The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1904-04-13

Fighting Qualities of the Mikado'
omcers and Men-Rigid DiscipIin,
and Perfect Order Maintained Dur
Ing Action.
In comparing the strength of the
Russian and Japanese fleets in the fal
east no account has been taken of the
fighting qualities Of the men behind
the<guns, says the New York Press
1t is difficult to estimate the merits
of the Russians, for they have never
been tested in marine warfare, but
with the Japanese navy 1t is different
The officers and men have stood the
test of war most creditably. In nc
naval battles in history were deeds OF
heroism more common than during the
Chino-J Japanese war. The Japanese
recount hundreds of them and so dc
the foreign officers and newspaper
correspondents who were with the
rival navies during that war. Here
are few Of the most striking stories
which show the sort Of men who make
up the crews Of Japan's warships:
|
known as the battle of Yalu-the Chi
nese ironclads Ting Yuen and Chen
Yuen were far superior In armament
and size to any vessels in the Japanese
feet Every japanese officer and sail
or was keen on destroying them and
one OF the vessels was hit over 300
times.
Two Japanese, on different ships,
asked with their dying breath, HAS
the Ting Yuen sunk yetT One was a
marine on the flagship Matsushima
He had received ten wounds and was
horribly burned. In reply to his ques-
ton, bis captain told him that the Ting
Yuen was disabled and they were
about to attack the Chen Yuen. He
smiled with JOY and died. The other
man was seaman on the Akagi.
When told that the Ting Yuen was on
nre, he cried, I'VE have her at lastw
and expired.
japanese sailors are mindful of their
duty even In the agony of death. At
Hazang an armorer named Kujuro on
the Itsukushima was MORALLY wound
ed. As he lay dying on the deck he
drew a key from his pocket and waved
his hand until one of his comrades
came to him.
Here Is the key to the tool chest In
the torpedo tube ROOM" he said. "Give
1t to the officer in charge of the chest.
am dying, and If it could not be-
found great trouble and confusion
would arise"
Then he rolled over and died.
Haizang produced innumerable heroic
deeds. There were so many casual
ties that the corpses could not be car
r1ed below" said Lieutenant Kimura
kokichi, who was In the thick of the
night aboard the flagship Matsushima.
Instead Of being at all inundated at
this, the survivors at once stepped into
the places of the fallen, even before
any command to that effect could be
given. The firing was never for a mo-
ment permitted to slacken.
Even the noncombatants were stir.
red by the noble ardor of the fighting
men and begged for permission to ioin
them. One man who had been shot in
the abdomen objected to being carried
TO the surgeons ward. He did not want
to be the cause of taking any of the
lighters away from their guns.
Another after having had his face
burned out Of all recognition in at
tempting to extinguish fire stood by |
helping all he could until the flames
were put out, when he fell dead.
chler gunner whose under Jaw had
been shot away and who, therefore
could not utter word signed to SUBJ
ordinate with a nod to take his nlaca
and fell dead after he had placed tho
nanole OF the gun lever in the subordi-
mates hand. But such instances of
heroism were not confined to the Mat
sushima. They were repeated time and
again ON every ship that had part in
the battle"
a pugler on the Fuse was struck in
lne abdomen by a fragment of a she'll
Wnne In the act of sounding a signal
de extracted the splinter of iron with
nis left hand and still held the buple
70 bis lips with the right. docto,
came up and offered to bandage the
wound, which was painful and danger
Jus. The bugler refused to go below or
sven waste time being bandaged. II
must go on giving the signals until
ny strength fails me-" he said. A few
minutes later he was shot dead
some foreign critics have declared
nat the nerves OF Asistics are not good
'nougb to enable them to handle the
machinery OF modern war
pips win coolness and discipline IN
ns neat OF conflict II was asserted
hht me japanese would be too dur.
ied ana excited 10 make the best ,se
y tasir excellent ships, But eyewff-
'ssses say the most rigid discipline and
'erfeet order were maintained on IN
ns japanese ships during the sea 1ghf
4 Haizang
'Aeptenanf tAmpra K0ldehi ALREADY