The Opelousas courier., 1904-08-13
oF>TB MIKADo
RULES OF WAR ED BY JAPAN
FOR ELEvENi CENTURIES.

RULES OF WAR go BY JAPAN
FOR E-EvE1 E"TOR'E''
hereditary Fiehte FWho Combine the
Latest MethodN Scientific Warfare
With Rules e'factics Over a Thou
sand YearsS dd-Give Your Enemy
a Chance run Away,
1t is true Chat the Japanese army
Is largely Rspired by the military
science Of Laodern Germany, yet it is
a mistake XII suppose that the japanese
generals ! more the battle tactics OF
their owl ancient heroes, writes James
CreelmaFf in the New Yo1k World.
There al recognized rules of warfare
which Five been in use in Japan for
more Han eleven centuries-ldeas
taken Originally from Chinese generals
who Wrote in the third century a1teE
Chri.A.
III astonishing tactical and strate-
acknowledgement displayed by the Jap
a4tse generals who are pitted against
Ne veteran commanders Of Russia is
Mhpposed to be wholly due to n
Influence of European schools. But a
glance at cse tactical rules observed
by J8ganese warriors in Japan ever
since the eighth century reveals prln-
ciples offensive and defensive, which,
with some notifications, are applied
successfully today. Here are some q
the ideas set forth in the accepted
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 Iong-range, small-calibre arms or
course alters that proposition.
"a force investing a fortress should
be numerically ten times the garrison.
Troops for escaIade ian attack in
volving the scaling of walls) ould
muster five for every n of their
foes.
when the adversary holds high
ground, turn his flank; do not deliver
q 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 n
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 we'll engaged in the
operation before you strike at him.
eff 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 soldisry which can
fight or starve or work without rest
and still maintain it's cheerfulness.
These men need no banners, OR gaudy
trappings, NO drum-beats o bugle calls
to stir them.
The explanation of this singular
qualitybf the japanese soldiers is that
they inherit the austere traditions OF
the samurai. Until Japan accepted
Western civilization under the com
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 we're for centuries sub
iected to a discipline which shows its
effects now. Take the rules formulat-
ed by Kato Kyomasa, n of the two
Japanese generals who conquered
Corea three hundred years ago. They
applied strictly to the samurai of every
rank:
az. The routine of service must be
strictly observed. From s a. m. mill
tary exercises shall be practised. Arch.
cry and gunnery must not be neglect
~lo,1y1 0rnorSNn -r.1