Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-19

body that the splendid physical condition
of the Japanese soldiers next TO thelr per
sonal valor. has been their largest asset ~
the present war.
1.-The Japanese servant of an English OF
fcer of my acquaintance belonged to the
Imperial Guard. At the beginning OF the
war he was recalled to the coiors. m
officer asked him how he felt about gong
out to fight the Russians; If he mad any
regrets because he might soon be in per
sonal danger. Not sorry; glad. said the
Jap In his odd English; this is country
business
This Japanese servant had four days In
which to prepare to join his command.
What do you think he did on those -FOUR
days? He didn't spend them having
good time as an English or an American
soldier would, | assure you. His work as
my friends servant had been light and his
muscles were soft. He wanted to harden
them and he concluded that course OF
mountain climbing about the best
thing he could engage in for that purpose
The Sen Game mOuntain-not large one
being nearby, he attacked 1t. The hrst DAY
he climbed to its top only twice. put nav
ing limbered himself up, he made three
accents on each of the remaining three, or
eleven ascents in the four days. doh
know an Englishman or an American VINO
would willingly undertake to 90 as lnu nut,
for any reason. In fact, | know few occl-
dentals who would have done as much I'M
der any circumstances.
Japs Never Loaf.
eat Hal Cheng where 1 was when the
Japanese army came up after long and
severe march which would have left the
soldiers of any western nation in an ex-
hausted condition, 1 looked to see all hands
take a good loaf inasmuch there was no
fighting to be done just then. But the
next morning / learned that loafing was
the last thing they had in their minds
Soon after l awoke l saw japanese OIL
ls,rr a
waving his arms. bending. first this way
and then that and doing all sorts of queer
stunts. At first [ thought that perhaps ne
was signaling by some new method. But
l looked a little farther and then l saw
that the men of his command We're drawn
up before him, without arms, and on a
little lower level. where they could all see
him plainly, and that they were Initiating
every motion he made.
Then l understood. They were going
through a series of severe physical culture
exercises. just to harden themselves ana
to timber up, so that they would be in the
pink of condition when the time came for
them to fight. They lay at Hal Cheng ten
days, ard they trained themselves every
day of the ten. There was no loahng about
no idleness; they were getting themselves
into shape all the time. though, of course,
there were brief periods of necessary rest.
Every Jap soldier is exactly like a prize
fighter. who would never think of resting
on the last days before fistic battle; they
devote to his hardest training.
THE bodily hardness and indifference to
discomfort which constant striving from
youth up for physical perfection produces
has good deal to do with the making of
the Jap the best soldier in the world.
Not Good Cavalrymen.
Perhaps 1 should say that mean the
best infantry soldier, since the Jap is not
yet a good cavalryman. He will be, though,
and the only reason he is not now is that
he has never had the chance. The few
horses in Japan inferior animals. The
japanese have begun to breed horses. how
ever, and though it will take some time to
build up a good breed. they will do it.
They do everything they set out to do.
Colonel Hoad. the first Australian mill
tary attache, told me of having noticed
man on horseback one day, whom he set
down instantly the best horseman he
had ever seen. Hoad inquired and found
that the rider was the japanese Prince
Kanin. who had learned to ride in the
French cavalry school. Other Japanese
have been trained there, too, and it will
not be very long after the close of the
present war before the Japanese will add
as efficient a cavalry branch to their army
as any to be found in the western world.
There is no reason in the world to prevent
the Jap from being as good horseman as
anybody else.
Il have said that the Japanese were
learning their horsemanship in France.
They learned how to handle artillery from
the French as they learned how to handle
ships from the English and as they learned
tactics from the Germans. But they have
practically destroyed all the books of tao