HOW THE JAPANESE TREAT JEWISH PRISONERS OF WAR.
A Letter to the New York "Volks-Advocat." WE were captured at the battle of the Yalu—about 120 of us. We can not describe to you our fear and anxiety at the time when we fell into the net of the strategic Kuroki. We thought that we would have to die without a confession (vidui); but soon we realized that we had been greatly mistaken with regard to the customs of the little brown men. The Japanese received us like true brothers—but, indeed, only us, the Jews. We were led away to the town Notziville, and quartered in a large barracks. This barracks was two stories high, or rather one well-lighted floor and a dark cellar. We were placed in the pleasant apartment above, and the non-Jews in the sheol below. As soon as we had laid aside our small belongings we were led to a bath-house. When we returned we were fed on good rice, given tea to drink, and told to sleep and rest. Early the second day we were again taken to the bath-house, and on the return tea was served—tea from tea-land—and soon after a meal of "all sorts." True, we did not relish it—it wasn't to our taste; but the Japs meant well. After dinner coffee was served to all of us. Indeed, there were many among us who were never so treated in our father's homes. Then we were taken for a stroll through the city. The one drawback was the fact that we didn't understand our guides. But the Jew is "a people wise and understanding," and able to catch on at a wink. At the same time you must remember the non-Jews slept in the dark cellar and amused themselves with a picture of the holy Mary. In the afternoon we were served tea with dry biscuits; at nightfall a similar food which tasted as if it were dipped in honey. We then retired. The Japs sleep very soundly on their rugs and small pillows. Evidently they are not particular about a featherbed and two soft pillows to rest on. But we have no complaint about our lodgings. This is the regular daily routine to date. We hope that the Japanese will not take a turn for the bad before we are released. A few weeks ago the hot summer began, and we were transferred to Santzusi, on the coast. As it appears, we were brought here purposely so that we might enjoy the fresh air and the open sea bathing. All in all, our life is not so bad here. We are sure that the czar's hoggish generals haven't the pleasure which we exiled Jews have. It can not be otherwise15but that the Japanese are the little descendants of Moses (of Jewish folklore). On the Sabbath we hold our regular feasts in the synagog. The Japanese observe us with unqualified pleasure. Our enemies from at home nearly split with envy and anger. Every Sabbath afternoon the president of our synagog, Pinchas Rotshevski, delivers a sermon. You can readily understand from the foregoing that we do not feel as if we were exiled. But we can not rejoice; for we know that thousands of our brothers are laboring as slaves and spilling their blood on the battlefields for no cause of their own. May God have mercy! May the war soon end!