The San Francisco call., 1904-03-20
RUSSIANS CHARGE THAT CHINA SECRETLY AIDING THE MDOS FORCES
,al's Special Correspondent Describes Japanese
Ovation to Britons Who Took Toko's New
Warships to Far East.

Yokohama had the first chance at the
crews of the two cruisers. There was
parade and a great garden party in
the public park, with addresses and
fireworks and a banquet in the evening.
The city was decorated with banners
and flags and streamers, and at night
there were fiocks of lanterns.
DECORATED BY EMPEROR.
The next day the men came UP to
Toxic. Here it was all done over again.
But, more than that, they were re-
ceived-that is the captains were-by
the Emperor himself, who expressed his
personal appreciation of their service
to his country and gave them the or
der of the Rising Sun. For the men of
the crews there were all kinds of do
ings In Hibiya Park There was big
wrestling bout, at which the most cele-
brated wrestlers in japan did stunts,
and there was juggling of the most
wonderful kind, with very gay daylight
| fireworks during the afternoon. AT
night the park was ablaze with Ian
terms and there was a gorgeous dis
play OF fireworks.
That evening there was a banquet
given by the Mayor of Toxic. In the
gladness of his heart he had invited
the men of the crews as we'll as the
officers, but the captains had indi-
Gated their disapproval of that,
so another entertainment was pro-
yided for the sailormen. The Mayors
of many other Japanese cities were
present at the banquet, and invita-
tions to the officers of the two ships to
visit other places in Japan came in in
showers. Every city sent some sort of
token of recognition of the service rem
dered to japan. Fortunately for the
officers they are all under contract to
go back home in few days, so that
they will escape the hard penalty of
too much generous hospitality.
From Toxic they all went up to
Nikko, and there they did have time.
The road from the station to their no
tel was lined with double rank OF
waving lanterns and bands played and
crowds cheered and shouted "Banzai"
Then remarkable thing happened.
The two captains were taken to the
great temple, where the high priest
took them into the most sacred cham
bers, into some of which only the EN-
peror himself may go. No other for
eigner has ever been in them. and most
of the priests themselves are not per-
mitted to enter these sacred rooms.
GIFTS FROM THEIR RULER.
From Nikko they came back to Toxic,
where to-day they all had audience
with the Emperor again and he dis
tributed among all the officers most
magnificent gifts. Those to the two
captains included pair of beautiful
silver vases, executed by the royal
workmen, and of pattern which has
never been sent out of Japan. Both.
bear the royal crest in gold. There was
also for each captain beautiful old
gold lacquer box of great value.
Meantime gifts of all sorts have been
pouring in for them from cities to
which they cannot go, accompanied by
yards of addresses setting forth in
Japanese eloquence the great things
they have done for Dai Nippon.
why" said Captain Lea, I've
enough to fill the baggage-room Of
the hotel already and there's no tell
| ing when it will stop. If we'd been
emperors fourteen times over we
couldn't have had finer reception,
and all we did was our duty. We're
not half through yet, either" and he
read off a list of places where they
have promised to go. There surely
| Is no doubt about the gratitude of
Japan to the men of the Nisshin and
| Kasuga.