The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-20
LAPS HAHsHLx TREATED.
United States Asked to Make Re
 tsiYHef If WuRmia

United States Asked to Make Re-
 quest of Russia.
 Washington. March 1s.-Russia will be asked by the United States on behalf of Japan. which has no diplomatic relations with Russia, to treat kindly Japanese non-eombatants who have been left in Siberia and to enable them to make their way back to Japan.
 The Japanese minister called at the State Department to-day and informed the officers that he had received reports that between forty and fifty non-combat- ants were in suffering condition in sev- eral Siberian towns. The Minister re- quested the Washington government to use it's good office to assist the suffering Japanese to reach Berlin, where the Jap anese minister will take them in charge. The State Department acted promptly and a cablegram was sent to Ambassa- dor Mccormick at St. Petersburg invit- ing him to call the attention of the Rus sian government to the request in the confident hope that Russian officers will take immediate steps for the relief of the Japanese.
 The correspondent of the Associated Press. Minister Takahira, said:
 q made this request because of a tel egram representing that two Japanese subjects who arrived at Berlin a few days ago from the interior of Siberia as delegates from a large number of Japanese still living there reported to the Japanese ambassador at Berlin that they were boycotted and not only had they found 1t impossible to earn living, but they were in constant danger of life. and consequently were suffering great privations. In some towns. 1t was said, they were ordered by the police to leave at a moments notice without time to take their effects with them. We have there fore decided to have them sent to Japan.
 "1t Is not unnatural that In time of war there exists between belligerents degree of enmity, but in my opinion 1t Is a nota- ble feature of the present conflict that since its outbreak the Russians have act ed in an untoward manner with the nom combatants and prisoners of our people. The Vladivostok squadron fired on Japan ese merchantmen and sank one of them A Japanese major and five soldiers, who were taken prisoners in Korea, were pa- raded through the streets of Mukden. Japanese subjects in Manchuria, many or whom were women. were subjected to in- dignities while on their way to seaport to find a steamer to take them to Japan. This report from Berlin tells of the cruel treatment of innocent people by the police of Siberia.
 "Just think how Russians are treated fin Japan. You never hear any complaint by them against the Japanese. On the contrary, 1t was reported from Chemulpo that when the bodies of two Russian sail ors were recovered from the wreck of tho cruiser Variag. the sailors of Japanese men-of-war buried. them with military honors and many residents of the Japan ese town at Chemulpo went to tnelr graves to show their respect for the hon orable death.
 'I do not mean to expect of the country and people at war with us anything un- usual, but sincerely hope that they will show at least some moderation in tho treatment of those innocent. unfortunate sufferers. not only for their sake, but for the sake of the good name that great Empire as one of the civilived countries.