The St. Louis Republic., 1904-08-21
P0LANDERS FIGHT RUSSIANS.

% L E
Menestrtna is president.
Signor Marroni stopped in ST Louis to
see the Louisiana Purchase Exposition
and TO gather Fair news for his paper
but this visit is only an incident Of a
trip which he is ending as a war CORE
spondent in Japan and Manchuria. He
went to Japan at the opening OF hostili-
ties with Russia. expecting TO go TO the
front with the Japanese column.
He got no further than the edge of the
fghting along with the other correspond
ents. but he had three months of that,
which gave him an insight into the .Japa-
nese character and the japanese readiness
ana Willingness of war and death. II
necessary. for the preservation or the vic
tory Of their country.
BY ETTORE MARRONI.
One OF the most significant things that
came under my attention while with the
Japanese column WAS the strange expert
ence Of a detachment of japanese troops
that captured Russian body after a
sharp fight. When the little japanese
soldiers came up to take their prisoners,
they found them fighting viciously with
each other. and il took a fierce effort on
combatants.
1t then developed that a number of the
prisoners were Poles. who had been
drafted into the Russian Army, and that
they were having hand-to-iiand bayonet-
to-bayonet conflict with the Russian SOL
diers. The Poles became willing prison
ers, but the japanese had to separate
them. putting the Russians on one side
and the Poles on the other. 1t was the
nrst time tina; the Pcies had been abe
10 speak in their own language since they
We're drafted into the Russian serv.ce
Ihey sang their own SONGS ana were per-
isctiy happy. This ,aciuent goes 20 snow
now the Russian Amy and Government
are money coiuued by Internal d.scuru,
"hiCn - .iUi. uIsas.Ious ~ me fluaslan
cause than the japanese Army. Thousands
ucfcat.
Another significant fact that 1 noted
Whiie stili on the island OF Japan was
that whenever news OF u JAPANESE victory
was builentined ne people first raIsel
their own nag Of white with the blood
RED spot in the center. and then they
raised the Stars and Stripes of the
United states. l consider TINS remark
able in view of the fact that there mas
been no oriicisl leaning IN the United
states toward the japanese cause
before 1 LETT ltaiy 1 saw that England
vas suoHBS PEo-SapaHtse, as were also
the people OF Italy. wniie the French
were hoiding their counsel AS for Ger
many. Whine ofncial Germany is pro-
Russian, the masses of the German peo-
pie are hoping Tor victory for Japan.
A Major OF the japanese General STAFF
told me that the Japanese leaders knew
that they could easiiy take Port Arthur
by waiting game. but that they pre-
ierred TO take II by storm in order to
increase the honor OF their arms. They
nave unlimited confidence in their abill-
" 10 cope successfully with Russia, and
confess that ! feel the same coincidence
bivouacked with them.
They are wonderful soldiers, without
fear OF death. and their military orsani
cation is perfect They have adopted the
German system of warfare. and their
navy Is also organized after the German
fashion. which makes 1t slow, but ex-
ceedingly sure.
The Japanese have been making ready
for war for long time, and they are
prepared to continue the conflict for a
long time. Personally, saw teacher OF
to walk barefoot upon the snow that they
might be Injured to fighting the Russians
IN cold Siberia This striking incident
Illustrates the preparation that has been
japanese intend to continue to a finish.
In Toxic I saw the recruits drawn up in
q line. and an old General was sskirs
each sa one :, set. Sc. Of ,,Si questions. He said:
The Emperor" replied the recruit.
What is the military spirit?''
Obedience and sacrifice"
What W . 90 YOU % consider ,'I great courage
enemy"
what DO you consider little courage?"
ITO lose my temper for trifie and to
allow myself to commit any brutal act Of
Where does the red spot come from
that stains the center Of cur fag?''
from the breast Of one who held it
What are you thinking about?''
"Of his happiness"
What is left Of soldier who dies for
hia country IT, battleT'
It was evident to me that these an
swers were more in the hearts Of the
new soldiers than on their lips. They were
enthused with patriotism.
For ten years Japan has been prepar-
Ing for this war. yet not a word OF II hse
gone out to the world, because japanese
politics are not discussed outside Of the
diplomat or writer has ever been present
True. In Toxic and In Yokohama. the
English newspapers pretend to print the
doings OF the Parliament, but these ar
ticles are for the eyes Of the foreigners
The Parliament, 30 far as l could see. Is
. myth. hence the present lack of knowl-
edge abroad Of the actual conditions in
the Island Empire.
Actually, a wonderful organization, both
military. naval and diplomatic. has been
built up in these ten years. and to this
organization are due the reverses Of the
An but half dozen officers in all the
twelve army divisions now in the
Manchurian field previous to the war
were sent over these very district where
the battles have been and are yet to be
fought
They went there in disguise. as laborers
or travelling merchants or BARRIERS or por-
Ss IN roRo aRd IN o,ns5 sod
everywhere. geographical maps OF Man
churia minutely correct and designed sew
eral years ago but there are none OF Ko-
rea. This would indicate that long ago
the battlenelds OF the war were picked
and located. for the valley Of the River
OF Lyac.
For ten years the japanese Army has
been practiclrg fighting the Russians and
for almost that long they have been buy
ing up MonRolian cat furs to be ready for
the cold Of Siberia when it became neces-
there after the Cossacks. All of this time
the national education has been spent in
building up hatred for Russia and a low"
for Japan in tho hearts of the growing
generation.
In the preface to all Japanese text
hooks is a dictation by Minister Toyama
to the day when Japan was
aSs's Tnis writing Il ns says. Young men. pemem:
Der this day."
I have seen in tho Japanese schools
map Of the world. where. although the
Port Arthur Peninsula Is very small. /. ia
in bold relief because Of the red marking
upon ii.
This was to impress the pupil with the
location Of this coveted harbor and
stronghold. and to nx upon the young
Japanese mind the outraRes and humiia-
ton that the japanese have had to en-
dure % long at the hands OF Russia.
All this time. while these great and far
reaching prepara tions were going on there
was no outward sign. The smiling silence
Of the Oriental was there and Oriental
was practiced to the utmost
that tho rest Of the world might not know;