The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1904-12-14
In the Trenches After
the Battle of Sa=Ho

FIELD HEADQUARTERS. H. 1
J. NJ SECOND ARMY. Manchuria.
--The battle Of the sa ITO IL over
and the tNo great armies are now
lying face 10 face within easy rifle
distance 81 each other. employing
themselves IN trying 90 Hi each
other without being kliled them
selves
The trenches o. the Russians ara
in 10 place along the entire front
81 the three japanese armies. more
than thousand yards away, ia
many places they are Rs close as
three hundred yards. and in some
places they are even closer.
The two armies are Hplendidly
cntrenched. but In spite OF this
fact not a day passes hut a few Of
the many bullets fired from one
trench 20 the other find their mark
and every day a few poor fellows
are carried 90 the rear to their
last resting places for IN trench
fighting nearly all the wounds are
In the head. and wound IN the
head al n few hundred yards range
IL not y simple matter.
The idea Of two great armies Of
2ta. geo men each lying 80 close
together ia a peculiar one. For 10
days they have been IN these post
lions. the men all the time IN the
trenches. the artillery ready TO fire
ut any moment. the infantry ready
90 take the offensive or the defen-
sive In an instant. The situation
so far NJ any OF the foreign at
taehes are able to remember IL
absolutely unique. Never before
IN the history Of war have two
enormous armies lain as these lay
today. with their hayonets almost
IN each others teeth. IN field en-
trenohments In siege work such
a thing would not be unique. al
though even there Il would be IN
usual, but here neither side has per
manent works All they have are
aheltsr trenches. In places helped out
by the high mud walls OF the little
Chinese villages. Through these
walls. where they are available. loop
holea2have been uet. where there are
no walls small holes have been made
IN the parapets by inserting few
bricks. a hole being left large enough
for a man 20 insert the muzzle Of his
rife and incidentally 20 get a good
view along the sights. for firing
from trenches must be done DELHI
erateiy. As "a matter OF fact such
fighting IN a good deal like deliber-
ate murder. A man stands with
his rnF through the loophols
watching. In the opposite trench
he sees n slight movement. In
Etanhy be takes his aim. Another
movement. Then n head IL raised
above the parapet. Pingl a sol
diers lifes has probably paid for his
temerity. II Ia n cold blooded way
OF doing things and makes one stop
to think MAT there arc more things
in war than wearing gorgeous uni
forms. of even leading forlofn
hopes, svord In hand.
OF course. no one. except the
Japanessf officials and, perhaps. the
Japanese officials and, perhaps the
ing Cor. The forces that are facine
each. other are. no far as we car
learn ahAost the same size. IL may
he that the Russians are slightly su
perior IN strength, but this II not
The explanation. for the japanese
are not the ones to object 60 that
unless the enemy had Overwhelming
numbers.
In one respect at least, the fight
| ing during the last month has re-
vived my opinion regarding the Jap
Ianese soldier. There seems 90 be .
general Impression, and | may have
Iunconacioualy have contributed 20 II
that the Japanese soldier IL tho mos
reckless Of beings. that he is anxious
TO be killed and that all he comes te
war for IL to die and be buried Will
/ his ancestors. This idea Is an en-
ttrely erroneous one. The japanese
soldier IL a daring. courageous fell
low and he is not afraid OF death, hui
he in not anxious 10 throw hts life
away. When the shrapnel begins &
shrek angrily over his head, he VII