New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-04
THE CARE OF CAPTIVES.
JVide Scope of the Japanese Bureau
for Prisoners.

Washington. July s.-The japanese Minister hos
received ofilcia; statement regarding the pro-
visions made in japan FOR giving Information
corning prisoners Of war. For this purpose n
On February p. Major General Ishmoto. Vice
Minister Of War; appointed chief OF the
bureau. Regulations were issued for the enhance
ment OF the comfort OF prisoners and for the dis
seIEnation Of information concerning them. Among
other things. arrangements made By which
they could send and receive letters postal orders.
etc. 1t provided also that the government
railway should transport free of charge all
ticles given 10 prisoners. ana that all Sits from
abroad TO prisoners should be exempt from Gus
toms duties and internal revenue taxes.
AS the bureau had been established
General lshimoto communicated with all japanese
military and naval commanders. and requested
them to communicate 10 him whatever informa-
ton IL was possible obtain concerning the prs-
oners taken. well all information obtained
concerning the eneuys dead, and TO forward such
information to him from the OF by tele-
graph whenever possible. He established q system
also whereby the officials having prisoners in
charge were required 70 obtain all possible de-
tails and information concerning them for COM
munication to those who might inquire about them.
Thus far the inquiries concerning prisoners.
a rule. have been made formally through the for
eign legations Toxic. but the chief Of bureau
desires IL known widely possible that infOr-
nation will be given the request OF private IN
diyiduals ana that such applications Will be acted
on promptly and fully. Up this time requests
for information have only been made concerning
officers ana not a single inquiry has been received
with reference 10 the non-commlssoned officers
and privates. II IS thought that possibly this may
be due ignorance Of the existence Of the bureau
The bureau regularly each days coumunl-
Gates through the Foreign Office and the French
Legation Toxic all Information obtained re-
gardlng the prisoners the places to which they
have been sent. the condition Of their health etc
Detailed reports regarding the dead found on the
field also furnished whenever # is possible to
ascertain names and other particulars
Up 10 the present time a considerable amount OF
money and a number OF articles Of various kinds
have been sent the prisoners through the bureau
The Emperor Of Russia made a gift to four pris-
oners March 90. the Russian Church sent to the
prisoners a number OF gifts received in Lent and
General Wahl his through the German Le-
cation the Of 80 yen. Articles OF value and
money found the dead have been forwarded reg
ularly by the bureau 10 the French Legation at
Up 10 June the number Of prisoners brought TO
Japan was 55l-l9 officers and 532 nOn-commissioned
commissioned officers and pTiYates were wounded
and three pTiNates died after Tea ching Japan
Three officers and three men belonged 10 the navy.
Most OF the prisoners captured IN the battle
OF the Ya!u At the present time a number Gf
other prisoners are on the way 10 Japan from the
Places for the detention OF prisoners have been
established at Matsuyarna, In IyO Province. Those
seriously wounded placed in the military hos
ptal while the lighter cases are cared for in
temporary hosi itals. The unlnjurei officers are
kept in the Matsuyama City Hall, and the others
are confined temples. Many people visit the
prisoners, and express their sympathy in various
other useful articles Christian missionaries have
free access TO the prisoners