The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-03-18
BOYS ARE
TRAINED FOR ARMY
Young Men Who Are Selected
for Military Duty Con-
sldered Fortunate.
FAVOR BESTOWED BY LOT
IN Patriotism, Esprit Gu Corps and De-
vot'on to Their Sovereign the
Japanese Are Not ExceIIed
by Any People.

M1yamatzu Kanesburo. secretary Of
hrm believer in the right of Japan's
cause in the Russo-Japanese war.
In discussing the war and the at
tendant conditions, Mr.. Kanesburo re-
GRAINED from saying that he was con-
hdent that Japan would triumph in the
present conflict. but said that il it was
The Will of Providence that she should
De victorious he believed it would mean
much for the civilization of the far
EAST.
Much of the success Of japan up to
this time has been due to the fact that
she was ready for war;" said Mr..
kanesburo. Since the late set for the
Of Manchuria by Russia. my
II has been preparing for what
seemed an inevitable conflict.
Military employment in Japan is re-
garded differently to the same employ
ment in II country with which l am
familiar. In any village in Japan the
young man considered most fortunate
IS he who has been chosen TO serve In
the army of his native land.
This favor is bestowed by lot. The
eligible men are all given a chance,
and chance decides who shall go to the
barracks. The day that he departs
from his native village is a festival,
and the journey to the barracks is
made a joyful procession. He is at
Tended by his friends, who march with
banners flying. Often a journey of q
hundred miles is thus taken by large
parties, Who make the trip a pleasure
>xcursion.
Boys Are Trained.
The boys of Japan are trained to be
soldiers from their youth up IN every
common school of the country the pu-
pills are so drilled that when they are
ready to leave school they are ready to
enter the army, or to enter one o. the
five military schools of the country.
These schools, which are to Japan
exactly what West POM is to America,
can each accommodate about 500 pu-
pills, and when one has finished the
school he is ready to take charge of a
body OF troops or onduc a campaign.
In patriotism, esprit du corps and
devotion to their sovereign, the Japa-
nese are not eXcelled by any people.
Each man is trained to be ready to
sacrifice at my time his life for his
country, and he is considered fortunate
who has an opportunity to do so.
This is shown by the ommon prac-
tice of officers, at the beginning of a
war, of selling all their property, pro-
viding for their antilles and making al
~ taiSCiii'.iiiS So tilouSii tiiGS "eiS So-
ing to a sure death. All these things
were done by General Yamagi, who IS
known as the Hero Of M%anchuria,' be,
fore the Chinese-Japanese war. He
fell in battle IN that war.
Our infantry is armed with the
Murata rifle, a very powerful and eff,
tective weapon, with a magazine car.
rying ten charges. 1t is the same CUR
which was used in the Chinese-Japa.
nese war, except then it was not a re.
peating rifle. While the japanese
cavalry is poor. and car in no way cope
: with the Cossacks, this is considered
a very small handicap by our military
men. The country IN which the wa
will be decided is very mountainous
and all the advantage will be with the
infantry.
1T is fortunate that in our army tn.
highest officer can spring from thu
lowest family. Some of the creates
military names and greatest heroes o
our history have been Of commo1
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