The Savannah morning news., 1904-11-22

Incessant Striving of the Milkado's
soldiers to Maintain Perfect Ply
steal Condition-The Jap a Poor
CavaIry man Now, but Bound to Be
Good One Bye-and-Bye-Gen-
erals Oyama and Kodama slipped
whisky and Soda During the
Battle of Liao Yang.
BY Dexter Marshall.
sitting at ease in a New York club
George Lynch, correspondent, en- route
to London from the seat of war in
Manchuria, interested a little group of
acquaintances nightly the other even
ing with a string of war anecdotes.
They go long way to explain why the
Japanese have had the best of it most
of the time in the present war, and
thus help explain why, in Mr.. Lynch's
opinion, the Jap is the most efficient
infantry soldier in the world to-day. 1t
may be said at the beginning, though,
that Mr.. Lynch considers the Russian
soldier not one whit behind the Jap in
bravery.
1t has been a war of clean-handed
honor on both sides from the begin
ming" said Mr.. Lynch. 81 saw so many
instances of almost unbelievable per-
sonal courage, self-sacrifice and self
restraint that l hardly know where to
begin.
Il was told of charge at Nan Shan
by a Russian regiment, one incident of
which suggested the glorious old DAYS
when most of the fighting was honest
hand-to-hand work. The Russians adj
Vanced with courage and determination.
their commander well in advance He
was one of the bravest men ever seen.
and he had unbounded confidence in his
men, for he never looked back to see
how closely they were following. When
he had almost reached the Japanese
line he cast one look over his Shout
der His forces, brave enough, but
slow, were so far in the rear that he
was practically alone in the very teeth
of the enemy. Some officers might
have turned back, but not this Rus
sian; he just stopped coming and stood
for moment, motionless but defiant,
before the Japanese. They might have
riddled him with bullets. but they
didn't; they don't fight that way.
Fought Hand to Hand.
They seemed fascinated by his
valor, and the japanese commander.
who, like the Russian, was in advance
of his men, demanded unconditional
surrender. The Russians refusal was
emphatic. He preferred certain death
to surrender, and he dared the Jap
anese officer to fight him singly with
the sword. BY the time the two were
ready, the Russian troops, who had
continued to advance, were ranged
behind their commanding officer in
front of the Japs. A halt was called,
and the two officers began their
strange duel.
Both were good swordsmen. but
there was little doubt from the first
as to which would win. In less than
three minutes the Russian was dead
Until the close of the fight, the SOL
diers on both sides stood motionless-
almost like statues. There were no
cries of encouragement or defiance;
save for the somewhat distant sounds
of battle, to the right and the left,
the duel was fought in silence. Imme-
dlately after the Russian officer had
fallen the opposing forces fell upon
each other tooth and nail. The Rus
SLAMS were repulsed, after show of
desperate bravery, and when it was
all over the ranks had been frightfully
depleted on both sides.
The Japanese Expert SwOrdsmen.
The Russian must have expected
death when he called out his chal-
lenge, for the Japanese officers are
known to have no superiors as swords
men. They are all descendants of the
Old Samurai, or two-sworded men, and
are trained in workmanship from
boyhood. Most of their swords were
owned by their forefathers, centuries
before and have been handed down,
glorious heirlooms of the past They
are slender, quivering blades, made by
the old-time sword-makers, each with
It's own curve. They are as full of in
dividuality as their owners, instead of
being practically all alike, as are the
swords carried by the officers in every
western army, and are of even finer
temper than the famous blades of Da-
mascus. They are carried in scabbards
OF modern make, and are sharpened to
a razor edge; thus every officer in the
Japanese army is admirably armed for
hand to hand fighting.
OF Fine Physique.
There is no doubt in the mind of
anybody that the splendid physical
condition of the Japanese soldiers,
next to their personal valor, has been
their largest asset in the present war.
The Japanese servant of an Eng
fish officer of my acquaintance belong
ed to the Imperial Guard. At the be-
ginning of the war he was recalled to
the colors. The officer asked him how
he felt about going out to fight the
russians; If ne had any regrets be-
cause he might soon be in personal
danger. Not sorry. glad said the
Jap in his odd English this is coun-
try business
This Japanese servant had four
Gays in which to prepare to join his
command. What do you think he did
on those four days? He didn't spend
them having a good time as an Eng
hsh or an American soldier would. 1
assure you. His work as my friends
servant had been light and his mus
eles were soft. He wanted to harden
them' and he concluded that a course
OF mountain climbing was about the
pest thing he could engage In for that
purpose. The Sen Game mountain
not large one-being nearby, he at
lacked It. The first day he climbed to
It's top only twice, but having limber-
ed himself up. he made three ascents
on each Of the remaining three, or
eleven aseents in the four days. /
dont know an Englishman or an
American who would willingly under
take TO do as much for any reason. In
iact' know few Occidentals who could
nave done as much under any cir
cuinstances.
Taught Physical Culture.
At Hal Cheng, where was when
me Japanese army came up after a
iohg and severe march which would
nave left the soldiers of any Western
natlon In an exhausted condition,
looked to see all hands take a good
lpat, lnaSmuch as there was No dVhf-