Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-11

The chOkunin are officers OF the army
who have been commissioned by the en-
peror as a personal act, regardless whether
they have been educated in the military
schools or have had any military training.
Theoretically the emperor has the right to
appoint all the officers of the army and the
navy and remove them according to his
pleasure but he very seldom exercises his
authority, as you see, and then only to con-
fer special distinction upon some officer
who has distinguished himself in ex-
of the ninety-three officers holding COM
missions by the imperial will have deserved
the honor.
The sonin are officers who have gone
through the regular course of training and
education and have passed all the examin-
atoms required by the regulations, which
are as severe as those of Germany, If not
more so. AS l have already stated the
"hemin'' are the peasant or working
classes of Japan. The Samurai are the
members of the old knlghthood, and the no.
bles include the daimyos of ancient times,
although many new families have been en-
nobled since the restoration of the en-
porer to power. 1t may be said that all
of the old daimyos and their descendants
are mobiles, but only about one-half of the
mobiles were daimyos,
Of Royal Blood.
The princes of the imperial house classed
among the sonin are officers of very high
rank Sadanary, Prince of Fushimo-no-
miya, a cousin Of the emperor, holds the
rank of lieutenant general and has COM
mand Of the first division of the first army
now in Manchuria. He has been on active
duty and in actual command of his troops
from the beginning OF the war with Rus
STA and was one of the first to land on hos
tile soil He was born in 1858, educated
at the School for Peers, at the Military
College at Tokyo, and afterward took a
three years course at the staff college. He
has been in command of regiments, bri-
gades and divisions. has been member
| of the general staff at headquarters, and
| has held the position of chief of the bureau
| of military decorations. He is man of
| high character, ability and military skill.
| Koto-hito. Prince of Kan-in-no-miya, a
| second cousin of the emperor, having had
| the same grandfather is a major general
| of cavalry and is also at the front in active
! command of troops. He is the fourteenth
| son of the late Gen. Prince Fushmi ku-
niiye also a famous soldier, and a cousin
| of the father OF the mikado. Gen. Koto-
| hito was born in 1865 was educated in the
Peers School, the military college and
! other technical Institutions, and spent four
years in France completing his training
| He returned to Japan in 1891 and married
the daughter of Prince SAM Sanetomi, d
| lovely woman of modern education, who is
we'll known and very popular in the for
| eign colony of Tokyo. Both the Prince
| and Princess OF Kan-in. as they are com.
monty called, speak English and French
fluently The princess is president of the
| Red Cross organization and the Ladies Pa.
triotic Association, which has been organ.
lied to look after the families of soldiers
The prince is president of the Nationa
Athletic Association. which has nearly
1OOOO 600 members and is intended to pro
mote physical culture among the Japanese
The Kan-in family are up to date in ever,
particular.
A Good Honest Soldier.
Prince Kuni-yoshi, another second cousin
of the emperor, born in 1873 and educated
in several Of the military schools, is a cap
tain of artillery, who has just returned
from active duty at the front and partici
| pated in several battles. He is described a
"a good, honest soldier, without being bril-
liant" The emperor received him will
4 marked distinction the other day when h
returned from the war. and he was greete,
with a tremendous enthusiasm by the PEG
pie who crowded the streets of Toky,
through which he rode from the railwa,
station to the palace. A prince of the i'm
perial family who had been three time
under fire in Manchuria was considere,
worthy of honor, and everybody says tina
Prince Kuni, as he Is popularity known.
a very good fellow. He is short. fat an
good natured and great favorite at TN
clubs.
Mori-masa, Prince of Nashi-moto-no