Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-27

war between Russia and Japan began than
ever before in any international conflict.
The japanese losses on the field of battle
have been already more than 5000 killed,
and the Russian loss is estimated at a third
greater, while both sides have had gun
boats cruisers and battle ships go down
with all on board. The bodies of all Jap
anese soldiers killed in battle are cremated
and the ashes are sent home to the friends
of the dead. far as possible. A firm OF
contra ctors is furnishing the medical de-
partment with thousands of dainty little
cedar boxes in which they can be forward
ed by messenger. by express or by mail.
The most common way is to send them
from Manchuria by transport to the head
quarters of the medical department at Shl-
monoseke, the extreme westernmOSt port
of Japan. where they are dispatched by
parcel post. If the name and address of
the family are not known. the dust is sent
to the mayor of the town or village from
which the dead man came, and he is in
structed to deliver it. If the friends are
not found. or if the deceased left no near
relatives. the funeral ceremony is conduct
ed under the auspices of the municipal
government for the Japanese. like other
orientals. are very particular in paying re-
Spect to the dead
Wherever it is possible lock of hair and
the uniform of the dead are sent with the
remains
A Military Funeral.
We saw the first military funeral of the
young engineer of brilliant prospects who
was killed by a sharpshooter while direct
ing the repair of a bridge over the Yalu
river in Manchuria. His body had been
cremated and the ashes had been sent home.
with a lock of his hair. his uniform, his
sword and engineering instruments. One
Sunday afternoon his mortuary urn and
tablet We're transported from the residence
of his family to Shnto temple in the
piglbprlopd long
came a squad of police. then a military
guard of honor. followed by the governor
of the province and the mayor of the city.
Then. preceded by incense bearers, were
a group of priests clothed in elaborate vest
ments of bright-colored brocades. and be-
hind them twelve Buddhist nuns in white
robes similar to those worn by our Sisters
of Mercy. Next in order were the surviv-
ing members of the family. The sister
carried a beautiful lacquer casket contain
ing his ashes and a lock of his hair. His
eldest brother bore little tablet of lac
Quered wood about twelve inches high and
four inches wide, upon which were inscribed
hi, name, the date of his death and a
posthumous title conferred upon him by
the Shinto priest. The remainder of the
procession as follows:
\ soldier carrying the uniform of the dead
upon bamboo tray.
a soldier carrying the sword of the dead
upon a cushion of brocade.
Two soldiers carrying large banner of
blue silk upon which the name and a eulogy
of the dead We're inscribed.
Delegation from the corps of military en-
gineers bearing similar banner.
Delegation from the guild of civil en-
gineers to which the deceased belonged,
with a banner.
Delegation from the street in which the
deceased lived, with banners.
Delegation from the block upon which
he lived
Delegations from various patriotic so
cieties each with an appropriate banner,
followed by a long line of citizens.
Last of all came a group of coolies bear
ing a piece of beautifully dressed pine tim
Der, fifteen feet long and six inches square,
inscribed with the name and achievements
and a eulogy of the dead, which, after the
service was erected as a memorial in the
temple grounds. We could not witness the
services at the temple, but they were very
brief. The chief priest in charge received
from the hands of the relatives the pre-
cious dust and the tablet have already de-
scribed and placed them upon the altar
with appropriate ceremonies according to
the Shinto ritual; and prayers We're offered
for his soul and for the success of the cause
for which he died. His ashes We're after
ward placed in a vault used for that pur-
pose. The tablet will remain Indefinitely
upon the altar. The lock of hair. the uni
form 6nd the sword We're carried back to
his former home. escorted by the officials
and the delegations which made up the
procession.