Korea's Fight for Freedom eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 277 pages of information about Korea's Fight for Freedom.

Korea's Fight for Freedom eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 277 pages of information about Korea's Fight for Freedom.

When he had finished, another man took the platform.  “Nothing of an unlawful nature is to be permitted,” he said.  “You are all to obey orders, and make no resistance to the authorities, nor to attack the Japanese officials or people.”  A speech on Korean independence followed.  Then some men came out of the building bearing armfuls of Korean flags, which they distributed among the people.  A large Korean flag was raised on the wall behind, and the crowd rose to its feet cheering, waving flags, calling “Mansei.”

There was to be a parade through the streets.  But spies had already hurried off to the police station, and before the people could leave, a company of policemen arrived.  “Remain quiet,” the word went round.  The police gathered up the flags.

In the evening a large crowd gathered in front of the police station shouting “Mansei.”  The police ordered the hose to be turned on them.  The Korean policemen refused to obey their Japanese superiors, threw off their uniforms and joined the mob.  The hose at last got to work.  The mob responded by throwing stones, breaking the windows of the police station.  This was the only violence.  On the following day, Sunday, the churches were closed.  At midnight, the police had summoned Dr. Moffett to their office and told him that no services could be allowed.  Early in the morning, the leaders of the Saturday meetings were arrested, and were now in jail.  “Be not afraid!”

At nine o’clock on Monday morning a company of Japanese soldiers was drilling on the campus.  A number of students from the college and academy were on the top of a bank, looking on at the drill.  Suddenly the soldiers, in obedience to a word of command, rushed at the students.  The latter took to their heels and fled, save two or three who stood their ground.  The students who had escaped cheered; and one of the men who stood his ground called “Mansei.”  The soldiers struck him with the butts and barrels of their rifles.  Then one poked him with his rifle in his face.  He was bleeding badly.  Two soldiers led him off, a prisoner.  The rest were dispersed with kicks and blows.

Now the Japanese started their innings.  One man in plain clothes confronted a Korean who was walking quietly, slapped his face and knocked him down.  A soldier joined in the sport, and after many blows with the rifle and kicks, they rolled him down an embankment into a ditch.  They then ran down, pulled him out of the ditch, kicked him some more, and hauled him off to prison.

The streets were full of people now, and parties of troops were going about everywhere dispersing them.  The crowds formed, shouting “Mansei”; the soldiers chased them, beating up all they could catch.  There were rumours that most of the Korean policemen had deserted; they had joined the crowds; the Japanese were searching for them and arresting them; and, men whispered, they would be executed.  By midday, every one had enough trouble, and the city quieted down for the rest of the day.  It was not safe to go abroad now.  The soldiers were beating up every one they could find, particularly women.

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Korea's Fight for Freedom from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.