The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-10-28
JAPANESE VALOR.
Held In Poor Opinion by Military
Experts Who Know the Facts
charges Of Cowsrviiee Made Against tho
Aiksdo's Victorious Arny-Court-Mar-
tish Summoned to Meet In For
Eosa to Try Certain Cascs .

During the war between China and
Japan 1t was the boast of the japanese
that none of their troops ever showed
the white feather in the face OF the enc
ny. Some OF the European military
experts who watched the advance OF
the japanese in Corea and Nanchusi,
declared that no effective resistance
was ever offered by the Chinese. and the
entire campaign was little more than q
military reconnaissance The Chinese
never showed fight unless penned up ia
corner from which escape YVES impes-
sible. When there was an opportunity
10 turn tail and run they invariably fed.
What gives ground for this opinion is
that, though the japanese leaders knew
they would meet no effective resistance,
they failed TO push ON rapidly, as Eu.
ropean commanders would have been
certain TO do,
The leaders certainly took thjnss
very lcisyrely, sometimes wasting a
fortnight waiting for supplies and anu
riunition that were not needed. Any
European army in the time spent in
the Manchurian campaign would have
reached Picking and dictated terms IL
the seat of governments
These dilatory tactics led critics "a
say that the japanese army would not
have made so brilliant q record in the
war with China had il been faced by the
Black flags Of Tonquin, or the Afghans.
or the Ghoogkas. Theywcntas Tar as TO
say that many of the japanese have
never met in modern war any real fight.
ing race.
Point is given to these criticisms by
the reports in the native japanese pa,
pers, says the New York Sun. of court.
martials summoned in Formosa to try
Japanese troops for cowardice in ac-
ton. 1t seems that Capt, Ishizulca. of
the Osaka army division. is one of tho
culprits who is 10 be tried for cowartice.
He occupied the town Of Unrin with a
company of Osaka troops. The strength
of the company was 100. The place waa
attacked by q large force OF savagos,
and the company. with its officers. res
tired, abandoning tho town. Almost
the same procedure was seen in tho
towns of Kagi and Dcborin.
1t is also declared that the cowardice
OF these troops was tho cause of the
suicide of Lieut. Nakanc on the Taihei.
cho hill. Nakane was ordered 10 recoit.
noiter the hill, which was believed To
be held by large body of the sayages.
His force was driven back, and in re-
treating 1t penetrated valley which
was surrounded on all sides by the
rebels. Nakane naturally called upon
his men TO close up and fight their way
out, but the heavy fire of the rebels do
noralized them, and when the lleuten.
ant commanded them to fix bayonets
and charge they threw themselves fiat
On the ground and tried 10 seek shelter
from the storm Of bullets. Naknne
made o solemn appeal TO his men To
rally and follow him, but they began tn
back and run for cover In the woods.
Thcn the lieutenant, after cuIsfng them
nnd calling them towards and dishon-
orable dogs, Grew his pistol and shot
himself through the head
The apologists for these incidents say
that the japanese war department
showed bad Judgment in sending the
Osaka troops 10 Formosa- Osaka il the
great central province of japan. and its
people have always been devoned 60
commercial pursuits. The result Of tho
court-martials will be awaited with in-
terest. as it will determine whether the
worlds estimate of tho valor OF jap
anese troops must be revised,