The Kemper herald. (Scooba, Miss.) 1875-1908, 1904-05-12

code OF the fighting samurai, copied
from the Chinese in the eighth CEN
fury.
IAN army undertaking an offensive
campaign must be twice as numerous
as the enemy"
The invention of smokeless powder
and long-range, small-calibre arms of
course alters that proposition.
"A force investing a fortress should
be numerically ten times the garrison.
Troops for escalade ian attack in
volving the scaling of walls) should
muster five for every one of their
foes.
When the adversary holds high
ground, turn his flank; do not deliver
a frontal attack.
When he has a mountain or river
behind him cut his lines OF commune
cation.
IF he deliberately assumes a posi-
ton from which victory is his only es-
cape, hold him there but do not mo-
lest him.
IF you can surround him, leave one
route open for his escape
This rule was applied by the Japan
csc ten years ago when they allowed
the Chinese garrisons to escape at
Pingyang. Talienwan and Port Arthur,
instead of forcing them to make a
last desperate stand.
BE warned of an ambush when you
see birds soaring in alarm, and if
animals break cover in your direction
look out for an onset.
when you have to cross a river
post your advance guard and rear
guard at a distance from the banks,
and never approach with the bulk of
your troops.
When the enemy has to cross a
river, let him get well engaged in the
operation before you strike at him.
"If a marsh has to be traversed
make celebrity your first object.
Pass no copse, enter no ravine nor
approach any thicket until your scouts
have explored it fully"
The war correspondents who are
writing about the conflict in Asia from
the viewpoint Of the hotels in Toxic
have much to say about the bearing
and spirit Of. the Mikado's soldiers.
But when the correspondents are per-
mitted to see the japanese forces in
the field they will discover an army
that marches practically without flags,
music or ornamental pomp-a silent,
patient, patriotic soldiery which can
fight or starve r work without rest
and still maintain its cheerfulness.
These men need no banners, or gaudy
trappings, no drum-beats or bugle calls
to stir them.
The explanation of this singular
quality of the Japanese soldiers is that
they inherit the austere traditions of
the samurai. Until Japan accepted
Western civilization under the COM
4, pulsion of the American Commodore
Perry's guns her men were divided in
to two classes-the fighters, or samurai
and the bread-winners. The samurai
had a staggering contempt for the
workingman which is not wholly alb
sent in the Japanese army today. In
deed, every japanese military force
carries with it in the field a large body
of coolies or laborers, who relieve the
soldiers from manual toll performed
by the troops of other nations. The
ordinary proportion today is about one
coolie to every two soldiers.
The ancestors of the men who are
fighting Russia were for centuries SUBJ
| jected to a discipline which shows it's
effects now. Take the rules formulat-
ed by Kato Kyomasa, one of the two
Japanese generals who conquered
Corea three hundred years ago They
applied strictly to the samurai of every
rank:
81. The routine of service must be
strictly observed. From 6 a. n. mill
tary exercises shall be practised. Arch
cry and gunnery must not be neglect
ed. If any man shows greater pro-
ficiency than his comrades he shall re-
ceive extra pay.
SO. Those that desire recreation
may engage in hawking, d%eer-hunting
or wrestling.
"3. With regard to dress, garments
of cotton or pongee shall be worn. Any
one mourning debts owing to extrava-
gance of costume or living shall be
considered a law breaker.
a. The staple of diet shall be I'M
hulled rice. At social entertainments
one guest for n host is the proper
limit. Only when men are assembled
for military Exercises should many
dine together.
SO. 1t is the duty of every samurai
to make himself acquainted with the
princinples Of his craft, Extrayagant