and wounded in war is no
new feature, but the building of ship
having for its object the alienation
of the sufferings caused by war is dis
tinctly novel.
The Hakuai-maru is a vessel Of about
two thousand tons, built by Messrs.
Lobnitz & Co. of Renfrew, for the jap
anese Red Cross Society. She has been
especially designed to serve as hos
pital ship in times of war, and to that
end has a large troop deck with beds
for some three hundred patients. The
cabins and saloons have been arranged
to furnish further accommodation for
sick and wounded with the necessary
staff of doctors, nurses, and attend
ants. In times of peace she will be
used as an ordinary merchant vessel,
and is to run, we understand, on the
Shanghai Y ok ohama run of the Nippon
Yusen 'Kaisha The first-class accom-
would then be devoted to the medical
staff, and. the second-class to the
nurses and attendants. The necessary
fittings are all on board, but they will
be landed at Yokohama, and the vessel
will then be available as an ordinary
liner, with this distinction, that the
accommodation is particularly good.
The cabins and saloons are spacious
and airy, the fittings of the vessel in
good taste ond of a cheerful design
that could not fail to be agreeable to
invalids There is fine music saloon,
and a smoking room, with ample
sci by steam; the electric light is of
course fitted throughout and the APP
planes are of the latest and best.
Particular attention has been paid to
the ventilation and sanitary arrange
ments Of the vessel. AS a passenger
ship she will be very comfortable; as
hospital ship going to sea we should
think she would certainly be the best
in the world She is 314 feet long, 80
feet broad, speed Is knots-which
would enable her to keep within ser
viceable distance of a squadron-and
has good sailing qualities.
These were somewhat severely test
ed on the way out, as very heavy
weather was encountered across the
Bay, the pilot having to he taken on
to Gibraltar. Notwithstanding this,
everything worked perfectly, and there
can be no doubt that the Hakuaimaru
is boat of excellent qualities. Many
ships built for mere mercantile pur-
poses possess these, however. The fea-
ture of the Hakuai is of course the fact
that all this trouble has been taken
mainly with the object of providing
means for saving the lives and allie
Waiting the sufferings of those whose
duty calls them into the dread shock
of war The Japanese have conceived
a grand idea-a special Red Cross Ser
vice on the Sea-and although Stead
ties may say that the abolition of war
would avoid the necessity for such a
service, few will be found bold enough
to assert that universal Peace is with
in measurable distance of attainment.
The next best thing, therefore, is the
Good Samaritan of the sea-a repre-
sentation of whom, in stained glass,
enough forms the door
between the saloons of the Hakuai-
naru.
The vessel is being taken to Japan
0y Capt. Harvey and his officers, with
l crew Of sixty-five. She is bringing
)ut a miscellaneous cargo, including a
heavy boiler for Singapore, and a
lredger for a Government harbor near
Nagasslli, for which port she sails di-
'ect in the course of a few days.
r C,JTRE OF RHFTTM A. |