The Minneapolis journal., 1904-04-27
JAPs READY TO
ENTER MADCHURIA.
Whole Fighting Strength Actually
at Front With All Neces-
sary Supplies.
BY Frederick Palmer.

Golfers Special Correspondent with First Japan
ese Army Of Invasion. Published by Arrange
ment with Golfers Weekly. Copyright, 1904.
Chinampho, via Seoul, April IL
After two months Of inaction at Toxic,
am at last in the field, following the
main Japanese army that Is marching
to Wi-ju and the Manchurian border.
Along this highway, leading from
Chenampo to Salinkan, signs Of war
and Of the passage OF many Thousand
troops are scarcely more visible than
were military preparatf ions In apan.
All signs are peaceful. The only In,
ahead is the long lines of coolies,
japanese and Korean, bearing rice
from the depots and transports to feed
the troops on the road.
The whole fighting strength Of the
Japanese army is actually at the. front
with all necessary supplies prepared
for decisive operations Everything
observed along this route, as hasten
toward Wi-ju to join the army hope
soon to see. in action, goes to show the
clean-cut preparedness of the Japan
ese army Of invasion for great feats.
Japan has policed, the country with
small posts widely scattered. I have
travelled twenty miles without passing
one Of these few outposts guarding
the line of communication. Security
for supply trains, peace. and conf
dence among the populace have been
attained by other means In the path
of this great army, moving BY fOrced
marches In winter weather, there are
no burned villages, no p1undered
houses, no fugitive peasantry.
! Orderly on March.
There has been no license or dis
@I>se Axy1 y,
left no stories Of loose discipline in
| their wake. The head men of the
Korean villages tell me that the con-
duct Of the individual private soldier
has been exemplary. All supplies taken
en- route are paid fol. at native market
lrates. ~, s,sss;sE So.
Hostile critics said the Japanese
were on their best behavior in the
Peking relief operations when co.
loperating with the allies, but that ir
their own campaigns. away from for.
eign scrutiny, they would wage bruta
and uncivilized warfare. This Is fiatlJ
contradicted by their march thru
/ Korea. Their advance has been al
smooth and orderly as that Of a British
column in India, the organization a.
efficient in every way. 4, L.
/ The natives are on their little farms
making the fields ready for spring cul
/ tivation, already sowing crops of oats
lThey are unconcerned about war o.
passing armies which have not We
troubled them. In the summer months
the farming regions of northern Kores
will furnish great quantities of foot
supplies for the Japanese bases.
Koreans Hospitable.
The Japanese officers scattered
! along the route in charge of the mill
| tary posts and transportation organi
| zation have been notably courteou
and hospitable to the party Of travel
| ing war correspondents with thef
| troop Of servants and pack animals.
The head men Of the Korean vii
| lagos have taken the cue from tn
military and hasten to place at ou
| disposal whatever comforts and lux
/ uries Of accommodation their modes
4 means can offer.
It is slow work getting on at best
made more uncomfortable by the fea
that the first great clash may com
] somewhere close to the Yalu befor
the advance guard of the correspond
/ ents army can join the general staff.
/ Meantime we are passing thru
/ Korea that has been keenly an
subtly made Japanese in two month
la country conquered by kindness
fair treatment and a nice skill i
handling public and private opinion.