The daily Alaskan., 1905-05-20
| JAPANESE SOLDIERS GUESStS
Inrlrnall

When the Russo-Japanese war broke put Ishcro Hitomi, young fellow of rottorL on the western coast Of the is- snd of Japan. was obliged to leave his mother and a young girl. okiki, whom he loved and who loved him very dear U. Co go and fight the Russians.
 My son win never come back" la ncnted his mother.
 But. mother, think how proud my ancestors will be of me In the other world lf fall with my face to the front"
 okIki. who was young and full Of vouth's optimism. was inclined Co take different view. Rather let us think, '" she said. that Ishero win come back m officer. Perhaps he may be cap tain"
 ''No hope Of that" replied the moth CT. He has never been fond of fight Ing. He has always been a thinker, forever hunting a cause for every of. feet"
 Ishero. bidding his mother be of good cheer and charging okih to comfort her while he was gone, marched aboard steamer with a gun on his shoulder and was transported Co Man churla. There he campaigncd with his regiment but since he was not braver than tl,e others there seemed no chance Cor his promotion. Indeed, he took lit- tle intcrost in killing people. If he saw bird flying over his head he would stop firing to wonder how it supported itself tn the thin air So he soon came to be regarded as a dreamer by his comrades.
 One day the brigade of which he was part was standing on river bank, the general fretting and fumlng be cause he could not get his men acrcss Co participate In a fight in progress on the other bank. It so happened that Ishero stood very near the general. Ishero had something to say Co him and finally mustercd courage to say it
 'I think. general" he said, 'that there Is a bridge or ford about milo below"
 The general looked at the little prl vate who dared thus address him.
 How do you knowy' he asked,
 "l don't know. only think SO"
 Turning to one of hls stan. the gen eral ordered him to ride down the bank and find out the truth of lshcro's sur. mise. The officer did so and returned, stating that there was a narrow bridge capable of crossing the men ln single hlc. The brigade was marched down thcrc. crossed the river came up iu rear Of the enemy and turned defeat Into victory When it was an over tho general sent for lshero.
 What made you guess there was a bridge bclowy' he asked.
 'I saw a Clump Of houses on either bank and guessed that the Inmates would have some means of visiting ono another"
 "Hmv grunted the general Sine, you are so good at guessing, you may remain at these headquarters"
 So 1shero remained with the general and was made an officer
 Later the general was ordered tc march through a wood Co relieve a Japanese force that had been cut od from the main army and was about tC be overpowerel by superior numbers The brigade started at evening, guided solely by the sound of firing. but aftei dark the sounds ceased, and the gen cral did not know which way Co go. Il was moonlight the ground was Hat the woods were dense, and no on, could see a hundred yards The gen eral called for Ishero. 'Can you guess which way we are to goy" he asked.
 Ishero looked at the sky, then point ed eastward.
 That's not the right way" said th' general
 T think 1t Is, general"
 How do you knowT'
 q see specks clrcling In the air They must be birds lowering over th, | dead"
 The general gave the order to chang directions. marched tn o'clock ana at dawn fell upon the Russians m two Japanese forces combined drovt them ofT the field.
 For this shrewd guess lshero wal made a colonel and, his general hay ing been promoted to the command o an army, the young officer occupies a very responsible position. He wa called the guessing aid, and tle gen eral used him solely for his faculty fO tracing effect from cause. II One more guess made Ishero gen eral. Ills commander was followinl the Russians on retreat, and they wer burning the bridges behind them Coming to river over which tn bridge was down, Ishero saw a cottol bale floating down the stream and no ticed its remarkable buoyancy.
 "General," he said, q can make yo' a guess as to how to get across tn river.H
 "Howy'
 "You see that cotton bale floating Well. I guess where that came iron there are more. Get them, incsse then and make pontoon floats Of them
 On the bank above where the cOtto