The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-09-30
THE Won MOLTkE OF
THE new JAPAN
Marshal Oyama Not the Sort Of
Man to Make an Ideal
Soldier.
FATE AND TRAINING DO 1T
Taken From Mother When 4 Years
Old and Trained for Army-Com-
PEELED to Go Barefoot in Win
ter to Tougher Him.

was born in 1871, a samurai or noble of
the kagoshina clan. From his earliest
infancy he was brought UP as a soldier.
AT 4 years Of age he was separated
from his mother and began to learn the
lessons of hardlhood. He was never al
lowed to vince for pain or complain Of
hunger He was compelled to so bare
foot in the snow in the winter to tough
en- him. In wintry winds he wore but
the thinnest clothes TO keep his skin
from being tende His days We're
spent in the practice of arms and
physical exercise; his nights in study
ing the bushido, or old Japanese code
of honor, which taught the samuIai
that life was nothing as compared With
the glory of his daimio or leader. Lit
tie OyaIna was of sturdy stuff and
could stand the training which killed
many who are devoted to it.
AT The age of 10 he had killed a bear
unaided, and the same year he took
part in his first battle with the retain
ers of a rival daimic. Young Oyama at
this time was passionately devoted to
his cousin. the great Saigo, the head of
the Satsuma clan.
After a period of the civil war in the
SOS. when the new regime was firmly
established, the young Oyama was sent
to France as military attache to study
the organization of modern armies. and
had the opportunity of observing mod
ern warfare during the Franco-Ger-
man conflict OF 1870.
He remained abroad three years, and
on his return home was appointed a
general in the imperial army.
At the outbreak of the Satsuma re-
bellion, headed by his cousin Saigo,
and in which his own brother took a
leading part. Oyama found himself in
a painful dilemma: his loyalty to the
central government and to the person
OF the emperor triumphed. however,
and he took the field against his clans
men, and as commander Of the flying
brigade" fought bravely and success
fully until Saigo's fall.
During the ensuing ten years of re-
construction, which Marquis yamagata
devoted to establishing and perfecting
the standing army and to %fortifying
the whole country, General Oyama was
his right hand man. Without him the
task could hardly have been accom-
pllsed, for, after Saigo's death, Oyama
had come to be regarded as the repre-
tentative Of the Satsuma clan and de-
fender of their interests, and he used
al his influence to secure the
ton of the still powerful Satsuma ele-
ment.
To his credit it must be said that he
never took advantage Of his position
to obtain political power. In the army
4lG q OSCll Sleddlly plOllOleC, anu he
has alternately with Yamagata, occu-
pied all the important posts. Twice
from 1S85-90 and from 1S91-92-he
has been minister CT war. During the
war with China he was ordered to
Manchuria as commander in chief of
the second army In 1895, at the end
OF the war, the title of marquir was
conferred on him. and in 1898 he was
made marshal n the following year
succeeded the late Prince Komatsu as
chief of the general staff.
n left of the older generals, as Mar
shall Y~amagata's health has not per-
mitted OF his taking an active part
IN the present campaign.
There is a more terrible story told
Of oyama- When he went to fight with
the imperial forces against his cousin,
Saigo, the rebel, he left behind him a
beautiful young bride. 1t was the GUS
tom In those days-a custom now mod
ifed-for a Japanese woman, and es-
pecially a Japanese noble woman. to
became more imperative during her
husbands absence. She must not then,
except for the gravest reasons, go
abroad.
Many stories came to Oyama on the
battle field that his wife was disre-
was bringing disgrace not only upon
herself but upon his name. She
smirched the bushido. Oyama heard
the stories but did nothing. He was
considered a sluggard, a Samurai, thus
to let his erring wife go unpublished.
At n time a chance Of war brought
him near their home. 1t seemed a good
opportunity for him to pay it q visit.
He could leave camp and be back again
within twenty-four hours. But Moth
ing could move him from his duty to
the emperor-not even his own dis
grace. He stayed In camp.
Finally the war was over, the rebels
were crushed. the imperial authority
was established-and then Oyama went
home. His wife met him at the door
In the way which from time immemor-
ial faithful Japanese wives a met
their husbands on their return. She
Frustrated herself before him on the
Intel. The victorious soldier babe her
rise. Together they entered the house:
and from that day to this nobody has
ever, seen or heard of her who was
Oyama's first wife.
That was old Japan.
But Oyama now is of the new Jap
an-not only in public but in private
life. He has married again. His wife
is dressed always In European clothes.
liberties which are enjoyed by the
women in most of the European coun-
tries. The present Marchioness Oyama
was born Stenaz Yamakama. She,
too, was a noble, the daughter OF a
dalmio. She was born in 1859.
When she was IL years old the gov
eminent suddenly decided TO send
twenty young girls to the west to study.
Stenaz was one of those selected. h
was visiting her brother. a short dis
tance from her home, when the edict
reached her. She was given no choice
in the matter. She was not even per-
mitted to go back to her own home,
but was taken from her brothers house
and sent to America. She reached
New England, where she was given a
place in the home of the Rev. DIR. Leon
ard Bacon of the First Congregational
church of New Haven. Here she stayed
for eight years, and mastered the Eng
lish tongue. In 1879 she entered Vas
sar college, from which she graduated
in 1882. Her commencement Grafton
Policy Toward Japan"
She returned to her native land and
shortly afterwards married Lieutenant
General Oyama. From this marriage
" -.