The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-16


Thomas. a missionary. Of the Oriental
Missionary Society. was attacked by
soldiers at Kokei and severely beaten.
When he produced his British passport
II was thrown on tho ground and
stamped on. as was also preaching
permit which had been given him by the
authorities. All OF these cases involved
consular action, which was promptly
taken.
LAT Syenchun the homes of the mis-
sionaries were searched shortly after
the demonstrations began. on March
IL body of police. led by a procurator.
came to the Severance Union Medical
College, placed guards at all the gates
and at intervals through the compound
and searched the various buildings OF
the institution.
Releases TO Warn Nationals.
AS already mentioned In connection
with the Hamheung Incidents the au-
thorities have tried to get rid of their
responsibilities for the protection of for
eigners Rumor has II that a certain
Consul was asked to warn his nationals
to keep of the street. as they could not
guarantee to protect them, and the Con-
sui Is said to have replied that he would
issue no such warning and would hold
the authorities responsible in case any
of his nationals were moiested. Two or
three days ago the lending newspaper
in the capital in an inspired editorial In
vited the missionaries to confer with the
authorities as to the best means OF
bringing the troubles TO a close. and the
sugs estions OF the missionary body
have been invited by some representa-
tive Japanese. That Is the status of the
matter at this moment.
"One Of the inevitable concomitants
OF this turmoil was the charge that mis-
sionaries are the instigators and abettors
OF the whole movement, a charge which
bitter articles in the vernacular press
violently supported. We inclose a copy
of such an article taken from the second
most prominent japanese paper in the
peninsula. The American Consul General
at Seoul protested to the authorities
against these articles, but although this
particular one was afterward officially
withdrawn articles of similar import
have appeared in all parts of the coun-
/ try. and of course in Japan.
ut Is only natural that a strong anti
foreign feeling should be aroused. espe-
cially directed toward Americans. You
have doubtless heard ere now OF the at
tack upon the Rev. John Thomas OF the
Oriental Missionary Society, who was
| set upon and severely beaten by police
and soldiers under the belief that he was
an American instigator of these demon
| STATIONS.
"There have been reports that Japa-
nese were going to beat up some of the
missionaries. and, as a matter of fact
Japanese thugs. armed with clubs and
knives. have held a parade through the
| streets of Seoul headed by a mounted
gendarme. These men have been brought
| in not merely to intimidate Coreans and
to precipitate violent rioting but to take
! part In any underhand work that It may
| seem wise for the authorities to wink
| at in these disturbed days. So far as
| foreigners are concerned the Japanese
| officials told a newspaper correspondent
| that II he would carry a lighted cigarette
| at night he would be safe because no
! japanese vould then mistake him for a
| missionary.
I LAS to the possible success OF the in
| dependence movement we can only give
| our personal Judgment that it is hope
| less: that unless there Is outside inter-
| national interference (Which is scarcely
| conceivable in the present state Of the
| world). administrative reform. and pos
| sibly In the future some measure OF
self-government Is the most that can
ever be secured. japan would scarcely
| grant autonomy without n coHplcre
| change Of hearr ana the overthrow Of
| the military party In Japan. and Of
| course theN revolt may be a fiat failuie
and secure nothing"
Girls story of Barbarities.
| Typical of dozen anonymous state
| ments Of alleged barbarities by the Co
! ionia, police is the following:
| "T)-day. March rs. 1919, a girl -
about 81 years OF age. came to our
home and told the following: I was
arrested on the streets OF Pyengyang
| the Sd of March and taken to the police
station. There were many others. both
f, uen and women. They asked IL We
smoked. II we drank. and II we were
Christians. Soon all were let out with
little or no punishment, with the eX-
| reption of twelve Methodist women
two Presbyterians and one ChundokyC
woman. Three of the Methodist womer
were Bible women. They stripped al
the women naked in the presence oil
many men. They found nothing against
me except that I had been on the street
and had shouted 'Mansei' They beat
me until the perspiratfon stood out al
over my body. Then they said: "Oh
my naked body.
MY arms we're pulled tight behind
my back and tied. Then they beat m,
sgainSuntil my body was covered witt
perspiration. and then threw the colo
water over ME. Then, saying I wal
cold. they stuck me with the lighted enc
OF their cigarettes. (Some were stucl
with hot irons.) My offence was Yer,
little compared with those who mad,
nags, took part In the independence
&C.
"'Some were beaten until they wer,
unconscious. One young woman re
sisted having her clothes taken of
They tore Off her clothing and beat he
all the harder--but did not pour tn
cold water on her. After four days ",
we're taken to the prison. Here We wer
packed In a room with men and women
One day an old man was beaten until H.
died One of the Bible women was RICH
next to him. She asked to be moved
but they compelled her TO watch tn
dead body all night, One OF the Bibi
| women not only had her hands bound
but had her feet put in stocks.
'"They took our Bibles away an
would not allow us to talk or pray. The,
made vile and indecent remarks TO US
All this was done by the japanese
Though there we're Corean policemen Il
tho room they took no part In the beat
ing or In the vileness.
1.-THE Japanese know the Bible an
blaspheme the name of Christ. and aske
us II there was not man by the nam
OF Saul who was put in prison. The
asked us most OF all as to what tn
foreigners had said, and were most vii
E and cruel to those who had been wit
the missionaries. or who had taught /