The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1904-04-30
JAPANESE IN EARNEST.
Unity of Purpose Concealed
Under Outward Politeness.
BRAVERY OF THE POORER GLASSES
startling Incidents That Depict the
sterner Qualities of the Mikado's
People-Advantages of the Japa-
nese over the Russians = Troops
Drill Gas One MAN.

On the road outside my window l
heard the nelghing of horses in the
night, recently wrote John E. Bass,
the Tokyo correspondent of the Chi
cago News Otherwise everything was
quiet. l worked a little longer and
then to rest myself went to the win
dow. What was this passing? Rcgs-
ment after regiment of Japanese foot
moving so silently that, although 1
was only few yards distant, not a
sound reached me but the neighins Ct
country horses. 1t was grewsome, this
absolute silence. Thousands of men
were passing, and not whisper could
be heard, not footbeat on the road
Every man in this body must in OBJ
dience to orders almost tiptoe along.
A whole people in such absolute har-
mony with the authority that conf
mands are obeyed with sympathetic
exactness cannot be made up of hui
man individuals. There is different
stuff here from men as we know them
In the west Individualism is volun-
tarily and entirely suppressed for the
benefit of the organism. More and
more came by, and even with my win
dow open watching them l could not
hear their tramp.
Go to the field where they drill. If
you believe that you have seen troops
drill before watch these companies
There are no prize ones. They all are
equally perfect. have read in Ameri-
can papers about troops drilling "as
one man" In many countries l have
watched many troops. Never before
have l realized the meaning of those
words-"as one man.
The angle of the rifle over the shout
der is exactly the same. All the mo
tons of every man are exactly the
same. There are no nerves here, M
careiessness. 1t is hard to convey thu
idea of 80 great precision. Conceive
small steam engines working side by
sids keeping Tina 90 that each piston
drives in and out at the same instant,
then you will get the picture of Jape-
nese troops at drill.
There are stories current In Tokyo
which, though they may not be accu-
rate, show the temper of the people, q
temper wholly different from that Of
other civilized nations, among which
japan has taken a firm position. At
the naval fight off Chemulpo they say
sailors hand was shot away at tie
wrist He picked up the bleeding fraR-
ment Of his own body and made bis
way to the ships hospital There he
held out the mutilated arm and gave
the several hand to the doctor.
please sew 1t on he said, that
may continue to fight for my country"
The bystanders bad not recovered
from their wonder when the sailor fell
at the doctors feet and died.
This man was not an officer. He was
a sailor before the mast, one of the
common people. Travellers who visit
Japan see the dainty little houses, the
exquisite decorations, the flowers and
gardens. the punctilious courtesy of
the Japanese people. They never
dream of what sterner stuff the Japa-
nese are made. The Japanese have
been considered an art loving, perhaps
rather an effeminate, race. They are
really race Of heroes.
worklngman with a wife and a
number of children was called to serve
his country. He distributed as many
Of his children among his friends as
he could. One remained over. He was
too proud to ask public support. In
deed families are large here, and
should the state support the needy
families Of the soldiers there would be
nothing left with which to make war.
The man killed his own child rather
than leave 1t to die of hunger. He was
not arrested or tried. MARK him
down." they said, "as martyr to his
country's good"
The Russian has met his match, for
In quality the Japanese equals If he
does not excel him, and in unity of ac-
ton, perfection of organization and
advantage of position he is far in the
lead. Take the general STAFF. There
are no traditions of long standing
suitable only to old conditions of war
to hamper them. The army is new,
and the mind Of every staff officer is
free to receive new suggestions re-
quired by the ever changing conditions
OF modern warfare. The Japanese
stan stands isolated In the military
world. IL is an unbiased onlooker. II
picks the good things from other mill
tnry organizations and unites these
In harmonious whole to suit the Jap
hnese people.
Japan Is In the best position she can
occupy TO win a great victory, for she
u unhampered by the intolerance that
comes from successful military his
tory The Japanese officers talk sane
" OF other armies, They point out
the good features and carefully con
slider the weaknesses Of foreign or.
EanizalioDs.
Everything u done BY rula Ia Japan.
Tue Japanese IA not business man.