The San Francisco call., 1896-03-28

to have acquired the knack of talking
through an Interpreter, on the spur of the
moment. He is one OF the foremost dipIo-
mats and statesmen in Japan, and his
mission to the court of Russia is fraught
with much interest. There is not much
doubt but that the Korean problem will
be discussed with the Russian Ministers,
and the visit of ceremony may bring i'm
portant results.
The Coptic was spoken from Point Reyes
about half-past o'clock last evening. She
arrived off the barge office at Meigg S
wharf little before s, and by that time
the quarantine tug with welcom ing
party on board was out in the stream to
meet her. Hon. Sabaro Koya, japanese
Consul to this City, who is a son-inlaw of
the Marquis, and Tetsutaro Aabri, mana
ger of the Yokohama Bank, were present
to represent the Japanese consulate Lieu
tenant.Colonel Win E. Fisher of the Gov
ernor's staff was there to present the COM
pliments of the executive and to extend
courtesies, and William D, English and S.
]. Ruddell represented the Custom house.
By the courtesy of DIR. Chalmers the party
was taken on board i'll his boat.
General Yamagata, dressed i'll gray and
with no outward mark of his high rank,
was at the supper table, when the party
arrived. He arose from his seat and met
the members at the door of the saloon
and then, after presentations, the general,
his suite and the delegation from above
adjourned to the library. Here Colonel
Fisher, who was in full uniform, pre-
sented the compliments of the Governor
and rendered the general every courtesy
that the executive could extend. Through
his official secretary, K. Tsudzuki, he re-
turned thanks to the Governor, and asked
to have his compliments presented. Mr.
English then extended the courtesies of
the Custom house and then the party from
shore talked to those of the generals s
suite who could converse in English.
The Coptic docked at once and the gen.
eral and his attendants proceeded to the
Palace Hotel. He himself was not will.
ing to submit to an interview, but Mr..
Tsudzuki met the newspaper men, and
talked freely OF the movements of the
party.
They will remain here but a few days.
perhaps three or four, and will then pro-
ceed to New York. They may stop some
time in Washington, but they will aim to
arrive at Moscow just before the cere-
monies. These will occupy about three
weeks, and soon after they close the gem
eral expects to be on his way homie again.
He will probably return through this
country.
As to the further intentions of the Dip
lomat in Russia, Mr.. Tsudzuki would
make no comment, nor would he say
aught OF the attitude either of Russia or
Japan on the Korean question. AS to
the war he says the country has almost
entirely recovered from it. The Japanese
think they have won all they fought for;
thew wanted the independence of Korea
and Korea is free. AS to what Japan con-
siders her own standing among the war
rior nations of the earth the secretary
modestlv declined tn saw
General 4amagata is 56 years old, and
for nearly three-fourths of that time he
has been a soldier. For years, however,
his position has been one of high author
ity In the Government of the country.
He was Prime Minister just after the
reformation, and subsequently was made
Minister of the Interior. While in that
position he visited the United States and
Europe, inspecting the military systems
of all the countries he visited. He took
back with him thorough knowledge OF
all that was good in what he saw, and at
once began to model the Japanese army
upon the lines of what had best stood the
test of experience in other countries.
At the beginning of the war he was the
ranking marshal, and his handling of the
troops showed him to be a strategist of a.
high order. After the victory of Ping
Yang his army went into camp
on the YaIu River, and there he
was taken seriously i'll. BY order
of the Emperor lie returned to the
capital and he was made Minister of
War in recoonition of the distin p,Ii cd