Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-19
A. LETTER FROM HARDIN
EXPRESSIONS OF CHINAMEN ON
MANCHURIA's FUTURE.
Interesting Observations by an Asso-
ciated Press Representative-Ban
and Their Arms-Explanations.
of the Associated Press.

Correspondence of the Associated Press.
HARDIN. November 16.-"Back and
forth along the railway, now that there is
not much in the way of active fighting"
writes staff correspondent of the Asso-
ciGted Press zone meets many interesting
acquaintances. nearly all of whom have
something of interest to add to the gen.
eral story of the war. Coming up the last
time across the Itsun river I was put I'D
for the night by the bridge guard, clever.
companionable fellows. with some very
Intelligent Chinese assistants. There is an
iron bridge across the river, with a coy
little fort at either end and boat patrol
ing the river beneath to guard against sud
den descents of the Chinese bandits. who
are always on the alert to annoy the lines
OF communication. even if they cannot cut
them But the railway guard is very
mobile organization, and can concentrate
strong force up or down the lines at
short notice. while the guard boat makes
the river banks untenable for an enemy.
Manchuria the Prize.
zone of the Cinnamon on guard at the
bridge is a very intelligent fellow from
the southern provinces. and he predicts
sweeping changes in China when this war
is over. He does not speak as though he
regarded Manchurla as an integral part of
China. He said:
Whoever wins in this war Is going to
take Manchuria. whether it is Japanese or
Russian. China will not much care. But
when the war is over you are going to see
changes in Chinas internal economy. There
are great many of us, especially In the
south. who have studied the question thor
oughly. We know what we want in the
way of Chinese reforms and we are gong
to get them after this war on the border
Is out of the way.
ION promontory high over the Itsun
is perched pretty little Chinese village,
and here Is established one of the neat,
clean and compact little zemstvo hospitals.
One Of the doctors had much to say of The
wounded of whom he has handled hun
dreds and seen thousands. 'Curiously
enough said he the majority of our
wounded are shot in the head. 1 attribute
this to the shrapnel bursting In the air.
The Japanese artillery has been response
BILE for the most of cur casualties so far
Ii is much the most effective arm of the
japanese service.
Soldiers Stoicism and Devotion.
I'VE have many examples of the stole
| ism and devotion of the soldiers who come
| under our care. 1 was attending dying
CCssack recently. He was in terrible pain.
| l stopped to ask him at the end what mes
sage he had to send to mis- parents or rela-
| tives. But instead he gave me the num-
Der of his rifle. told me where 1t was, and
requested that 1t should be sent to his COM
| mapder. Another soldier limped in here
on foot. He had refused to let the stretcher
men carry him, saying there were others
who needed the stretcherS more. When l
examined him found his foot mangled be-
yCnd hope of saving. 1t was amputated
within an hour. Yet he had walked here
| to leave a stretcher vacant for some one
else
I'm the field hospitals the men are put
twenty-five in a tent. They preserve their
discipline even in bed, and elect one of
| their tent-mates. usually one of the less
severely wounded, commander. All this
| Is quite independent of the regulations.
| The wounded take orders from their tent
chief, and whenever there Is shortage of
helpers, and there usually is, they help the
doctors with the dressing and bandaging
and also help to get and serve the meals.
I'm Hardin the volunteer surgeons and
nurses have been a blessing. All the doc
| tors in the town have given their service
voluntarily, and many of the ladies who
| never saw a bandage before the war have