Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-05-05
Japan's Great
War Hero

All Japan rings today with the fame
Of Takio Hirose, the first great naval
hero Of the Japanese-Russian war.
The mikado has conferred posthumous
honors on him and his name; a life
pension has beer granted to his fam
lily. The poets Of Japan are singing
his praises in stirring ballads; his own
poems, breathing purest patriotism,
are being recited everywhere.
For 1t was Takio Hirose who was
killed in Admiral Togo's second at
tempt to block UP Port Arthur on
March "a: who was leader Of the for
lorn hope, who set out to sink them
selves and their ships in the harbor's
mouth; who was literally blown to
pieces by a projectile from a Russian
quick firing gun while seeking to save
the life of his friend AMI companion
and subordinate, Petty-Ofieer Sugino.
Led the First Attempt.
It was Hirose who led The first at
tempt at Port Arthur on the night OF
March %, and for his remarkable gal
lantry then the mikado promoted and
doubly decorated him, honors which
reached him only a day before his la
mented death.
Hirose in his poetic temperament as
well as in his dauntless spirit, truly
represented the old warrior class of
Japan, the Sumarai. He was a scion
Of the family of Kiku-Chi, one Of the
ancient fighting clan of Japan. Born
at Oitaken. near Takeda. in the first
year Of the Meiji era (1S6S). he grew
up in the country and received his
early training in a country school.
Entering the naval academy at the
age Of nineteen, he distinguished him
self in nowise except by his passionate
fondness for workmanship, as taught
with the cutlass by an English fencing
master, and by his proWess as a wres-
tier.
Hirose first proved his bravery In
the war with China. Then he first met
Sugino, a common sailor, who Owed
overheard after a live torpedo, which
had been thrown into the water, that
he might ~disconnect the fuse and so
render it harmless to the other Jap
anese torpedo boats. After the war
with China Lieut.. Hirose, who spoke
Russian and French well, was sent
as naval attache to the Japanese le-
cation at st. Petersburg. He came
into prominence there through a wag-
er.
Defied Three Russians.
At a banquet a Russian officer de-
clared that Japanese so small of stat
ure, could not, as individuals, hold
their own in any war. Hirose smil-
ingly defied any three Russians to
overcome him at wrestling. Roars
of laughter greeted the challange, for
Hirose's prowess was little suspected
in the Japanese art Of self defense, jul
jitsu. AT last, for the fun Of it, the
Russian officers sent for three large
and sturdy soldiers. One after an
other the little Japanese threw the
giants.
Rirose remained In st, Petersburg
three years, The daughter of a Rus
sian naval officer. who Is now a real
admiral, fell in love with the gallant
young Japanese. Her father, who
greatly admired Hirose, let ii be IN
veyed to him that he would not be
unwelcome as the young girls sutton.
Hirose struggled with his affection for
three dayE Then he wrote to his
s~weethesst's father, pointed to the
inevitable war between Russia and
Japan, and said:
Might Soon be Enemies.
when my country calls me 10 duty
! shall have to turn to account all the
valuable professional hints received
from your kind lips and so help to do
mortal hurt 70 your country's ships.
Thus i'll must patriotic duty make me
repay all your kindness. With this in
my mind and in my heart, how can
presume to u for your daughters
hand, knowing that after the outbreak
Of the most likely of wars the stern
hand Of fate might destroy the happi.
ness OF your daughter in the most
ruthless Of ways, should | have been
50 happy to have won her hand
Thereafter Hirose became distinctly