The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1904-04-07

time the supplies had been coming
ashore almost continuously, and the
mountains Of cases, tents, saddles and
other army paraphernalia had been
carried away as fast as accumulated,
either to load on the train for Seoul or
to store in Chemulpo warehouses.
Some Of the difficulties attending the
landing al Chemulpo can be appreciat-
ed when it is remembered that the
mean rise and fall of tide twice daily
is thirty feet and that for a good por-
ton of each twentyfour hours mud
flats, in many places miles in extent,
lie on either side Of the narrow chan
mel available for lighters and launches.
With this tide racing in the opposite
direction, it is only with difficulty, and
then with scarcely perceptible move
ment, that a good launch can make
Roadway against it. From the anchor
age where the transports lay to the
landing jetty is some two miles, which
can only be covered with lighters Ell
Their sculled by coolies or towed by
small launches.
But in spite Of the difficulties to con-
tend with the transport department Of
the Japanese army landed in one week
100000 tons of supplies, $500 cavalry
horses and some 10000 men. This was
accomplished without noise, confusion,
accident or congestion in the streets
leading to the landing jetty, with far
less noise and confusion than attend
the discharging Of the cargo of an 500
ton cOasting steamer, with no braWling
or drunkenness and everything brought
ashore and men, horses and cargo dis
posed of and housed without delay.
On Feb. 16, three days after the ar
rival of the army coolies and the sup
plies, seven transports anchored in the
harbor and Immediately proceeded to
land men and horses. The fiat bottom
ed boats, previously bought, were TAX
en- alongside, the horses raised in
sings and lowered into them, each
boat carrying five animals and bear
ing transport department flag giving
it's number and the number of the
landing float to which it was to go.
On arrival at the float the boat was
brought up broadside on; the troopers,
holding the horses heads, leaped up
on the floats, and the horses made the
three to four foot jump from the bot
tom of the boat to the floor Of the
float without hesitation or accident.
The manner in which these dumb
brutes, took this landing showed that
even they were acting a part in
drama many times rehearsed in prep
aration Of this very event. l counted
twenty animals landed in this way in
ten minutes, and one minute would
be a fair average, which was kept up
for hours without cessation.
AT the same time two streams of
over the two temporary pontoon land
ing piers, while the landing of sup
plies was steadily maintained at the
stone landing jetty. Men and horses
were rapidly marched to the adjacent
railway station, where long lines of
cars were in readiness to carry them
to Seoul, twenty-six miles away, where
they were TO await the arrival of the
artillery and additional troops for the
march north to meet the Russians at
the frontier.
The appearance Of the sturdy, silent
and we'll equipped Japanese soldier ex-
cites as much admiration as do the
wonderful thoroughness and system of
the department in care of his trans
portation and housing. With the 49,
600 troops that recently arrived at
Chemulpo not a single case of drunk
ennesS OF disorder was apparent.
Small parties of them were to be seen
during the day about the streets Of
Seoul, seeing the sights of that, even
to them, strange city and it's people,
strolling in leisurely, quiet fashion,
keeping to themselves, molesting no
one, and at nightfall they disappeared
as though by magic into the houses Of
the Japanese residents to which they
were assigned.
His equipment is like the man him
self-strOng and serviceable, not an
ounce more than is necessary and not
a penny spent on it is wasted. From
his heavy gray brown blanket overcoat
to the tip cup hanging at his waist and
the rifle in his hands all is for use, not
show. The entire kit in marching or
der including arms, weighs about for
ty-eigbt pounds and is carried with no
Struggling Of the shoulders or twisting
Of strap OF belt. The impression given
by a sight of the Japanese army in the
field is one of sturdy readiness, endur
ance and silence.
This latter quality, silence. predomi-
mates every movement from the han
ding Of coolies and cargo to the sight
seeing of the men at their leisure.
Eoruri to Follow Jiu Jitsu.