The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1905-03-06
1 JAPANESE SOLDIERS GUESSES
loririnnll

IOrtgineli
When the Russo-Japanese war broke
out Isbero Hitomi, young fellow OF
Tottori, on the western coast of the is
land OF Japan, was Obliged to leave his
mother aud young girl, okiki. whom
he loved and who loved him very dear
y. to so and fight the Russians.
my son VIII never come back la
nented his mother.
But, mother. think how proud my
ancestors win be of me in the other
world If l fall with my face to the
front"
okiki, who was young and full OF
youths optimism, was inclined to take
different view. Rather let us think, .
she said, that Ishero viii come back
an officer. Perhaps he may be cap
TAIN
NO hope Of that" replied the moth
er. He has never been fond Of fight
ing. He has always been thinker.
forever hunting cause for every eff
feet"
Ishero. bidding his mother be of good
cheer and charging okiki to comfort
her while he was gone, marched
aboard steamer with gun on his
shoulder and was transported to Man
churia. There he campaigned with his
regiment, but since lie was not drawer
than the others there seemed no chance
for his promotion. -Indeed, he took lit
tie interest in killing people. If he saw
a bird flying over his head lie would
stop firing to wonder how 1t supported
itself in the thin air. So he soon came
TO be regarded as a dreamer by his
comrades.
One day the brigade OF which he was
a part was standing on a river bank,
the general fretting and Tuning be
cause he could not get his men across
to participate in fight in progress on
the other bank. 1t so happened that
lshero stood very near the general.
Ishero had something to say to him and
finally mustered courage to say it.
Il think, general" he said, that
there is bridge or ford about mile
below"
The general looked at the little pri-
waite who dared thus address him.
How do you know" he asked.
Il don't know. only think so.'
Turning to one of his staff, the gen
eral ordered him to ride down the bank
and find out the truth of Ishero's sur
mise. The officer did so and returned.
stating that there was narrow bridge
capable Of crossing the men in single
file. The brigade was marched down
there, crossed the river, came up In
rear of the enemy and turned defeat
into victory. When IL was all over the
general sent for Ishero.
What made you guess there was a
bridge belowT he asked
II saw Il clump of houses on either
bank and guessed that the inmates
would have some means of visiting one
another"
HIM" grunted the general. Since
you are SO good at guessing. you may
remain at these headquarters"
So Ishero remained with the general
and was made an officer
Later the general was ordered to
march through a wood to relieve a
Japanese force that had been cut Off
from the main army and was about to
be oyerpowered by superior numbers.
The brigade started ut evening, guided
solely by the sound Of firing, but after
dark the sounds ceased, and the gen.
eral did not know which way to 20. 1t
was moonlight, the ground was fiat.
the woods We're dense, and no one
could see a hundred yards The gen.
eral called for lshero. Can you guess
which way we are TO go?' he asked.
Ishero looked mt the sky, then point
ed eastward.
That's not the right way" said the
general.
Il think 1t is. general
How do you know"
Il see specks circling in the air.
They must lie birds lowering over the
dead"
The general gave the order to change
directions, marched till . o'clock and
at dawn fell upon the Russians. The
two japanese forces combined drove
them off the field.
For this shrewd guess Ishero was
made a colonel, and, his general hav
Ing been promoted TO the command of
an army, the young officer occupied
a very responsible position. He was
called the guessing aid, and the gen.
eral used him solely for his faculty for
tracing effect from cause.
One more guess made Ishero a gen.
eral. His commander was following
the Russians on retreat, ana they were
burning the bridges behind them
Coming TO river over which the
bridge was down. Ishero saw a cotton
bale hoating down the stream and no.
ticed It's remarkable buoyancy.
General he said. Il can make Won
guess as to how 10 get across the
river
How"
You see that cotton bale floating
Wen, guess where that came from
there are more. Get Them, incase them
and make pontoon floats OF them"
On the bank above where the cotton
bale had come from was found ware.
house containing a large number of
bnins Tbax- xra,. ,,.,., :.