The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-04-03
i've a decoration from him.


mems praise. At great risk she stole
important war maps and papers from
the Russians at Port Arthur, and in
disguise carried them through the Rus
sian lines to Pekin, where she deliv-
cred them to the Japanese minister.
These maps, it is understood, have
Influenced the japanese general staff
to a considerable extent in its plan
of war, since they have detailed in
formation concerning the measures
taken to protect Port Arthur and Dali
ny-harbor iefenses, strength of the
garrisons, dil tensions of the fortifica-
tons, etc. They also show the loca-
tion of forts throughout Manchuria
and the disposition Of the Russian
forces up to The day the maps were
stolen.
Then there are full details of de-
lenses to be erected in case of a Japa-
nese invasion, and instructions con-
corning the modifying of the troops
In such an event. Means of transpor-
tation and the possibility of laying rail-
roads for the purpose are minutely
outlined, and the names of the regi-
ments to be sent to the front at cnce
and their destination are given.
Miss Ando primarily owes her fame
to the circumstance that her family
was too poor to support her. She OBJ
iected to becoming a geisha girl, and
hearing that many of her compatriots
were making a good living in Man
churia, she decided to go there.
She landed at Port Arthur about
four years ago. There she began SELL
ing rice cakes for a living, first to the
Japanese and the Chinese population,
and later on to the Russians,
Miss Ando, according to the Japa-
nese standard, is a prepossessing young
woman, and it was not long before she
attracted the attention of some of the
Russian officers. According to a ma
tive account, "it was her lacquer aGS
hair and bright eyes" which worked
havoc with the Russians. Whatever
the cause, Miss Ando found favor in
the eyes of the officers and was per-
mitted to sell rice cakes in the Off
GERS quarters.
When the news reached the Japanese
at Port Arthur that the relations with
Russia were strained Miss Ando had
long enjoyed the freedom of the bar
racks and officers quarters. Indeed,
she was not infrequently present at
many of the entertainments given by
the officers.
Miss Ando, upon learning Of the i'm
pending war, determined to put her
privileges TO some account for her
country. So at the first sign of trou-
HE she did not fee from the city with
the majority of her countrymen. In
stead, she sold rice cakes as before,
but she also kept her eyes open.
Her chance came some days before
Port Arthur was bombarded. In going
about the quarters at night she came
upon a group of officers engaged in
conference over a lot of maps and pa
pers.
Although she could not understand
the Russian language well enough to
ascertain what the officers were talk
ing about, she intuitively realized the
Importance of the papers, and deter
mined to secure them at all hazards
and take them to Japan.
She noticed that the officers were
drinking heavily, and, to encourage
them in their cups, as soon as the
supply of vodka gave out she replen-
ished it, as had been her custom on
cording to Miss Ando, did not object
to her presence, possibly because she
was in the habit of dropping in to sell
her wares. at all times.
At any rate, she was allowed to
remain through the conference. When
it broke UP all the officers were more
or less under the influence of the
VODKA she Hdu SSINSu " lllCliA 81 AAOSA-
ally, and not one of them had enough
sense to secure the maps and papers
and take them away to safety.
Miss Ando was not slow to improve
her opportunity: With the disappear
ance of the last Russian she hastily
seized the papers, slipped them I'M
der her kimono, fastened them around
her Body, and made her way out of
the quarters.
IIar thoughts vvera now of imrne1i-
ate escape. She knew that she was
well-known in Port Arthur as pet
of the officers, and that her presence
at the railway station might be COM
lnented on and lead to her detection.
When she had made her way to her
room in the foreign quarter of the
town she disguised herself in the dress
of coolie and started for the rail-
way station. Being unfamiliar with
the way she soon became confused and
spent precious minutes trying to locate
herself At last, in her desperation,
she called a cab that happened by and
was taken to the station, representing
TO the driver that she was refugee
hurrying to get away before war be-
gan.
AT the station she found a crowd of
Japanese and Chinese refugees wait
ing to take train for Pekin, and she
Joined them She succeeded in escap-
ing detection and getting on train,
which. by good luck, was not long in
starting.
During the trip to Pekin she kept
the papers tightly bound around her
body. sOnce in the capital she made
straight for the residence of Minister
Uchida and insisted on seeing him
personally
When she was taken before him she
explained that she had brought papers
of some sort from Port Arthur, briefly
detailing how she secured them. A
few minutes later when they were
handed to him the minister saw at
glance the great importance of the
grls prize.
III the words of Miss Ando. "the
honorable minister was much pleased
with me and said the papers would
be of much service. He also said for
me to go to Japan before the Russians
got after me, and he looked after me
and put me on a ship. l am glad 1
have been of some value to the ma
ton"
Miss Ando is now in Toxic. where
the papers preceded her, and where
her parents live. She is 'in great
honor and received by everybody" to
quote a Japanese account. Indeed, her
parents modest home is sort of pa
triotic Mecca for all conditions of her
countrYmen.
Miss Ando takes her new found hon
ors calmly.
Il am glad I have been of some
value to the nation she tells her WIS.,
itors.