Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-17
Army Nurses and Correspon-
dents Unwelcome Visitors.
A LACK OF CAND0R
OFFICIALS DID NOT DISCLOSE
THEIR REAL SENTIMENTS.
Unwillingness to Hurt the Feelings OF
the American People by Seeming
to Take an Ungracious Stand.

BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star and
Chicago Record Herald.
TOKYO, July II, 1904.
An important parsonage confded to me
the other day that of all the difficulties the
Japanese government has been compelled
to contend with since the beginning or the
war, the most perplexng were the news
paper men and the American nurses. Ihey
did not want either to come here. Both
have been inexpressible nuisances. but
they could not be abated for many reasons,
chief of which was desire to make DOM
believe that they were cordially welcome.
In dealing with the war correspondents
however, the Japanese authorities made a
very serious mistake, and by their lack OF
candor have provoked Indignation and en-
nifty when they might have had good will
and friendship. However, there have been
errors on both sides.
The nurses were more easily disposed Of.
They have been buried under compliments
and attentions and gifts, and have been
sent to the other end of Japan, where they
are supposed to be nursing sick soldiers
and prisoners of war; and. so far as we
have heard. they are contented and happy
benefactors, but they do not realize the an
noyance and anxiety which the Japanese
have suffered on their account. Public SEN
tfment has expressed itself in many forms,
both concerning tue nurses and the CORE
Spondents, and that part of the community
who have not been responsible for their
well being have manifested the greatest
pleasure and gratitude on account of their
presence. The nurses were met at the
dock when they landed and at every rail-
WA CT OF IN, no vail yx-aX
they Travelled with addresses of welcome,
garlands of flowers and other manifesto
lions of affection and gratitude, and their
stay at the capital of the empire was a
continuous fete. They were the guests Of
the nation they were honored by audiences
with the emperor and the empress and
were entertained by other members of the
imperial family. The nobility and the aris-
tocracy struggled for the privilege of show
ing them honor while the poor and humble
laid flowers at their feet
Nevertheless. the medical department of
the army, which was responsible for their
pleasure and comfort and was required to
take care of them was very much upset.
So far as the personnel of the party is con-
cerned, nothing more could be desired l
doubt whether better examples of American
Womanhood could have been selected.
Every citizen of the United States was
proud of its representatives in their white
cotton caps and gowns and their long
aprons. which. by the way, happen to be
remarkably becoming to every one of the
party. And that these women should cross
5000 miles of land and 5000 miles of sea
to nurse wounded and sick Japanese SOL
diers made the heart of the whole nation
swell with grateful pride and affection.
But the medical department of the army
was compelled to contemplate the stu
alton from a very different point of view.
The American nurses cannot speak or I'M
guage but English. Hence very few of the
army surgeons or soldiers can converse
with them. They cannot communicate
with their patients or with their doctors;
nor understand the instructions Of the
other. If one of the patients under their
charge should ask for something not one
of the American nurses would know
latest edition of the Japanese enclyco-
paedia. If patient should be taken sud
denly worse, or If he should have a spasm,
they would be utterly helpless. and in order
to enable them to perform any duty what
ever the doctors were compelled to furnish
each of the American nurses with an in
terpreter.
But that is not all. The American nurses
cannot eat Japanese food or live in the
Japanese style. Hence 1t has been neces-
sary for the medical department to spend a
lot of money and take lot of trouble to
one of the houses at the Hiro-
European cooks In order to make them
Thus they have not only
been a burden but an expense and the
surgeons in charge have been in a position
story when the emperor honored him with
the gift of white elephant.
Nor were the nurses needed. No other
nation has so complete and perfect a hos
pital organization as Japan. Like every
thing else connected with the army, 1t is
absolutely perfect. The hospital corps on
the 31st of March consisted of the follow
ing:
Fourteen surgeons general
Two hundred and ninety-one surgeons.
Forty apothecaries and pharmacists.
Nineteen hundred and twenty women
nurses.
Seven hundred and sixty-three men
nurses.
Four hundred and fifty-seven cooks laun-
dresses and other servants.
Two hospital ships.
Four hundred and sixty-nine field stretch
ers.
Three hundred and ninety-eight cases of
medicines and surgical instruments.
Fifty-two thousand four hundred and
thirtyeight beds and cots.
Hence, as you will realize, the services
OF the lovely American nurses were not
needed. But. as a social event, and as a
of the sympathy and kindly
sentiment of the American women for
Japan, their visit has been an eminent
success.
Japan's Lack of Candor.
tne newspaper men cOuiQ
not be disposed of SO easily, and they were
very much more unwelcome. The Japanese
government made lamentable mistake in
not telling those enterprising gentlemen at
the start that they were not wanted, and
that few of them would be permitted to &C
company the army The impetuous and en-
terprising war correspondents would not
have relished such a greeting, of course
and would have made a tremendous ado
about it, but the trouble would soon have
been over and the government would have
been respected for its independence and de-
and it's frankness in declaring
both. But, for fear of giving offense, they
misled and still continue to mislead the
by promises which they
have never intended to fulfill. And when
ever the correspondents showed signs of
discomfort and uneasness they have been
entertained at geisha dance or a banquet
has been given in their honor by some
important functionary.
For more than six months this amiable
and well-meant duplicity has continued.
and while large number of the CORES
spondents, having become discouraged or
short of funds. or for other reasons. have
gone home, the majority Of them remain
and are still patiently but wrathfully
awaiting a summons to leave for the front
Not only have false hopes and ENCOURAGE
ment been held out by the Japanese on
Gals. but they have gone SO far as to
warn the correspondents that they had
better not leave Tokyo for fear they NAV
t1,afr ohot 90 S@s,~