Los Angeles herald., 1906-02-18

\ - HE report Of the samurai CENT caused
'UI an instant stir Of preparation through.
out the camp Of Mori. The command
INNEWl ers of the batteries inspected their
pieces carefully, giving orders for hur-
i1ed repairs where necessary; horses we're exam
lned foot by foot and within the tent Of the
lrregulars' leader last council of the staff ar
ranged the details Of an early morning march.
linen the rank and file were sent to sleep upon
their arms.
You are certain Jiro is in no danger?" Mort
asked, Just before the samurai's return to the
palace
None whatever" answered Genji, "even il I
am not with him. your highness. He has friends
at court and may yet serve us further"
Relieved in mind concerning the safety Of the
youth, in whom Mort placed deep confidence and
for whom he had great affection, the leader Of
the Irregulars returned to his tent There he
found his staff, the leading kuge of Choshu still
gathered, though the mornings attack had been
thoroughly ordered.
Seating himself, Mori began the composition
OF memorial to The Imperial throne. CHANGING
up, he saw his officers silently watching him.
What is it?" he inquired.
Oglri stepped forward. There was a strange
gravity and even sadness in his face as he bowed
deeply before his superior
"Your highness," he said, "our cause is just,
and history should accord us our proper place
when the anti-Shogun government is estab,
shed."
Eyes"
"But it is of the present we think"
Speak on"
"The present esteem of our friends in the
Kioto court-we must advise them of our purity
of motive"
Mori held up quietly the scroll upon which he
had been engaged. He replied:
81 have thought of that. At this moment
am inditing a memorial to the throne, begging
his Imperial Majestys pardon for creating dis
turbance so to the base of the chariot
(throne), but declaring that we do it that he
may rule without Shotgun, the sole and 1mpe-
rial master of his empire"
| The officers looked at each other with solemn
expressions of approval.
"My lord" said Oguri, eve would wish also
to write letters to our personal friends at the
Imperial court. May we have your august per-
mission to do so?"
"Do so at once, my brave men," returned
Mort, "but do not forget that we cannot send
them this night, since that would warn them of
our contemplated attack. Leave your letters
with me. Write them here, if you wish and I
| will be responsible for their delivery"
Then the company, careful of their honor with
their friends and foes alike at court, set to their
task. With tears in their eyes, the patriots
country and their cause. Soon little pile of
epistles lay under Morris hand. Their valor was
in no way diminished by this satisfaction Of
their honor.
During the night Mori obtained some rest,
which was broken at intervals when bands of
ronins, who had devoted themselves since the
Yedo troubles to the determination of anti-1m-
perialists, came to his encampment, offering
their services in any movement against the Aid
zu.Catzu combination. So small was Morris
force that he would have been glad of their aid,
but for his unwillingness to stand sponsor for
their unlicensed acts.
At the hour when the Lord of Catzu was I'M
sealing letter from his son, Toro, justifying all
his actions in the past and at the same time be-
seeching his fathers forgiveness, the little force
of Irregulars encrcled the Imperial palace
The Lord of Catzu had read enough of the let
ter to understand its import, when the move
ments of the army without, accentuated by the
sharp cries of the guarding samurai, came to his
ears
There has been some strange treason here"
cried Catzu wildly he summoned his follow
ers to arms.
Morris plan of battle was simple. The force
had been divided into three divisions, command
ed by himself, Oguri, and Toro respectively. 1t
was not without misgvings that the Prince had
intrsted the command of division to the rash
Toro but the reflection that his very temerity
might be a valuable element in the days events
had decided him.
Each of these divisions was to proceed to a
different gate, through which a simultaneous at
tack upon the inner palace was to be made.
Those within were to be driven out by the in
fantry into the streets, where cavalry and artil-
lery would cut and pound them to pieces.
The artillery was upon no account to be di-
rected against the palace ITSELF since the life of
the Son of Heaven and the safety of the charg-
ing forces within might thereby be imperied A
portion of the artillery given to each di-
vision; the cavalry, acting as one body, was to
act as the circumstances might require.
To himself and band of chosen ssmurai
Mort reserved the capture and guarding of the
Emperor's sacred person
At the western gate Mort halted the van of
his division, while the cavalry, closely compact,
rested on his right in readiness for their orders
At his left was his artillery force, so arranged
that their fire should cut obliquely the line of
entrance.
The Irregulars who faced the samurai guard
inc his port Of entrance presented far from
uniform aspect. They, the infantry of his force
were all in armor, but their weapons differed.
Some carried rifles, others were armed with
spears. swords, and bows and arrows. They
were gathered into corps according to the nature
Of their arms but all were infantry.
At a signal from Mor rifle volley cut down
the samurai at the gate Those who were struck
dashed through the portals, whence issued audi
BILE proofs of the alarm felt within.
Instantly the ranks of the infantry parted to
hermit the passage of body of laborers and sap
pers. who, attacking the gate with their tools
gave promise Of a speedy breach.
At the moment when one OF the doors gave
way. when the infantry, straining every nerve,
waited couched for the charge, when Mort in