Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-03
RUSSIAN PRISON ERS
MISSIONARY TELLS OF THOSE
JAPAN CAPTURED.

l
ter sent by one of the missionaries Of the
Reformed Church now in Sendai, japan.
tells of the manner in which the Russian
prisoners are being treated:
''SENDAI. Japan. June II. 1905.
The number of Russian prisoners of war
In this locality has now increased to about
eight thousand. including thlrty-fve high
Russian officials
The prisoners are allowed much freedom
They may go into town for shopping take
strolls over the mountains and adjacent
country, take baths in the local bath houses
and hot springs at Sendai. They are also
allowed to spend much as three hours
in any tea house (restauranO. In all cases
Japanese guards accompany the prisoners.
During these beautiful June days II Is a
daily occurrence to see groups of fifty to a
hundred men taking strolls through the
streets of this city of Sendai. They gen.
orally present a very formidable appearance
alongside of the japanese, who are almost
In all cases head smaller than the Rus
SLAMS The officers chafe under the restraint
and complain Of having to go about like
small school boys six at time, in charge
Of single Japanese officer who acts as in
terpreter for them. They also consider ii a
great grievance that their letters must be
censored. One of the highest Russian Of
hcers intends to write his experiences In
BOOK form as soon as he is able to do so
without supervision. Time hangs very
HeS'hy OH tnelr ndfldS. Ihey nave very
rev games to play and scarcely any liter
ature in their mother tongue Some of these
prisoners have been in exile from six to
eight months, while others are still longer
away from all that was once dear to them.
Al hrst the prisoners were confined in the
temples here in the city, but now they oc-
cupy a large and spacious newly built hos
pitai, erected on the large drill grounds.
Buy Many Sweets.
1t is very interesting to see how these
men spend their money. They buy many
sweetmeats and much cologne. They pur-
chased all the cologne and perfumery in
Sendal and those stores selling any forms
OF perfume do "a thriving business since
the Russians are in the city 1t is very
interesting to us foreigners to notice how
the Japanese shops cater to the trade of
the Russian prisoners Shops which
hitherto displayed signboards In English
now put out Russian signs. Advertise 4
ments of beer, cakes, wines and whis-
kles are being sent in the Russian Ian
guase to the prisoners. The merchants
are trying to reap as large a harvest as
they can
"Rations consist of daily allowance of
one pound of meat or fish, three pounds
OF bread for every two men, vegetables,
butter, tea. sugar. pickles, &c. They are
We'll fed, and no one suffers hunger The
private soldiers may have the same as
the officers, with this exception, that the
private soldier is supplied with rye bread,
to which he Is accustomed This fare can
be supplemented out of their own private
purses, as they are allowed to receive
money from their friends as we'll as let
ters and packages a branch post office
has been opened at the Russian prison
quarters for the sole convenience of the
prisoners. the mail being delivered to the
men three times day.
The Russian officers are generally
large, tall. fine-looking men. Some are
very handsome. with fair hair as a rule
nd
divided into large ward-like apartments.
subdivlded into rooms to hold two men.
Taking the prison as a whole, it is a de-
sirable place, and not at all bad. Japan is
humane in her treatment of these re-
luctant visitors, and the officers of the
Japanese army send gifts of cigars and
cigarettes after making personal calls
upon the prisoners.
Of Unequal Height.
''The priyates are of unequal height. many
of them being about the same height as the
average japanese soldier However, it Is
quite noticeable that the Russians are not
as muscular and strongly built as the aver
age japanese. When we look at them on
parade we get the impression that the Rus
Sims cannot bear the strain of fatigue of
war nearly so well can the Japanese
soldiers,
''rhe prisoners continually crave for
news and desire to know about the internal
affairs In Russia. The men sleep on COM
Portable mattresses on the floor Japanese
fashion, with plenty of warm blankets,
white sheets and soft pillows. A few of the
officers have the new suits which they had
made here in Sendai, but the ma jority of
the men still wear the old clothing which
they brought with them, and to say the
least this clothing is filthy and dirty Most
of the coats are lined with sheep pelts.
They can easily be scented afar off, and 1t
is perhaps for that reason that the perfume
stores are so prosperous. Many of the Rus
slams have fine melodious voices, and they
often join in part-snging, in quartets, cho-
ruses and large male choirs
Their songs seem weird and sad. very
often in a minor key, sounding like the cap
tiye's lament. Many of them no doubt are
contented with comfortable life of en-
forced idleness. but others are longing for
freedom. though the courteous and chival-
rous Japanese people do all in their power
to give them a little pleasure and to meet
their wishes whenever 1T is possible and