Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-04

Written for The Evening Star by A. Naneko.
First. let me tell you of the last cry of
Captain Tachibana, whose heroic deed is
known to every true son of Nippon.
Captain Tachibana, until he ended with
great honor and valor was with General
Oku's army. When the Shushan fort was
first attacked, on September 30 last. he led
the stormng party on the northeastern
side The whole morning the captain and
his men fought in vain. Reinforcements
We're given him; the battle was waged even
more 1iercely than before, but still in vain,
for the heights were steep and the Russian
bullets fell as thick as hail driven on the
gale.
Thus the struggle continued until
o'clock of the afternoon, when the captain,
forming his men in line, gave the command
to charge, and with a war song on his lips
led them far up the slope, regardless of the
rain of steel, with every one of them shout
ing the song the lieutenant had begun.
Filled with the inspiration that comes of
respectfully meditating on the virtues of
our august emperor, there was no stopping
the storming party, and before the enemy
could realize what was happening Captain
Tachlban2, who was far in advance of his
men, had jumped in the fort and struck
down dead six of the enemy with his sword.
His heroic example was followed by his
men, tnefe was not nanu-tO-Hanu TSntlnS
everywhere, and finally toward evening
those of the enemy who remained alive
were driven from the fort and our vic
torious soldiers sang the Kimigayo, the
national anthem and prepared to hold the
fort.
At o'clock the next morning the enemy
in strong force attacked the fort from three
sides. subjected Captain TaChibana and his
men to a severe cross fire, cut off their re-
treat and soon had killed one-third of their
number. The heroic captain was shot in
the left arm. He nonchalanuy bound the
wound and stood on top of the fort and
gave his commands. One of his lieutenants
objected to the seeming carelessness and
added: I'VE must retreat or we are lost"
To the Death.
To this the captain replied:
This is the birthday of the imperial
prince, and on this precious day I have al
ready lost one-third of my soldiers. What
matters it if the enemy outnumber us ten
to one? If the fort is retaken by them, it
means lasting shame to our army. 1t is
hard work, but we must hold the fort or
you must die with me here for the empe-
ror's sake.
Just then two bullets struck the captain
and he fell to the ground. For moment
he lay still; then, pulling himself to his
feet, he shouted:
Il am dying for the emperor's and the
army's sake Don't give up the fort. Fight
until every man is deadt'
Again a bullet pierced him. this time In
the abdomen, and the lieutenant with him
killed outright at the same time by
another bullet. BY this time the enemy
were swarming into the fort, the handful
of our soldiers still able to fight were max
Ing an heroice defense, but were gradually
being beaten back. Captain Tachibana
from where he lay beheld all this. He tried
to rise to his feet and once more use the
sword he still faithfully grasped in his
hand But his wounds were too many, his
intestines We're already seeking the air and
he died, crying with a flood of tears be-
cause the fort was being retaken and he
could do no more for the glory of our vir
tuous emperor. So his last heroic act on
earth is now known all over Nippon as
The Last Cry Of Captain Tachibana.'
The Self-Sacrifice of a Scout.
Now let me tell you about the brave Sub
Lieut.. Tanaka, a scout, who went into
the enemy's camp was discovered and
wounded in the abdomen, but after many
perilous minutes managed to escape from
the enemy, and by painfully crawling over
a thousand meters, on the way often faint
ing from loss of blood, at last. by reason
of his undying faith In the virtue OF the
emperor, managed to reach a Chinese viii
lage, where he was concealed in friendly
Chinaman's hut and given a Chinese dis
guise.
Here he remained for the day. That even
ing a party of scouting Russians entered
the village, committed many regrettabe
excuses, killing and robbing and outra ging
and finally entered the house in which Sub
Lieut.. Tanaka lay hidden and demanded
food and drink. The feast was spread for
them. and soon the enemy were deep in
their cups, ever and ever calling for more
liquor and leaving the food untouched.
Soon they were all drunk.
In the meantime Sub-Lieut Tanaka had
been thinking of his emperor. Dressed in
his Chinese clothes he crawled unnoticed
into the room, for the Russians had their
faces always in the mugs. Waiting his
opportunity he seized a bundle that the
commander of the party had tossed on a
bench beside him and heroically crawled
out of the room and back TO his hiding
place One drunken Russian CHANGED to
notice him and even helped him along with