CHINESE IN FLANDERS

Waikato Times, Volume 91, Issue 14167, 18 September 1919, Page 7

CHINESE IN FLANDERS

STORIES OF THE BLUE-QUILTED LEGION. AMUSING IMPRESSIONS. During tlic war (.writes an ex-pri-vate of -Uie F.A.V. in tlie Manchester Guardian) a certain town in French Flanders was invaded by a horde of Chinese labourers. They wore bluequilted clothing, army bools, and comical fur-lined caps. A raw wind was blowing the tine rain into their tanned faces. They all looked cold and hungry. Outside the town was a groat assembly of .bell tents, newly erected on a muddy Held fenced in with barbed wire. A dozen Chinamen were shown into each tent by an English corporal and then left to do as they pleased. It was not too wet and unpleasant 1,0 be In the open, so they just sat down in their haunches, forlorn and miserable. For a time nothing could be heard except a few brief snatches of whispered conversation. Then there was a sniff, and sniff was followed by sniff—some of them were actually weeping over their hard lot. Suddenly, however, a blending of low discordant wails came from one of the tents. Voices from other tents joined in and the sound increased in volume. It was vaguely mournful, although it did not -seem to correspond with any definite human emotion. It varied greatly in pitch, it rose and fell, and it even had * kind of rhythm. At first we were puzzled by the weird noise, and then we realised that it must be song. We were, indeed, listening to Chinese music—music that authorities on Eastern culture have praised as subtle and beautiful, though quite unintelligible to the uninitiated. It certainly was unintelligible. So the poor exiles found consolation in song, and an time they got so used to their new existence that .n later days they seemed to be always cheerful and animated. I

For several months our 'company and a Chinese labour company worked together at a wood-yard and saw-mill on the Belgian frontier. We called them Chinks and they called us Ingaleesha. Friendly relations were soon estahished, although there was on our side a small hostile element consisting of men who harboured an unreasoning prejudice against the yellow people, and considered it degrading to work with a so-called “inferior race.” Those who took this attitude lost much of tlie little fun and interest that relieved the dreary monotony of our own army life. Easy Familiarity. At first the easy familiarity of the Chinks was quite startling. I-happen-ed to be leaning against a wooden shed when one of them came up to me in the usual shuffling manner. Iso intention of any kind was expressed on his face, and, without saying a word, he unbuttoned my tunic pocket, took out my pocket-book, and examined my 1 papers. Apparently he found nothing of any interest, so put the book back again, buttoned up the pocket, and shuffled off. Some time afterwards another 'Chink approached me in the same delightfully informal way. ile took my glasses off my no'se and put them on his own. He seemed to find them satisfactory, and evidently wishing to buy them, he asked 'me, “How many flancs?” But I did not want Ho part with them for any number of “flancs,” and conveyed so much lo him. He looked at them for a moment, then carefully put ilhem back on my nose, he looked at me for a moment, and walked off with affected unconcern.

The-Chinks and ourselves would) often collect in little groups and converse as best we could. One bf the questions they invariably put was “How many year?” meaning, “How old are you?” We would answer either in the few words of 'Chinese we had picked up or, more commonly, by Indicating the number with our lingers. The Chinks seemed to attach great importance to the information supplied to them; they would discuss il amongst themselves ip Hie rapid, sibilant patter, and then they would tell us their own ages in return. Another question they often ask was, “How many mada?” meaning, “How many wives (madams) have you got?” We, of course, had either one or none at all, while they sometimes had "thlce,” to their obvious pride and satisfaction. Whether consciously or unconsciously, they assumed that all men were equal, and that other men were just other men and nothing move. Thus the artificial inequality due to army conditions filled them with hostility, a hostility they often expressed with great frankness. One day we were talking to some 'Chinks when one of them tapped me on the chest and said, with an emphatic shake 'of Ids head, “You gooda.” I was a private, and tie meant to say that there was nothing wrong with privates. Then he laid his two fingers flat on my upper arm lo indicate the two stripes of a corporal, and said “No gooda.” Finally, he pojnted to my shoulder id indicate the pip of an officer, and said with solemn conviction “No gooda.”

A United Family. Their solidarity was astonishing. They wore well treated, so that they had few grievances. Nevertheless When they did have a grievance they acted as one man, and there was never a blackleg. One morning, when we were beginning our daily task in the Woodyard, the Chinks arrived, a disorderly rabble, shouting and gesticulating. They were supposed to march in columns of fours, and as a rule that formation was just recognisable when they were on the road, though only just. This morning, however, there was no formation of any kind. They came on, a blue, seething mass, and poured into the yard. We wondered what was the matter. Their English corporal told us that they had received no bread for breakfast, and this was the trouble. When they were all inside the yard they were ordered to go to work. Neither commands bawled at them in the fieVcest regimental manner nor threats of punishment nor promises of days off were' of any avail. Instead of going to their work they formed little groups and ran about in wild agitation. The Chinese word for food is “chowchow,” and amid the babble of excited talk we could continually hear the defiant shout of “No chow-chow, no work!” thus reversing the modern economic dictum, “No work no food.” At length the hubbub died dwn, and they dispersed or sat on their haunches and smoked. Another attempt was made to compel them to go to work, but in a moment they came running in from all quarters, and all was noise and confusion. They then subsided once again and finished their cigarettes while two of their cooks made tea, which was duly handed round. After an hour or two a 0.5. wagon loaded with loaves of bread arrived. These were cut up into quarters and a quarter was given to each China. When every man had eaten his share they all went off quietly to their allotted tasks. Sometimes when we were working with the Chinks the spirit of rivalry manifested itself. Once we were unloading a train of short, thick wooden planks and slacking them in the yard. We carried them in on our shoulders,

two at 'a time. Suddenly one of our men appeared with three planks on his shoulder shouting no gooda.” The challenge was accepted with alacrity, for a Ghink appeared with four planks and shouted “GhT.eesha gooda, Ingaleesha no gmoda.” He was followed by one of us with Jive planks on his shoulder, and it was “Chinese no gooda,” once again. Then came a Chink with six planks, but immediately afterwards a soldier came along with seven, looking very hot and uncomfortable beneath such a heavy lord. We all shouted derisively, “Chinese no "gooda,” and there was a long pause, and we thought the victory was ours. But suddenly the Chinks burst into gleeful laughter and clapped I'he.r hands in mad excitement. We did not know what had happened until we saw a Chink staggering under a kind of pagoda, which iris comrades had erected on his stalwart shoulders. It was built up of sixteen planks I Perspiring, breathing hard, and taking short, rapid steps, his pagoda on the verge of toppling over every instant, he reached the slack and then allowed the structure to collapse amid wild shouts of “Chineesha gooda, Ingaleesha no gooda!” It was a warm day, and none of fell inclined to dispute the final verdict at this meeting of East and West.