Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1919-07-03

parent CANVAS. iuS SiilhSSS SooN f'~
pares very good meals for us every day
with the rations given us by the British
army. The meals consist largely OF
bread, cheese, jam and tea. II is very
solid and good food, though you grow
tired of il. Al every meal there is
plenty of meat and bacon. We get
fresh vegetables from French families
nearby and a few other articles from
the Y canteen. Thus We get along very
we'll. The British officers have given
us the labor of l5 German prisoners
of war for the last six weeks, and for
this time they have been busy erect
ing a hut for the Chinese Y. M. c. A.
Now We have a nice hut for the Chinese
with canteen, where they can sit down
and enjoy drinking tea or lemonade.
Also they can buy chocolate, crackers
and fruit from the canteen at cost
price. This is great privilege for
them, since they live on a very limited
diet Of army rations One day in the
week the hut is crowded with several
hundred, when they give Chinese
theatrical entertainment. Some even-
ings we give moving picture shows to
them and every day they listen to the
Y. Nj. c. A. gramaphone. Mr.. Ii, the
Chinese secretary here, teaches classes
in the Chinese language every evening
for illiterates, who desire 10 learn TO
read and write. Great numbers have
joined in these popular and important
classes. In his teaching Mr.. Ii gives
them much good instruction about
Christianity and breaches TO them on
Sunday. You often find a dozen or so
Christians in a company OF 500 Chi
nese laborers, The management OF
Y. NJ. G. A. activities in these six CONF
panies for 5000 under the uncertain and
shifting conditions OF all army work
keeps me very busy. | regret very
much the small amount Of Chinese at
my command restricts very much the
preaching ! do. II | could only speak
clearly to these northern Chinese ]
would have unlimited opportunities
to preach the Gospel TO them for many
hours every day. The missionaries
who have come TO France among the
Chinese can certainly find wonderful
use for their time here in the camps.
The men finish their work every day
about two o'clock and loaf around the
Y. M. c. A. till after 8 p. m
The long distances between camps
puts many hindrances in the way. The
nearest one Of the other five camps
from my living hut is about eight miles.
A bicycle is the only mode OF trans
port have, and ! can carry nothing
on il. During the last five days |
have travelled more than a hundred
miles and il is quite strenuous this hot
weather. am making an appeal in
Paris for an automobile for use In the
six camps, but doubt very much
whether will get il before the Chinese
companies move away from this 10.
cality. There is a tremendous amount
OF salvage work OF all kinds to be done
in this desolate and wrecked country
for many miles around, but the Chinese
are engaged only in the recovery OF
army machines and equipment used
during the war, much OF this stuff be-
ing such things as corrugated iron for
huts, iron for railroads, etc. The col
lection OF British material will only oc-
cupy the Chinese for several months
longer, though OF course the recon-
struction OF French houses and farms
will occupy tremendous amount Of
labor for more than ten years. My no
tice is that the Chinese companies in
the British army will be withdrawn
from France and sent home sometime
in the fall, probably before Christmas.
Possibly will get home In October,
certainly by Chirtsmas time.
The chief OF our Y work at Paris was
talking to me several days ago about
going back to China by transport past
Egypt and India along with the Chi
nese workmen. or course this would
enable me to do a useful work among
the Chinese on shipboard, and save
time in getting back quickly to tho
mission-work at Taichow. However,
II can possibly do so, think that ]
shall return to China by way OF the
United States so thar can see you
first.
Before closing must say the Allied
peace terms imposed upon Germany
are mild and merciful. Germany has
tasted nothing OF the bitter suffering
and horrors OF invasion. The thorough
going destruction carried out in such
systematic fashion by big German guns
has stripped this fair region OF French
soil OF all its former resources. Not
for decades again can men render the
soil productive enough to do profitable
farming, Not for many years can the
French begin to operate the rich coal
mines in this locality. Not for decades
will we see the quaint and beautiful
Ncmes rebuilt for the many French
snilies in the many popuIous towns
lying so thickly in this section OF
France. Now we see such long
stream Of weary underfed wanderers
passing from the ruins Of one house to
another and often satisfied to make
their temporary abode in the abandon
ed huts OF soldiers or the former dug
outs Of gunners- So say that the
terms OF peace are mild and mefciful
and any demands less stringent would
be heartless disloyalfy TO France, Bel