Evening journal., 1905-06-23
HOW JAPANESE
TREAT PRISONERS
Entertain as Well as Teach
Their Captives of War.
.JHOOLs HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED

At Himeji City the Japanese Organ
lied Classes In which Ignorant
Russian Soldiers Learn TO Read
and Write Their own Language.
Certain Days In Each Month They
Play Lawn Tennis and Other Games.
Japan, which has taught the world
many wonderful things in the art of
warfare since the beginning OF hostih-
ties with Russia, has established a new
standard Of magnanimity in the treat
ment OF prisoners of war, which Is
rather advanced when compared with
the methods followed in western ci--
ilizatiOn, says the New York World.
Many charges Of inhuman treatment
of prisoners have been made against
the Japanese, but authentic informa-
ton received in New York demon.
strates beyond question that the Rus
sian captives are not only treated in a
most humane manner, but that the Jap
anese are educating the illiterate pris-
Oners and are furnishing them with en-
tertainment, recreation and sports
which they never enjoyed during the
days Of their freedom.
At Hlmeji city, Japan, where 5000
Russian prisoners are detained, the
japanese have established schools for
the education Of the illiterates, and
these unfortunates have been taught to
read and write their native language
Special complimentary theatrical per
4 formances have been given for the ben
eft Of the prisoners. They are grant
4 ed liberty certain days in each month
are permitted to play lawn tennis and
other games, 50 as to secure necessary
recreation and exercise, and the athlet-
ic women Of the polite and smiling ma
Ition Of the east have given special per-
1 ]fOrmances for the amusement Of the
! prisoners. If any Of the prisoners die
4 he Is buried with much ceremony.
Colonel Ugai, chief warden OF the
| Russian prison in Himeji city, has
made an interesting official report TO
his government concerning the prison
ers under his charge.
tARANAAa oNA HAAHNANAn WIN WIZ
brought to Himeji last year Q904, '
says Colonel Ugai there were
i IA who were so illiterate that they
could not even sign their names. Such
people are naturally unable to enjoy
the pleasure Of corresponding even
with their families, and are conse.
quently placed in a more distressed
condition than they would be other
wise.
ITO alleviate such circumstances, the
japanese authorities provided a build
ing In order TO educate them in their
own tongue, organized three classes
selected four teachers from among the
Russian noncommissioned officers who
started to teach last December under
the supervision OF a japanese officer
who understands the Russian language
giving them three hours instruction
daily. They were advanced to a higher
class as they progressed and thus en-
ccuraged in their study, and at the end
Of March Of this year O905l it was
found that seventy-hve out Of the IA
We're able to sign their names.
zone thousand three hundred Rus
sian prisoners from Port Arthur also
came to Himeji city last January and
7O6 out Of the number were found tC
have no school education, and out Of
the latter number 451 could neither
read nor write, thus showing the per
eentage Of the illiterate to be 34.7 Of the
whole. Such being the case, another
building had to be provided, and teach
ing was commenced In April. Besides
the native Russians there are 242 Jew:
and Poles who are receiving at theli
special request instruction in a sep
hrate class. The following is a lette
from a brother Of a prisoner received
April In answer to the latter's lette
written by himself, apparently to thu
surprise OF his family:
''we-all the family-pray for your hap
osness, safety and early return home. w
we're aRreeably surprised when we re
,eived your letter informing us that yo'
we're being instructed by the Japanes
government and have made such progress
hat you could write this letter viii
four own pen. In Russia you could no
fven sign your name. We are overjoye'
r this news You are lucky! We hav
70 express our sincere thanks to the Jap
nese government which. though our en-
my. is now giving instruction to ou
elbow countrymen. and you should
cry grateful TO them too"
There are at present 2,1S4 Russiai
prisoners in Himejl city, and they ar
Allowed to go out for pleasure thre
ines a month. Consequently now an
hen entertainments are given In tn
prisoners building by means Of music
Wpoving pictures and monographs. The
re also allowed to see games by tn
apanese school children, and some
mes the musicians among themselye
re allowed to organize a militar
| and. They also play football, law
| tennis and baseball.
On April % noted Japanese actoi
)anzo IchIkawa. happened to be
Iimeji city with his company. Col,
IN lei Ugai. the chief warden. asked hi
play for the prisoners pleasure. an
VA1e actor gladly acquiesced. AS III
M 1eater was not sufficiently large {
ccommodate all the prisoners, onl
900 men OF good behavior were 81
scted TO attend. The performance wa
japanese tragedy, and they SCENE
have been extremely moved by d
IN xoellent presentation, though the
5uld not understand japanese b