Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-25
GERMAN AGENTS FAILED
TO BREAK Up RECRUITING;

So II vas decided. Recruiting WAS
started, and in spite Of = lively counter
propaganda conducted ey German
agents in China. coolies came hooking
10 join up There has always been a
larger supply waiting TO come than
could be dealt with n France The
FIRST shipload arrived early last sum
uer. and they have been Landing stead
lily ever since.
Briefly 10 summarize me coolies con-
tract. he is not TO be ,akcn into the
danger area. ne is looked after in every
respect By the government without
cos, 10 him. He is paid from $40 a
week upwards and his family IS pro-
three years. receives bonus on join
ing, and compensation Is paid for his
death or serious injury.
In France there is always an IN
satiab!e demand for both skilled and
unskNled labor Not only are there
scores o. huge factories and shops TO
be manned by skilled labor. but ,ne
cry ever goes up for more husky ana
wcathcr.proof hcwers OF wood and
drawers OF water. \ small percentage
Of skilled coolies have come over. and
these have been formed into special
skilled companies and posted where
required. But the ChinaDan. being "A
quick -witted and kcenly Initiative crea
ture is easy 10 train. Therefore every
effort is made TO teach promising
coolies skilled tasks. ! saw hundreds
who had been quite unskillcd Few
weeks before, already working a; cast
ing, r!vctting. concentrating. even re-
pairing and testing damaged tanks.
They are race OF natural carpenters,
their handling OF all work is extremely
neat and deft. and having fixed the
mace they intend 10 work they keep
10 1t with answering consistency.
ENGINEERS ENTHUSIASTIC
OVER PROGRESS OF COOLIES
The engineers to whom spoke were
enthusiastic over the progress their
pupils were making, and unanimous in
their opinion that the coolies would
prove godsend in a great need. AS
unskilled laborers they are superb. \
bapDy contented coolie will regis er
a ton power per hour more than most
other workers in the world. ! saw them
at score OF tasks, unloading and
stacking every type OF shell. from the
rnonstrous l5-inch to the handy little
tank gun cartridge. repairing roads.
carving out huge qrarries. repairing
and loading petrol tins. unloading ships.
loading barges-in word graphing
with the myriad activities demanded
for the supply of the needs of the
armies in France. They went about it
with a nip and swing as If they
really enjoyed 1t.
They have their own ingenious ways
of doing everything, and SO far as pos
sible. they are left to themselves.
Their gang boss gets his orders and
ne is left to do the rest. They have
A strongly developed competitive sense.
md squads on similar tasks invaria bly,
race one another. Each company be-
,jeves that it is the best in France.
and that is the spirit their officers
try to foster.
wELL.-TREATED COoLIE
IS FAMOUS WORKER
The coolie works magniflcently when
he is happy and well-carcd for. IL ne
elected and i'll at ease he probably
su!ks and Gas Cannic," but the fact
that the graphs of Chinese labor al
ready show magnificent results and
are ever rising. reveals beyond all
question that he is satisfied with his
lot. So far as possible he is treated
lust like the British soldier in hut
camp. His living huts are roomy and
warm. and he has been taught to keep
them spotlessly clean and tidy. Each
camp has its washing places. recrea-
ton hut and canteen. and petition box,