Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-02-09
The Japanese Soldier.

Now that war Is about 10 DegIn III
the Far East. the world Is waiting to
see what kind of a soldier the little
Jap will show himself to be when face
10 face with a worthy foe. Thus far.
since the empire Of the Mikado came
out of IT'S secIusion Of centuries and
took n place among the nations Of the
world, it has engaged In only one war.
and that was with China. In every
particular the japanese soldiers and
sailors outclassed the Chinese. but we
are hardly justified In judging them by
this war for the Chinese do not count
when IT. comes to modern warfare. All
observers agree that the japanese SOL
dicr is treless. wcll-disciplined and
patient little fellow. who can get along
with handful Of rice for food. and Il
covering at night little larger than Il
handkerchief: and that on parade he
looks smart and handles his modern
weapons az though he meant business.
the little Japanese soldiers in the IA
NOUS march to Pekin a few years ago.
declare that In addition to these quail
tiles he has got nerve and plenty Of
courage. and feel confident that he will
prove himself to be one Of the best
fighting men under all conditions Of
war that the world has ever produced.
The New York Commercial Advertiser
tells two or three little stories which
show something Of the character of
the Japanese soldier. and his spirit
when face to face with danger
When the attack on Port Arthur was
being made. in 1895. there came 4 criti-
cal moment. 4 gate would not yield.
4 young sOldier-and he out of the
cOolie class-rushed forward and held
a stick of dynamite against the gate
until the same force which effected a
breach blew him To atoms. But 1t was
one of the Samurai class-the Samura i
whose sacred sword is relied upon as
Japan's chief dcfense-who was the
hero par excellence of the war. AT
Wci-Hai-Wci the crippled Chinese
fleet was protected by a huge boom. 1t
WIS folly to assail by land as long as
the fleets guns were unsilenced. \
midnight attack on the obstruction by
IA cnHn al
Fierce weather was helping the de-
Tenders and proportionately impeding
tie besi"gers. a young ensign sought
the discouraged japanese admiral and
said h" had invented n device by which
dynamite could surely he attached to
the boom. lie received consent to try
ii.
With n picked crew he went forward,
ana as the party drew near the barrier
the ensign explained. The device that
was to fasten the explosive was him
self. Sorrowfully his comrades re-
minutes came the explosion. When
the japanese fleet was within the har-
Dor and the Chinese vessels We're sunk
or captured. some fragments Of the
body Of the ensign were recovered from
the bay ana borne back TO Japan ~
ing in state on the quarterback Of n
cruiser. When the great war fete sub
seruently occurred. the mikadn. for the
first time in history. yielded prece-
dence to 4 subject The father of the
hero was allowed to approach the bier
first. and turned away smiling The
atrical. perhaps. but is not the War
spirit usually theatrical?
The English point to Scully at Delhi
and We To Gushing ut Plymouth and
HobsOn at Santiago. but In intrepid
gallantry the Japanese ensign seems
equally worthy. II the ordinary jap
aucse spirit in any degree approaches
to this highwater mark. the car per-
hars has been guided by wise in
stinct in shrinking from war.