The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-06-19
Fatalism of the Contending Races, Reach
ing the Same Result From Different
Premises, Makes Struggle
Desperate.
Desperate.

T VERY great war-and every little
r. one. for the matter of that-has
IL its heroes and its heroic Incl
dents. From distance men and events
are viewed through the haze Of romance;
one sees these sturdy warriors. i'm
patient Of restraint. and careless OF life,
facing bloody deaths that single pawn
may be moved in the great game that
is called war.
In truth there is little of the I'M
important in the game II is a trite say
ing that Waterloo was one Of the foot
bah fields of the English public schools.
and II does not require a knowledge Of
an expert TO determine that preparation
far in advance is needed to give effect
TO the largest military genius or the
most constant individual gallantry. A
nation must be ready for war n it
would win; for those that enter the con-
Hict unprepared there may be glory
enough. but no permanent success. That
comes to the brave heart Of the ma
ton that in class room and study. in
gymnasium and on the field Of mimic
strife. has perfected itself in the cruel
est art known 10 man.
II one would look for illustrations OF
the truth Of these sayings the embit-
tered conflict between the Jap and the
Russ viii furnish examples by the score.
Bravery enough there has already been
on both sides. for though victory for
the most part. has come 10 the agile
warriors OF Dai Nippon. it has been very
often at terrible cost. The stolid Rus
sian soldiery have borne themselves like
heroes and fought as gallant fights as
the annals OF the world can duplicate.
That they have lost has usually been
due to the fact that they neglected the
obvious precautions essential to give ef-
fectiveness 20 their valor
OF the readiness 10 die there are as
many Illustrations. Fatalism is an in
herent attribute OF the Oriental nations
and the bearded Russian is more Of the
Orient than Of the Occident. They rea-
son Il out-the Russ and the Jap-by
methods just a trihe different. but they
both reach the same conclusion. The
Russians idea is that he Will die when
IL is Gods viii. and not before nor later
and so dies with entire calmness wher
comes the appointed time; his wiry an
tagonist concludes that his life belongs
TO the Great Mikado. and to Japan and
that he will be required 20 pay hts debt
when II is needed by the creditors So
that they die-the men Of both nations
whenever they are called upon to d.
sO-whenever It advances by a single
stride the last onward sweep Of tn,
nation 10 which they belong.
There was Hirose. the gallant younl
japanese naval officer. who comma ndet
one OF the steamships that were sen
in by Admiral Togo TO block the en-
trance 70 Port Arthur. and so proven
the escape Of the Russian feet. In tina
attempt and while endeavoring 10 res
cue one Of the men under his comman,
Hirose lost his life.
The vessel he commanded was tn
Fukui Maru, which,. for two miles be
fore It had reached the harbor's moutl
was under the rays OF the Russian
searchlights, and subjected 10 a scath
ing FIRE from the Russian ships an,
forts. The Fukui Maru had reache,
the mouth Of the harbor, its mission
practically ended. when a torpedo from
one OF tie Russian torpedo boats struc
her full amidships. The vessel. rent al
most asunder, began 20 iii and sink.
Refused offered Safety.
gunner. sugino. had been sent be
low 10 fire the magazine that was I
effect the sinking OF the ship. but thi
had already been done by the TORPEDO
Hirose and the other men OF his com
nand clambered into their boat. an
started ashore and II was not until tho
had done that they noted the absence q
Sugino.
Hirose climbed back aboard the sink
ing ship and went below 70 find. if h
could, his missing companion. He fail
ed in the effort on his first search. an
for the second and third time returne
TO the hold. He was driven on deck b
the rush Of the iniowing water and jus
as he reached the shore the boat wa
struck by a shell and blown into pieces
But a bare fragment OF his body wa
saved. but this was borne 20 Tokyo o
a transport specially assigned TO tn
duty, and received and buried with in
posing honors. AS the transport pass