The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-02-15
AMilitary Tragedy
In North of
Japan.
MARCHING MEN GO
TO THEIR DEATHS
Over Two Hundred Infantry Find
Graves in the Deep Snow
of Aomori.
: oKOHAMA, Feb. 1.-Vernacular
papers. namely the Asahi and the

okOHA MA, FeD- I-Nernacular
papers. namely the Asahi and the
Jill. publish kilograms received
from Aomori under date of the 2Sth
ult-. to the effect that Col. Yamaguchi
Shin and soldiers of the Second BattaI-
ion Of the Fifth Regiment of Infantry.
numbering 2fo in all. finding themselves
checked in their march by a heavy
snow fall. encamped in the Hakkoda
mountain on the way towards Tashiro-
mura on January %. 1t was ascertain
ed yesterday that all these soldiers
were frozen to death with the single
exception of a sergeant. The whole of
the Fifth Regiment and a large num-
Der Of people in the neighborhood
started for the place to institute a
search
An official telegram received by the
authorities. reads as follows:
Two hundred and fifteen officers and
soldiers Of the Second Battalion of the
Fifth Regiment of Infantry, under the
command OF Col. Yamaguchi Shin,
started on a march through the snow
for Tashiromura, at the foot of the
Hakkoda mountain on the 23d instant,
expecting that they would return after
passing enc night there. But they
was any report obtained about them
en- the 25th. The Eighth Army Divi-
sion was greatly alarmed and imme-
liately instituted a search and discov-
cred Mat Capt. Kaminari Bunkichi and
two on-commissiOned officers were
frozen to death in the deep snow at
Tanovjinomura. One of the non-com-
nlissioned officers was restored to life,
and according to his statements. the
Second Battalion stopped after march
ing about three ri from Tamoginomura
and encdmped there for two days. Pro-
visions and fuel were already used up,
and their encampment became no long
er practicable. The whole battalion de-
cidcd to disperse in all directions in
order to save themselves.
Major Colonel Tamura, of the Gen
erai Affairs Bureau, and Military Sur
seoa Taketani, the chief of the SAM |
tary Section were despatched yester |
cay by rail from Uyeno at p. m.
OVER TWO HUNDRED FROZEN.
SUBSEQUENT news concerning the more I
than 200 soldiers reported in our last
issue as having been frozen to death .
in Aomori, is to the effect that the
Second Battalion of the Fifth Regiment 4
of Infantry encamped on the I'D UT.
at a place two ri and a half (about SIX
and one third miles) from either Tashl-
re or Tamagino, being confronted by +,
q severe snowfall and being unable to !
march any further. On the nlsht OF
the same day fire was kindled and
cooking was done. The soldiers thus .
hardly warmed themselves. On the oath |
the snow storm still prevailing. they
could not march and were obllSed TO
star there Towards night, the fuel
yas All gone and they warmed them
selves by burning their knapsacks and
their muskets, but many We're frozen /
10 death. On the morning OF the Zoth
they attempted to return to TanaSeho.
but Colonel Yamaguchi. commander Oh
IN. Second Battalion and numerous
otbet soldiers were frozen to death,
an. after another. owing to the rag
iu- snow storm. On this account. they
rsjJis not march out. and came pack
.o.;o 70 the place of their encalnp-
- one hundred and thirty-niIif4
soldiers were already dead by TINS time .
md only seyenty-nine were StilI sur !
,-ixju- This remnant encamped the
s,me night. and or the 26th the corps +
Was disbanded, allowing the soLuteIs siEe, I
aroceed in any direction they preIerreu. /;
On the sTth, when a relief corps ar :
-iv.d Corporal Goto was FOUND sun ;
surviving and standing erect captain ]
I[anmari was already dead as diso !
,-.tber corporal The relief corps
80 suffered also from the severe .
80 ND and snow storm. Some sol
,j.rs of the relief corps suffered from !
'ro.t bites. and they Drought oIN q
nTnou-aI Goto with some Difficulty
TIE Fifth Regiment oL ihiaH'' - !
,a.n assiduously searching for the
,e.d since the 2Sth, but has not come
,cross any of them yet Ihe i45iIS I,.
5rst Regiment of Infantry OF Hiro-
-. consisting of thirty-eight sol
,i.Ts on march in the snow. which
aFt sarbongi on the 26th instant. en-
.ann@d ON the mountain on the 27th;
cached the summit on the ZStn anu
-ri,ed safely in Aomori. The regiment c
-. 90 ,st1Irn TO Hiromaye on the 18th. I
+ !. reported that this regiment found ,
ro dead soldiers belonging to the Ffth
errr9snt at the summit of the Hak-