The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-02-17
is READY To DIE
FOR NATIVE LAND
PLUcKY SON OF ORIENT
STOPPED IN SAVANNAH ON WAY TO
JAPAN TO FIGHT RUSSIA.

n. TanaLa, n Petty oRcer in the
Mikado's Navy During the War
with China, En- Route to New
York whence He Will Go With
Between 100 and 500 of His Conn
trymen to Fight the Russian
Bear-LittIe Man from the Far
East Is Enthusiastic.
Expressing a willingness to die for
his country if fighting the Russian
Bear. and en- route to the Far East to
take up arms in the present conflict, S.
Tanaka, native of Japan and petty
officer in the Japanese navy during the
fight with China, reached Savannah
early yesterday morning.
From the Union Station he walked to
the Pulaski House, where he remained
during the day. This morning he
will sail for New York, where he will
Join between 400 and 500 of his country
men who will return to the Orient to
enlist in the army of the Mikado. In
the same party two Japanese now in
forces.
Tanaka was formerly a petty officer
in the Japanese navy and has a
son who is an officer in the
japanese army. He talked in
terestingly of his country. He says
Japan is now as liberal in her govern
ment as the United States is and that
there is not a more loyal people on earth
than the subjects of the Mikado.
Served in Japanese Navy.
He served in the Japanese navy dur
ing the Japanese-C Chinese War and
takes great delight in telling of the
triumph of the little Japs in that con-
f1ict. He says the Japanese are better
fighters on the water than they are on
land, and he hopes most of the fight
ing in the present trouble will be by
the naval forces of the two countries.
Tanaka said every loyal son of ia
pan in this county will make every
sacrifice in order to return to his
home now and offer his services to
the Mikado. The army and navy
forces. he said, are we'll trained and
are not to be compared with Chinese
soldiers. The Chinese are easily rout-
ed, but the little Japs will fight to the
death.
Ito and the Japanese officers and said
they would give the Russians a hard
fight on land, and could only be de-
feated by superior numbers. He ex-
poets the war to last for months and
says he is confident Russia will be
willing to concede Japan's request be-
fore the conflict has ended.
Five Hundred JaPs Leave New York.
Tanaka had in his possession a let
ter from Mkt Uchida. a prominent
japanese of New York, requesting him
10 come to New York at once to join a
colony of between 400 and 500 of his
fellow countrymen who will sail for
Yokohoma in about ten days to take
up arms against the army Of the Car.
He also had a letter from two Japa-
nese in Beaufort. 5. c., II. Noda and
Tosaker Mizertani, notifying him that
they had made arrangements. to join
the New York colony. and insisting
that Tanaka come to Beaufort and ac-
company them to New York.
He said that the Japanese minister
at Washington would provide for the
transportation of the New York colony
to Yokohoma. He was pleased that the
American people were so much in SYM
pathy with his country in the present
conflict. I'VE people in Japan love
America because you have a free coun-
y
speak well of us, and 1 shall tell our
people"
Talked of Japan's Navy.
Tanaka said when he was an officer
in the Japanese navy the navy did not
begin to compare with that of Russia,
but to-day the navy of the Mikado is
far superior to that of the Gear, and
the Japanese gunners are much better
trained than the Russians. The navy
of Japan is one of the greatest in the
world, Tanaka said.
I'VE have over a hundred torpedo
boats and many of the best war ships, &"
said Tanaka feelingly. land Russia has
no navy at ALL" He was very enthu-
ssastic and said he would not mind
dying if he were fighting Russia, but
he would not fight England or America,
as these two countries had been kind
TO Japan when she needed help.
He spoke of the street cars and bicy-
Giles in his native CITY, and said he sup
posed they also had automobiles now.
1--WE just like America and we are
free like you. We have everything
that you have in America"
Tanaka came here from Jacksonville,
where he has been for a short time. He
was formerly in business in New York