The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-07
JApANWELCOMESTHEY.N.C.A.
vIKADO,s GIFT PUTS GOVERN
NENT SEAL UPON IT.

Mn0t the hhauNAAAl9u NAAa htNh BNAAA |
for wounded and Others PERMITS |
sion TO open station at Port Arthur.
Tho dispatches from Toxic In yester-
d.v's newspapers announcing that the
Trnneror has given 5000 to the japanese
ANY Y. VI. c. A. contained the hest
nsvs that friends OF the organization
IN this country have yet received.
Amy officers and even the Minister
~ War had previously expressed their
admiration for the work that was be-
inc done among the soldiers at the front
and conces sions made by Government
os7cials showed that the good results were
recognized, but the stamp Of approval
which the Emperor gave TO the organiza-
tlon's Efforts by his contribution IL con-
sidered by far the most significant step
forward which Christianity has made In
the Far East.
The work among the soldiers was possible
because the Y NJ. G. A. at the beginning
of the war was on the ground with workers,
a strong organization and good backing.
The life Of the association may be said TO
have begun in 1880. j. T. Swift, who had
been teaching in a Government school In
Toxic for a year, returned to this country
and urged the American association TO
extend it's activity to Japan. Influential
Japanese and missionaries seconded his
appeal and he was sent back by the inter
national committee as pioneer secretary.
He was soon joined by s. Eiwa, who has
served the Toxic association for fourteen
years.
since the beginning the policy has been
n build up strong associations at few
important places and TO train japanese to
become secretaries, relying on America TO
send only enough workers and as much
money as would make possible q Arm and
self-supporting movement.
The result has been that there are now
elk japanese and six American secretaries
at work. The National Union embraces 65
associations with total Of also members.
and $4,000 has been contributed for build
ings In six cities.
The Japanese Amy Is said 10 have been
extremely hostile to Christian propaganda
even in time Of peace. but no sooner had
Gen. Terauchi Minister Of War, and Premier
Count Katsura clearly UNDERWOOD the
practical value OF the work for soldiers as
carried on by the Y. NJ. @. A. in the Amer
can and British armies than they author
lied the association TO try 1t in the Japanese
Army at the front
feTuQAslOn was gwen 70 Dckm "OIA ~
Antung and Yingkow, two important mill
tary bases, and It was understood that the
association was on trial. That the work
was recognized as for the good OF the SOL
diers is shown by the fact that the authoh-
ties decided 10 allow the association free
swing from Antung to Yingkow, including
all points between Dalny and LAaoyang.
Two Americans, secretaries Of the inter
national COMMITTEES. helped the Japanese
national COMMITTEES In the work. They
were c. V. Hubbard. a recent graduate from
the University Of Wisconsin, and George
Gleason, who was graduated from Harvard
In 1897
A letter which Hibbard wrote while at
work In Fengwanchen gives something Of
an idea Of what the associations secretaries
tried to do. The letter, written on March
Yesterday the usual daily instalment Of
wounded from the front rose to 400 When,
a little after Q. l reached our branch at the
hospital found that the man who is usually
on duty there had been withdrawn for
special hospital duty and there we're fires
TO build and other preparations 10 make.
Already there were patients coming in,
had finished thirty and stopped for lunch.
After lunch Takabatake went TO the hos
pital. and took his place in the rooms, pass
ing out soap and patches and continuing
the hair cutting.
Late in the afternoon man spoke 10 me
As was crossing the yard and asked me
90 please wash his face. A glance and l
had no thought TO refuse. Both Of his
hands had been torn by a field gun. They
Rad been neatly dressed and hung from his
neck in sings. His hair, which had not
been cut since Christmas, was ali down
over his face and ears. His face, which
he said he had not been able TO wash for
i - l. 4 -
therefore been washed In fifteen days and
was unspeakable. l cut bis hair, shaved
him washed his head and face and as much
Of his body as / could without undressing
him, and found more than usually fine
face under the CRIME. He said frankly
that he could not speak his gratitude and
would not try.
As we count up the totals for the day we
find that sol different men wrote total Of |
1900 letters; $50 70 100 hair cuts we're given, |
o. which 90 are on my score; and 100 men |
we're enabled to do laundry work. These |
are actual counts, and on them and other |
data We estimate that we had 1000 visitors |
during the day.
Written permission has been received |
from the Manchurian authorities 70 open |
work In Port Arthur and a suitable building |
has been granted. This point will be |
occupied as soon as supplies and men can |
be put on the ground. Antmg, New |
chwang, Dalny, Haoyang and Fengwanchen |
are already occupied by twelve secretarteo.' |
As an example Of the appreciation Of the |
work by the army officers, the oficial report |
oi Col. Miya zad TO Gen. Nishi on the efforts |
Of the association at Yingkow has been |
made public II says m part:
Since the place has been opened II has |
attracted most OF the garrison and com
missariat soldiers in ts vicinity when they
we're of duty The number OF soldiers /
who find II their best resort now averages /
about $50 a day. What the men most |
appreciate Is the writing materials, which |
they receive free Those that need 10 can
get their letters written by the kind workers
there. The two aforementioned japanese
tecret aries are busy from morning till night /
with letters from the soldiers.
Then, too, there are newspaper maya
zines musical instruments, a graphophone
and various Others means Of amusement. |
All these are greatly appreciated by the
troops who are remote from thor homes, |
and | am quite pleased 10 see that these /
things are not in the least pref judicial 70 the |
strict maintenance Of discipline. My firm |
teEefis that when this work Is fully equipped /
there can he no better form Of recreation /
and diversion for the soldiers. whose hard |
ships and privations It Is unnecessary TO |
MENTION