The Minneapolis journal., 1906-07-08
OFFICER SUFFERS
MUCH FOR JAPAN
Strange Martrydom Is Demanded
of a Young Lieu
y tenant.

y tenant.
Special Gable to The journal.
Toxic, July There has been pub
lished in Japan novel which has at
tanned great popularity, telling the
story Of a martyr to patriotism. It SO
abounds in pathetic and dramatic Incl
dents that it is shortly to be presented
on the stage. It purports to be merely
a work Of fiction. For reasons Of state
it could not be presented in any other
form. But from a Japanese friend
much to do with the fling away of Sc
cret reports-I have learned that the
story merely recounts what one man
actually did for his country with the
hope of no other reward than the
knowledge that he had done his best
to serve her. The names and places
weeh ban ARE aSgs?d sgd ID II the
been revealed to me under a pledge not
to disclose them, as that would prob
ably lead to the discovery Of my source
of information. ..~
Some years ago a young cavalry Of
fcer was attached to the general staff
at Toxic. He was exceptionally tai
ented and devoted to his profession.
Tho only a lieutenant, he had been
picked out by his comrades as the man
among them who was likely to go fur
thest. He stunned delights and lived
laborious days. He was temperate, alb
stemlous and a stranger to every haunt
| Of vice and dissipation. One day the
| chief Of staff sent for him..
I A Soldiers First Duty. s
"What do you regard as the first
duty of soldierF' the general asked
| him. .- - $50;
"To obey orders Implicitly" was the
"Right,'' said the general, "and
will you pledge your honor to obey
implicitly and unquestioningly what
perior offcers9''
II will; I have always done so.'
II know 1t; I have watched your
career. It is because I have the ut
most confidence in your loyalty to the
emperor that have sent for you now.'
The young lieutenant swelled with
pride. He expected that he was about
to be entrusted with some dangerous
mission in which he could play hero =
part and win fame and glory:a1<:.' = s1*
- A Strange order s~..,=.r,
"You have never been a dissipated
man, continued the general after, a
pause. II want you to change your
present mode Of life. I want you to
become dissipated'
HBut,' stammered the young soldier
the flush of pride gone from his face
that would be contrary to your or
ders. You have always exhorted us tc
work hard, live temporarily and
''The last order always takes pre-
: cedence in it's claims to obedience Of al
the orders that have preceded it.
want you to become a dissipated man.,
"But why7 For what purpose9'
ago to yield implicit and unquestionine
obedience to the commands of your su
perior officers" said the general. "I
should be enough for you to know tha
my orders are always prompted by tht
interests Of. the state. - -,
| The lieutenant stiffened; he wa
| again the soldier Your order Shall
be obeyed,'' he said, Gas far as m,
means permit. But I am a poor man
: I haye little money to squander:,', =,
t 81 will supply you with all tn
j.. abandon your books for geishas.'
!, Then He Fell in Love. !,
: :: The young man went forth st. An
: thony pledged to yield to temptation
;, 1t proved easier than. he had antic
b pated. After a few months of goin
to the devil he fell head over hee]
in love with geisha. That sort, Z
:, thing did not make for efficiency 6
an officer, Black marks began to al
| cumulate against a record that had pr
severe reprimands he was .dismisse
from the service with ignominy. H
father forbade him the house; : b
former military acquaintances3cu hin
he was an outcast with only the dow:
ward path that leads to- destructic
open to him. Again he sought tt
great general whose orders had brougl
him to such pitiable plight and in
his ears poured his tale of woe.
nYon have done well, ;" said the ge
eral; 'you have reached that conc
tion which makes you available for Il
work with which I am about to entru
you. It is a mission Of high importan
| to the state. Tonight you must procet
| to Nagasaki, telling nobody where VI
are going, not even your own fathe
| You will take with you box that
shall give you. When you get
| Nagasaki-not before-you will. Oh,
| it: Then you will learn your instru
IL | Jul, ACW dAu WILL GuS -kuOWleOi
II that you have done something wor
1 doing for your country. Do not gi
4 me cause to regret my confidence sa1
h trust In you.'' -, .a* -1,
i Serves a Native Chief.
II At Nagasaki the young man open
II the box and read his orders, to viii
II no incriminating signature had been ;
II tached. The reason was obvious. n
II body but himself could be held respc
Il sible for what he did. His governme
II WAS to be left free to disavow any &C
II nection with him. Acting in acco1
Il ance with instructions, he proceeded
II ---, a country where frst-cls
power was engaged in a fierce conf
with the natives. @-.
Carrying out his orders he. Joined t
,, staff Of the leading native chief. F
~ military knowledge, his courage and
te sourcefulness rendered his services
p, valuable. It was Inevitable that t
% |g presence Of such a man in the ranks
-, the enemy should become known to t
IN n power whose efforts to bring the ca
IT. paign to a speedy conclusion he 50 f
~ quently baffed. The result was tt
Le = the .-- government opened dip
ne matte negotiations with Japan, all,
\ <l@4 t. IL