The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-08-12
4 cApT1vEs OF JAPAN.
Burden Imposed By Keeping Rus
sS.. sian Prisoners. Is

Aside from the tremendous burden OF
the active campaign itself, Japan must
find herself saddled with q heavy indirect
expense In caring for her Russian prison.
ers. Already there are at the different
prison camps-that is, the places which
have been chosen as headquarters for re-
icelving the prisoners-some 10000 Russian
captlves, officers, privates and supernu-
merarles Uhese last Including a few wo-
have to be clothed, fed and guarded. and
II all Of the Port Arthur garrison who are
not 10 be permitted to return to Russia
on parole are taken to japan. this number
will be very materially increased, with
out taking into consideration any more
who may be captured In other engage
ments. At very moderate estimate these
three Items Of primary expense. namely.
food. clothing and guards, cannot be much
less than 30 sen day. and at that rate
the total which Japan will have to pro-
vide for one years maintenance OF ner
prisoners OF war is upward OF 10000
yen, and there Is the disagreeable fact
confronting the Japanese government that
1t Is probably impossible for it to use the
labor OF those prisoners in any advan-
Itageous way q
The legitimate expenses OF the war they
bear cheerfully. as a matter OF prin-
clple. although these have already reach
ed a sum twice s great as that which
was announced by the government at the
commencement OF hostilities; hut there
is noticeable In the vernacular press a
position to ask II the authorities are
not needlessly coddllng the prisoners, do
Ing too much for them in a sentimental
way. and II the men cannot be compell-
Q dto do something that shall at least con-
tribute toward their keep. IL not pay tho
whole expenses thereof. Yet there is no
open revolt at the expressed intention
of their government To- do " hat It can
to make the Russian prisoners At least
comfortable. III &.
IS Russians justly have the reputation OF
being hearty eaters, and they are not ac-
customed to the simple diet which is sat
isfying to the Japanese, SO that even II
the prisoners are kept upon a diet that
10 them might seem almost abstemlous,
the cost OF 1T would quickly run away
with three times the sum thas Is suf,i-
Client to feed Japanese prisoner. In the
Japanese jalls 1t can hardly be ne :ossary
to spend more than ten sen day for the
food of In native prisoner. who gets no
meat, but llttln nhll nd absolutely noth-
ing IN the way OF what a. native OF that
land would call "luxuries" |lth tho
Russian prisoners y Is very dl.fei ent,,
10 Keep slUclll WIZ ivy llI0oI HoY0f y
good deal OF meat and other things that
are never drea med OF In ARRANGING tho
fare In Japanese prisons at ordinary
tlmesa to such an extent is this true that
the prices OF meat and vegetables nave
nearly doubled In the last few months,
80 that It will be seen at once that thlrly
sen a day for food is not mn extrAvaRaht
sum to allow per capita TO those lfasslal'h
prisoners ,a,,,
This leaves only twenty sen for cloths
airg, medical attendance and expenses OF
guards, sum scarcely sufficient, and It 10
quite likely that the estimate of fifty sen
4 day Will be almost doubled when the
Bills are actually settled Besides this
burden OF expenses. there is staring Japan
ii, the face the grave danger to her people
Of an outbreak OF disease among the RUS
sian prisoners. In spite OF every reasons
able effort on the part OF the japanese
guards It Is well nigh Impossible 10 make
the Russian prisoners take necessary SAN
.itary precautions. Il
3 II an epidemic Of dysentery or smallpox
or something even worse should break out
at any one Of the prison camps, II VIII
have sad effects m the Japanese people
In the neghborhood, and may spread all
over the countryi and with the approach
OF warm wea her that d LANCER Will become
a positive menace. It would be Interest
Ing TO know Just how the Japanese prison,
b ~ kys3a m f6fy5tS I'm 2est SoNl rbet 4