China

Abstract

A long and tiring two days in the tiny little ramshackle service train, over the mountains and plains of South Manchuria, has brought us to Mukden. For the first day, we travelled in the company of the Inspecting Officer of the soldiers stationed along the line. It was interesting to watch, at each station, two private soldiers come to the door of the compartment, present arms, and then make a short, concise statement of everything that had happened. Our invaluable Nishi interpreted the statement to us. These extraordinary rank and file [soldiers] showed the typical reverence for the superior officer, and the intelligence and good judgement of the Japanese lower class, both in their attitude and in their words. It was a curious sensation, travelling under armed escort, along a line guarded by troops — all in times of peace. The Chinese coolies working on the line were tall and rather good-looking, with pleasant, intelligent faces. But some of them looking awful blackguards — most of them with a sly and shifty expression — without any consciousness of responsibility. We hear that they are terrible thieves and the line having to be guarded against their pilfering instincts. But up to now, we have only heard the Japanese side of the question.