Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-07-16
JAPANESE SHOOT,
 BEAT, OUTRAGE
 MANY KOREANS Church Body Reports Possession of Evidence C0rr0borating
 Charges. WOMEN AND GIRLS ARE
 STRIPPED, FLOGGED From March l to April II, 361 ko- reans Killed and S60 Wounded Japanese Premier Ad-
 mits Wrong Doing

] New York, July l5.-The following :! statement concerning the situation in Korea was given out today by the 1 commission on relations with the Orient of the Federal Council of the i Churches of Christ in America, of which commission William l. Haven is chairman, and Sidney L. Gulick is secretary:
 '"The reports of atrocities and especially against the native Christ ians that have been coming from Korea for several months are con- firmed in abundant detail by special report about to be issued by the Commission on Relations with the Orient of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America.
 After nearly three months study of the Korean situation, this commis- sion is issuing statement based on the examination of about 1000 pages of manuscript reports of com mittees, letters and the personal ac- counts of responsible eye witnesses.
 'This report substantiates the charge that the Japanese colonial sys- tenn which has been forced upon the Koreans is thoroughly Prussian in it's military severity and it's treat ment of the native population.
 "The recent movement for inde- pendence was started by educated Koreans anxious to save the people of their country from national extin- tion. and for the recovery of many of the elemental rights of justice such as the use of their own lan- guage, freedom of the press, of speech and assembly which have been denied them by Japan.
 Women and Girls Mistreated.
 'They hoped by peaceful demon- stration of passive resistance to the conquerers to attract the attention of the peace conference at Paris to their cause.
 'The invariable procedure of the so-called revolutionists was to asem- ble, usually carving the national colors and shouting, smansei' (equi- valent to the Japanese 'banzai' or to our 'hurrah.O In no case was any thing more violent attempted nor were arms borne by the revolution ists. In scores of cases these de- fenseless demonstrators were fired upon by Japanese troops and killed or wounded by hundreds. In other cases, native high school students of both sexes who had joined the pro- sessions in behalf of Korean liberty were imprisoned and tortured. The stripping and beating of girl demon strators and the brutal treatment of Korean women by Japanese soldiers were frequent. while bands of armed Japanese thugs were turned loose upon the Korean crowds.
 From March l to April II, 361 Koreans were known to have been killed and S60 wounded. The indig- mites to few foreign missionaries especiallv the arrest and the impris- onment of the Rev. Eli M. Mowry, are already we'll known in America. The latest reports are to the effect that the arrest and torture of sus- pected persons hv the police were continuing and that reign of terror prevailed.
 Jap Premier Promises Reform.
 "That the forebearino policy of the federal councils commission has met with an appreciative response from | the Japanese government is evident from the followino cahleoram just ! received from the Hon. Takashi Hara, premier of the imperial cabinet: "1 desire to assure vou that the reports of abuse committed by apents l of the Japanese government in Korea has been engaoing my serious atten- tion. I am fully rrepared to look squarelv at actual facts. As I have declared on various occasions. the regime of administration inaugural ed in Korea at the time of annexation nearly 10 years ago. calls for sub stantial modification to meet the alt cred conditions of things A compre- hensive plan of reorganization with with this object in view has already been on the tapis.
 "Tn view. however, of the recent improvement in the situation the contemplated reform can now be, in nv estimation. safely introduced. and will he carried into effect as soon as , the le0al requirements of procedure to make them definitive shall have been completed
 The inquiry was undertaken. the commission says, at the request of representatives of the Presbyterian and Methodist churches and the American Bible society.
 Riddles. watch for the Fold-Away