Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - X. The Japanese ambulance and hospital service
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THE JAPANESE AMBULANCE, &c. 115
southwards, where the fighting was taking place ;
but now we had plenty of leisure hours, and we
soon found that it was well worth while to study
the working and the inner structure of that huge
engine of war, a modern army.
Most conspicuous amongst the sights before us
during the first days after the big fight were the
long lines of stretcher-bearers coming in from all
directions, converging on the Changling railway-
station. The stretchers were carried from the
field hospitals by stalwart Chinese or Manchu
coolies. At the front it was, of course, soldiers of
the ambulance who did this work. During the
whole siege this part of the ambulance service had
been particularly difficult. It had been impossible
to have the wounded men removed by daylight, as
the Russians have been unable or unwilling to
make any distinction between ambulance and
ordinary soldiers. The carrying away of the
wounded had therefore to be postponed until
after dark.
The first night, according to the Japanese
surgeon Inspector-General, the ambulance soldiers
went out in couples with their stretchers as usual.
As it was uncertain how the Russians would be-
have towards these parties, volunteers were called
for, and twenty of the strongest and bravest were
chosen for the perilous work. They set out,
advancing without much caution, but were instantly
fired upon from the Russian lines, and of the little
party, three men were shot dead and ten wounded.
The following night the ambulance men were sent
out in pairs again, but without stretchers, and they
advanced with the greatest circumspection ;
but
under the rays of the implacable searchlights they
were soon detected and again fired on. So this
method also had to be abandoned, and ever since
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