The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1904-06-09
Japanese Soldiers Fine.

S. c. Baptist.
The worlds gaze Is now fastened on
the soldiers of Japan. The western
world has taught Japan much, and ia
pan has MT been a slow or an unap-
preciative learner. Now it seems that
pupil and teacher are about to change
places. Europe-and America are tiad-
ing that the soldiers OF the Mikado can
give them lessons in the highest mill
tary art with unmistakable superiority.
And yet, in civilization Japan is ma
ton born in day. Fifty years ago
Japan was living wrapped in Eastern
and barbaric exclusiveness and fanati-
cism. Then Commodore Matthew
Perry with fleet of war vessels visited
her mysterious shores, bearing a friend
ly but firm message from the United
States that her ports must be opened
to the commerce of the world. Reluct-
antIy at first, one or two were opened,
later, others, and ere many years pass
ed, all at once Japan arose as one man,
and cast off the dead slough OF Eastern
customs, dress and civilization. At the
present, in the islands OF Japan are
found whatever is found in the social
life, business, enterprise and the like in
England or in the United States.
The great victory which japan has
already gained over the Russians on
the Yalu river shows the Japanese SOL
der to be superior to the Russian.
Who and what is this soldier of ia
pan. anyhow? Let Miss Glover who
has travelled all through Japan, and
whose letters show her to be a keen
and intelligent observer, answer. She
thus writes in the Independent:
GAS I stood alone on the long plat.
form the special train with six or seven
hundred infantry, cavalry and officers,
came in and stopped beside it. At the
order of the captain the different COM
panies stepped from the cars, formed a
line and stood at rest. One glance al
the long line of men filled me with ad-
miration and amazement. Such fine
specimens of humanity I had never
soen in enlisted men in any country in
Europe or Asia or America. Far from
being understood, as had always pict.
ured japanese soldiers, they were fully
as large as English soldiers and larger
than the French. Such clean healthy
rudy skins, with none OF the signs Of
drink one so often sees in the European
troops. For their eating, men came
carrying huge tubs, as big as half
barrel, filled with streaming, snowy
rice, cooked so each grain was separate
3 small piece OF dried fish, half the
size of an ordinary herring. and several
pieces of raddish pickle were given
each man, with as much weak tea al
he cared to drink. After the meal
| VFoA J tAAuks Ou tuO pl0tIOAIA " 0o dS uCcs'
and clean as before eating. Before
boarding the train again each soldier
took from his pocket his tiny pipe
filed it with the tiny ball of tobacco
cut so fine as to be almost like horse
hair, and took the three whiffs-al
the tobacco will yield. All the soldiers
are sober, quiet, orderly, as though
they felt that the dignity of the nation
rested on them"
This is a vivid picture of the soldier
who is steadily overthrowing the I'm
perial forces of Russia. In courage
in dash, in steadiness, in order, in dis
clpline, the soldiers OF Japan lead the
world. A new and terrible power hal
sprung into being. Will it be for the
veal or for the woe of mankind? This
is the problem for the future.