The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1904-05-16


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TOXIC. April 23.-When one Is 80
anxious to go to war that he writes
his application for permission to Join
the army in his own blood it seems
COO bad to refuse him.
Among the various applications for
permission to fight which have been
received at the war ONCE in Toxic 10
one from an old man. and 1t is writ
ten in his own blood. This man, who
n 10 years old, belongs to the Samou-
RI class. those who. in the old days,
wera-the fighting men Of japan.
Used His Own Blood.
Following the custom of his an
cestors he has used his own blood
as the ink wherewith to write his
application. He states in this appli-
cation that his sons have gone to the
war and that 1t Is impossible for
man who has Samouri blood in his
veins to stand idle when his emperor
and his country need fighting men.
Therefore he prays to be allowed to
90 to the front for his country.
] Another man of 66 writes that two
>~of his sons were killed in the war
with China and that two more are
now with the Japanese forces in ,Ko-
rea. He alone is left. and he begs to
be allowed to give his services and
his life to his emperor and his coun-
try.
There are scores of these letters
from old men. men who are past the
military service age. The emperor
and the country are in need and they
beg to be allowed to shoulder their
guns and serve against the enemy.
Each one says that his life Is of no
value and that he will gladly give 1t
for the fiag.
woman writes.
Another letter comes from a wom-
an. She says that she is the daugh-
ter OF an old Samouri family and that
she Is the only one left Of the long
line. She has no father or brother to
represent the family in this war, al
though for centuries some one OF her
name has served whenever soldiers
were needed.
Her father was killed In the war
with China and her only brother lost
his life gloriously at Tientsin dur
ing the Boxer war. Therefore she
begs to be allowed to take her place
in the ranks. the place that by right
belongs to her family. She says she
can shoot and march as we'll as any
man and that her heart Is good"
All she asks il to be given an oppor-
tunity to give her life for her en-
peror and for japan. She beEs the
officials to grant her request. for II
she Is not allowed to go her family
name and her ancestors will be for
ever disgraced.
Many Of the letters come from boys
under the military service age. They
can not wait until the time comes
for them to serve regularly. but insist
that they be allowed to go at once.
Nearly all Of them are students and
are willing to serve in any capacity.
One Of them Is but . years old and
most of them range in age from 10
to 10.
Anxious TO Fight Again.
Scores of letters come from men
who have ended their military serv-
ice. both In the standing army and
the reserves. They are soldiers of
many years standing and they are
very anxious to fight again. They all
point proudly to their former service
and recite the campaigns they have
seen and the medals they have been
awarded.
So far no volunteers have been
called for or accepted. 1t is not be-
lieved that 1t will be necessary to call
for any more soldiers. These are al
ready $4,000 men under arms. and 1t
is believed that these will be all that
are needed. IF, however, volunteers
are needed. the officials believe that
1t will not be at all difficult to secure
100000 Of them. The applications of
those who have offered their services
are being kept on file In the war Of
fee and they will be given the first
chance IL the call for volunteers Is
ever made.
The intense patriotism of the Jap
uhcse 10 SHoWH III THESE oieIs VI
men who are exempt from service by
law to take up these burdens and sac
rifice their lives on the altar of their
love for their emperor. 1t Is entirely
impossible for q foreigner to under
stand the love and reverence which
these people have for their emperor.
To the western mind 1t seems impos-
sible that any people could so wor-
ship an Individual or q cause They