Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-01-19
AIDED BY CONFLICT
WAR HAS CAUSED THE SPREAD
OF ESPERANTO.
Instead Of Iniurine 1t, New Interest
Has Been Aroused in the Language
spreading Rapidly in the
Far East

At the outbreak of the European
war Esperantists everywhere feared
that the struggle would have an ex-
tremely unfavorable effect upon the
progress of the international language.
Great was our astonishment therefore
when it gradually became apparent
that just the opposite was true, re-
marks the writer of a letter to the
editor of the New York Sun. The first
important event that took place was
the official recognition that Esperanto
received from the government of Ger
many, which published an Esperanto
translation of the original documents
relating to the war and caused it to
be widely distributed among Esperan-
lists in the neutral countries. This
was followed by a series of publica-
tions in Esperanto that history will
show formed an important part of Ger
many's campaign of publicity in neu-
trail lands. few months later the Es-
perantists in France organized So
ciety devoted to spreading an exact
knowledge of the French "side" of the
world war.
In all of the warning nations and in
the few countries still at peace there
has awakened new interest in Es-
peranto, and it is now being studied
by many wto were not even aware OF
it's existenSe few years ago. This
is particularly true of the soldiers of
all the countries at war, prisoners OF
s,a4, ~ an1Jf1s vol
lands. In the internment camp at
Harderwyk, Holland, for instance,
where there are several thousand Bel
gians and French soldiers, hundreds
have already begun to learn Esperanto,
and this is also true of another impor-
tant camp at Zeist, where Esperanto
is said to be spreading like wildfire."
But the most interesting reports of
our progress come from the far East.
| There is now a large and flOuriShing
| society in China that has made thou
sands Of converts" to Esperanto; and
| Japan is much better represented than
| in former years. This is remarkable
in view of the dissimilarity between
Esperanto and the language of the
| Orient. I translate a paragraph from
a letter I received some time ago from
a friend in that quarter of the globe,
Maj. R. L. Bush, who is stationed at
Manila. Major Bush writes: Last
May and June 1 Travelled through
Japan and saw many beautiful places
and beheld many wonderful scenes; it
is beautiful and interesting country.
In Tokyo, met many fellow Esperan-
lists, who were very hospitable and
who did everything they could to make
my visit a happy one. They guided
me and treated me as a guest, and I
made some very good friends" Major
Bush now goes on to say that the Jap
anese Esperantists honored him high
ly as an American soldier, and that in
recognition of this at a meeting of the
Japanese Esperanto association he
was presented with an ancient Japan
ese sword. He continues: "Esperanto
was a great help to me in Tokyo; it
gained me friends, through whose
kindness I was enabled to see much
more than I could possibly have seen
by myself. 1 have always believed in
the practical utility of the language,
and am now certain of it."
A language whose advocates are as
widespread as the Esperantists must
necessarily possess great commercial
advantages. Business men in Ger
many. France, Russia and England
are now making active use of it, and
will increasingly continue to do So
A significant indication of the tendency
of the times is afforded by the recent
decision of the common council, Guild
hall, London, that whereas, England
and her allies are preparing to act IL
concert in relation to future CONNER
cial affairs, it is highly desirable that
one language be accepted as CONNER
cial language, to be taught in al
schools" And the resolution, which
Ihave freely translated from an Esper
anto version, goes on to recommend
for consideration the languages of the
allies. English, French and Russian
and Esperanto.