The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-11-16
Tells of Work in France Among
Men of the Chinese Labor Corps

Birmingham today She is the mother OF
the tall young soldier minister, the Rev
Hendon Nj. Harris, once of Birmingham,
for seven years of China. and recently Of
Ypres sector, where he was sent by the
International Y M c. A. with the British
and French, in the interest of the Chinese
Labor Corps in France.
And now DR.. Harris has come back to
the home Of his boyhood. to spend the
remaining five short weeks Of his fur
Tough with his mother, Mrs. L. F. Harris,
before returning to his evangelistlc work
In Kaifeng. Honin Province. China.
To this station he was sent nine years
ago by the Southern Baptist convention,
where he remained until his commission
to France during the winter of 1918. After
such full years of Christian service, that
brought him through two revolutions, and
put him in touch with the hearts and
homes, the dearest ambitions Of the
Orient, he brings back to America this
message:
The prospects are bright indeed in
China, with unusual opportunity Cor
American missionary work
1T is pathetic" he added. in almost the
Same words used by Rev. l. d. Patter-
son. missionary to China from the South
ern Methodist Board, and Of Miss Cliff
Horde Adams of Shantung Province from
Southern Baptist convention, really it is
ApDe2linR 10 see now CAlAia AOOhS ~
America. Theirs is a marvellous faith
In our disinterestedness, and in our abil-
sty TO help them in every way.
THE Christian converts among the
chinese are growing SO rapidly, that con-
sssrvatively we might estimate that their
Increase is doubled every five years.
MANY splendid colleges are turning
ust native Chinese as ministers. Christian
churches are being erected by the natives,
~~J Ia me- hATanin
are self-supporting. More and more of
the Chinese students, young men and
women. are coming to be educated in
American colleges, and this fact alone is
of International consequence"
International consequence? When DR..
Harris made this statement, my own
thoughts went back to the Methodist CEN
tenary at Columbus, Ohio, when nearly
100 bright young Chinese students. floated
with their national flag, the flag Of
America. even at the time when their
hearts were anxious regarding the Shan
tung decision
what about the consequences of this
decision, Dr. Harris?" L inquired.
THE Japanese question is so involved"
he answered thoughtfully. that condi-
lions now in China are really dangerous
regarding it In my Judgment, the only
way TO avoid serious trouble to the world
as well as to China, is for the imperial
Japanese government to make rapid and
radical changes in their present policy.
.sOf course" he hastened to add, there
are many of the finest among the jap
knese who are liberal, and the liberals
are fighting to get hold of the govern
snent. However, the military party is
in control now. though the
premier of Japan himself. Hara, is a.
.commoner, and liberal The real power
in Japan is in she hands Of a few re-
dictionary statesmen who are called the
genre or elder statesmen.
II don't wish to be an alarmist,' DR..
Harris said but I really don't think
American people realize just the condi-
tons in the Orient
"As / was coming over in the steamer"
ne continued, 81 met representative of
the Toxic press, who reported the Peace
Conference to the papers Of Japan, and
in frank discussion with him. I said
Remember that America has nothing to
gain by strife with Japan, for Japan has
nothing we want. The fact that we are
eurrendering the Philippines, proves that
America has no territorial ambitions in
the east
.4The difference between the Chimes
and JAPANESE" continued DR.. Harris, lis,
that the Chinese are loyal to the family;
the Japanese, to the emperor. This is
the essence of the social system of the
two countries.
But the Chinese now" he said, ARE
in process of becoming nation. where
heretofore they have been a race. This
process is taking place with Kaleidoscope
rapidity. Newspapers are increasing, and
the telegraph and telephone are being in
stalled.
TT is not wen known" DR.. Harris
commented, that at present, there are
100000 Chinese men in arsenals who are
manufacturing rifles and cannon.
while the Chinese are not militarists,
when aroused to the necessity. they make
determined soldiers, and good ones when
properly led
I'm the TAPPING rebellion. for example.
g. Is estimated that 100000 lost their
lives in this conflict of 10 years. More
than all the lives lost during the recent
world war At present, there are 10000
Chinese In bolshevist armies Some of
the Praetorian guard of the bolshevists
are Chinese troops. These have been re-
cruiting from 100000 Chinese laborers
hired by the Russian government in early
stages of the war
It was in the interest OF the Chinese
Labor Corps that Dr. Harris went to
France, under the auspices of the Y. M
c. A. With the British and French, he
was working among thousands of Chinese
in Ypres sector for four months. Later
with . car and chauffeur at his COM
rnand, he visited Chinese camps in the
Chateau region south of Paris. For the
past few months before coming to Amer
AGA he visited IA Chinese camps on the
battle front between Paris and Metz.