Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-05-20
JAPAN'S MILITARY SUICIDES.

vi hOhOl aOAO CCiA RoSN'
The military portion of the empire
is especially susceptible, as the fol-
lowing incidents brought about di-
rectly by the war will show.
In the early days of the struggle
an order reached the military head
quarters at Aomori, in Northern
Japan, to prepare to take the field
A very small portion of the garrison
was to be left behind to keep up the
military department.
One young lieutenant named Sag
uya, was chosen to command the
small party remaining. He received
the command submissivelv.
He took upon himself the charac-
ter of host during the few days that
were left, provided all manner of
diversions for the departing troops,
give last dinner to his fellow lieu
tenants, in which he was the life of
the gathering.
In short speech before the ban
quet broke up he delivered an elo-
quent toast to the future of the
command, foretelling triumphant
marches, splendid victories, snd-his
voice was shaking a little-spoke of
the heroes returning home in glory.
With his head bowed down, he
ended by saying that be had hoped
to 60, but that it was not the will of
the emperor.
'"They also serve who stand and
wait" he repeated brokeDly.
Saguya accompanied the regiment
to the port of embarkation, and was
the first and last to yell, "Banzail
Banzail''
Upon returning to the fort the
lieutenant went directly to his quar-
ters. The next morning his orderly
found him lying upon the mating,
his abdomen rent backward and for
ward in the hideous fashion of the
harikari. And the short sword of
the harikari had been returned to its
scabbard after its task was done.
1t is plain from the words of Sag
uya at the banquet that be saw the
better way, that he understood the
necessity of somebody remaining to
perpetuate the garrison at Aomori-
that his detention was only luck and
no reflection upon his valor, but the
blood of the ancient Samurai was
strong within him and triumphed
against his better knowledge.
About the middle of March several
valuable horses belonging to one of
the Toxic forts broke from their
plckets and fell into the moat sur
rounding the grounds. The beasts
were unable to extricate themselves
from the mire and water, and falling
at length from exhaustion, were
drowned. Their bodies were discov-
cred the next morning.
Upon being informed of the acci-
dent, the commander sent for Captain
Yamanochi, who was directly in
charge of the horses and provisions.
This officer was not to be found
about the fort.
A messenger was dispatched at
once to his home, but his wife had
not seen her husband since the day
before. She became alarmed and re-
turned with the messenger to the fort.
The mystery was not cleared until
late in the afternoon, when a private
soldier ran into headquarters with
the intelligence thst the body of
Captain Yamanochi had been found
in remote portion of the fort prop
erty, back of the firing grounds. A
revolver with one empty chamber lay
upon the turf beside the dead man,
and two open letters were in his
pocket.
The first was addressed to the
commander. 1t was couched with
oimal dignity.
The captain begged to report that,
through his negligence, the horses
had broken loose and destroyed them
selves. He had therefore proved
unpardonably remiss in his duty,
and could no longer exist.
The commander was informed
that the broken heart of the un.
worthy officer was, however, with his
regiment in the last moments, and
the last prayer before he died was
for the great honor and welfare of
the beloved command in the coming
campaigns against the Russians.
The second letter was addressed
to the wife and was dying mans
assurance of loYe.
Captain Yamanochi was a man
of distinguished family, character
and education. His personal courage
had been proved. He was beloved
by his fellow-officers and by his men.
He was accounted a broad man
among the japanese; and his death.
weak and pitable as it appears from
the stand point of an American, was
regarded, deep in the minds of his
contemporaries, as unfortunate, but
proper-sad, but fitting.
And here we are confronted with
the astonishing lack of the sense of
humor in the Japanese people.
An American who proved careless
enough to lose few horses would be
disturbed for few days, until the
bumps ceased coming in from his
superiors. After that he would act
about to repair the matter by better
service.
On the contrary, the Japanese
would not commit suede because of
financial troubles, wherein he is
above the American. The former
quails most of ali before that large.
delicate thing which he calls his
honor.
The story has been told, perhaps,
OF the officer of high rank who was
In 10 charge of military instruotions in
Pekin. When war became a fact.
ne was one of the first to apply for
an active command. lie was refused
because his services in Pekin were
both timely and efficient.