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known terror throughout Manchuria.' A snippet with an artist impression described how several Japanese intelligence officers had been detected by sharp-eyed Russians who had snatched the false queue (pigtail) from passing "Chinese coolies." They had promptly been shot as guerrillas.
Foreign correspondents' bias against the Russians
Popular attitudes held in Britain towards each of the conflicting armies, observed through the illustrated popular histories of the war published in England reflect popular opinion was pro-Japanese: the Russian side of the story comes across as a very sorry one, notwithstanding sundry reports in the Russian favour.
The Russians, according to one correspondent, were generally disparaged and accused of heartless and mindless acts towards the Chinese even though Russian officials at Mukden had laid great stress on the importance of preserving friendly relations between their troops and the natives of Manchuria. He continued 'strict discipline was maintained, at least theoretically, when Russian soldiers came in contact with the Chinese, and any misdemeanour was severely punished. In all commercial transactions with the native population, such as the purchase of provisions or transport animals, efforts were made to enforce fair dealing. The native apparently viewed the presence of the Russians with indifference, tempered by satisfaction at opportunities of commercial profit that their being there afforded, which modified his innate contempt for all foreigners. Chinese coolies were employed in their thousands by the Russians on the railways, on repairing roads, on fortification works, often at pay very greatly in excess of the current rates.
A correspondent noted that 'Chinese carts were in very great request by the Russian, and could not be hired for less than about £1 a day, with their native drivers, between whom and the Russian soldiers disputes were continual, generally ending in blows, of which the Chinese were the recipients. The Chinese, who had suffered severely from the presence of the Russian forces, were now obliged to endure the passage of the Japanese armies.'
One particular respect in which the Russians earned the goodwill
142
known terror throughout Manchuria.' A snippet with an artist impression described how several Japanese intelligence officers had been detected by sharp-eyed Russians who had snatched the false queue (pigtail) from passing "Chinese coolies." They had promptly been shot as guerrillas.
Foreign correspondents' bias against the Russians
Popular attitudes held in Britain towards each of the conflicting armies, observed through the illustrated popular histories of the war published in England reflect popular opinion was pro-Japanese: the Russian side of the story comes across as a very sorry one, notwithstanding sundry reports in the Russian favour.
The Russians, according to one correspondent, were generally disparaged and accused of heartless and mindless acts towards the Chinese even though Russian officials at Mukden had laid great stress on the importance of preserving friendly relations between their troops and the natives of Manchuria. He continued 'strict discipline was maintained, at least theoretically, when Russian soldiers came in contact with the Chinese, and any misdemeanour was severely punished. In all commercial transactions with the native population, such as the purchase of provisions or transport animals, efforts were made to enforce fair dealing. The native apparently viewed the presence of the Russians with indifference, tempered by satisfaction at opportunities of commercial profit that their being there afforded, which modified his innate contempt for all foreigners. Chinese coolies were employed in their thousands by the Russians on the railways, on repairing roads, on fortification works, often at pay very greatly in excess of the current
rates.
A correspondent noted that 'Chinese carts were in very great request by the Russian, and could not be hired for less than about £1 a day, with their native drivers, between whom and the Russian soldiers disputes were continual, generally ending in blows, of which the Chinese were the recipients. The Chinese, who had suffered severely from the presence of the Russian forces, were now obliged to endure the passage of the Japanese armies.'
One particular respect in which the Russians earned the goodwill
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