The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1904-03-17
JAPANESE BOYS ARE
TRAINED FOR ARMY
Young Men Who Are Selected
for Military Duty Con-
sldered Fortunate.
FAVOR BESTOWED BY LOT
n Patriotism, Esprit du Corps and De-
votion to Their Sovereign the
Japanese Are Not ExceIIed
by Any People.

Miyamatzu Kanesburo, secretary Of
The Japan Exhibitors association, is q.
hrm believer in the right of Japan's
cause in the Husso-Japanese war.
In discussing the war and the at
tendant conditions, Mr.. Kanesburo re-
Trained from saying that he was con-
hdent that Japan would triumph in the
present conflict, but said that If it was
the Will of Providence that she should
be victorious he believed it would mean
much for the civilization of the far
east.
Much of the success Of Japan up to
this time has been due to the fact that
me was ready for war" said Mr..
kanesburo. Since the late set for the
evacuation of Manchuria by Russia, my
country has been preparing for what
seemed an inevitable conflict.
Military employment in Japan is re-
garded differently to the same employ
ment in any country with which l am
familiar. In any village in Japan the
young man considered most fortunate
IS he who has been chosen to serve in
the army of his native land.
This favor is bestowed by lot. The
eligible men are all given a chance,
and chance decides who shall go to the
barracks. The day that he departs
from his native village is a festival,
and the journey to the barracks is
made a joyful procession. He is at
Tended by his friends, who march with
banners flying. Often a journey of q
hundred miles is thus taken by large
parties, who make 1tse trip a pleasure
Xcursion.
Boys Are Trained.
The boys of Japan are trained to be
soldiers from their youth up In every
common school of the country the pu-
pills are so drilled h q when they are
ready to leave school they are ready to
enter the army, or to enter n Of the
five military schools Of the country.
These schools, which are to Japan
exactly what West Point is to America,
can each accommodate about 500 pu-
pills, and when one has finished the
Echool he is ready to take charge Of a
body Of troops or conduct a campaign.
In patriotism, esprit du corps and
devotion to their sovereign, the Japa-
nese are not excelled by any people.
Each man is trained to be ready to
sacrifice at any time his life for his
country, and he is considered fortunate
who has an opportunity to do SO.
This is shown by the commo prac-
tlce Of officers, at the beginning Of a
war, of selling all their property, pro-
vidtng for their families and making all
arrangements as though they We're go
Ing to a sure death. All these things
were done by General Yamagi, who is
known as the Hero of Manchurla,' be-
fore the Chinese-Japanese war. He
fell in battle IN that war.
our Infantry is armed with the
Murata rife, a very powerful and eff
tectiNe weapon, with a magazine car
rying ten charges. 1t is the same gun
which was used In the Chinese-Japa-
nese war, except hen it was not a re-
peating rifle. While the Japanese
cavalry is poor. and can in no way cope
with the Cossacks. this is considered
a very small handicap by our military
men. The country in which the war
will be decided is Yer mountainous,
and all the advantage will be with the
Infantry.
1T is fortunate that in our army the
highest officer can spring from the
lowest family. Son of the greatest
military names and greatest heroes of
our history have been OF common
origin