Los Angeles herald., 1906-02-11


rection Of Toro the Prince Of Mori
rode Near him we're Jiro and his ever-constant
guardian, the samurai Genji, also mounted An
empty norimon, which served as a travelling
council-house, was borne by runners in advance
OF this the rear guard
Inc march of the expedition was slow, since
IL was regulated by the pace of the laborers who
preceded the main body, as they were to throw
up the Intrenchments without which the cannon
Oh the Mort foundres were useless
Inc division Of laborers marched Immediately
behind the advance guard. Feeling little appre-
hension of attack from the objective direction
OF their march, Mori had thrown his strength to
the rear. Here, in addition to the cavalry
forces, were the cannon brought from his prov.
lnces and those furnished by the Prince Of
Echizen
Over all moon, screened by filmy cloud,
spread it's diffused light, which rendered Mort
impatient to begin the work of intrenchment
since much might be accomplished before the
foreign ships could learn Of the Imperialist plans
When Mort and Jiro leaving the discounted
Aidzu and the vacillatng Emperor together,
had rushed from the palace Enclosure to mount
the horses provided by Echizen just outside,
there had been no time for explanations Mort
was not even surprised to find Jiro Joined by
GenJ before they had galloped mile. He had
| become accustomed to the association Of these
| two in n convenient comradeship
| The first work Of that night had been the
posting of mounted guards in advance and in
the rear of the laborers, assembled by Echizen
This done, the three had galloped to the division
OF the cannon, which was hurriedly organized
into some semblance of individual batteries and
dispatched after the proletariat division
| Then in Wild quick dash across the country
the Prince Mori had marshalled his infantry,
swordsmen, and rihemen from the scattered col.
umns into one compact corps. Time was now
pressing but the Shining Prince had yet to con.
verge his parallel lines of cavalry.
Fearing that the unstable Emperor, in some
new doubt of expediency, might yet dispatch
other troops to recall him, Mort placed his
strongest cavalry body under the command of
Genji in the rear
While waiting for one Of these divisions to
file past him, Mort, turning suddenly to Jiro
: asked:
How came you into the Emperor's palace
Jro?"
at was simply done,' replied the lad. al re-
turned with the couriers sent by you to your
forces from, the fortress of Mort"
"You came in good time" Mort said in quiet
commendation.
The distribution of the various forces com
pleted Mort, ordering CENT to exercise gen.
eral oversight until his return, had turned to
gallop back to the palace. He had gone but
short distance, however. when he found that
| the lad Jiro was close behind him.
Return to Genji's cavalry division" he or
dered, briefly.
"But, your highness, l am your personal arm
or-bearer; / must accompany you"
| The hard-riding form of Genj at this moment
had dashed forward Mort astounded at
this singular disobedience.
''What you'll" he had cried. 'You leave an
army to care for itself"
"But the lad--Jiro," said Genji.
as he, then, so precious that you endanger
the safety of whole cause? Return at once,
both of you, to your stations"
| Without word more, Mort rode to the pal
ace to confer with Echizen. He found the pre-
mier greatly troubled.
"Mori," he said, 81 cannot prevail upon the
Emperor to make me his premier well
as that of the Shotgun. Already he is weaken
| ing. You must expect little aid from now.
since will be under the Shotgun. may aid
you unexpectedly, but rely upon nothing more
| than nv willingness Undoubtedly, efforts will
be made to interfere with you, but disregard
them Obey the order you have received, and
allow no Shotgun to countermand it. The for
egners once aroused the rest VIII come In
time"
| So it was with an anxious heart that Mort
rode in the rear of his forces on the last stage
of the journey. Up to this time nothing unto
ward had occurred. He had met and joined to
his army the forces under Toro, ordered earlier
to proceed from the Mort fortress to Yedo All
was we'll with them.
The melancholy of the Prince was broken by
the entrance through a sudden opening made IN
the group of his horsemen of some strange sa-
mural Straightway these samura having de-
livered to him some rolls of parchment, were
dismissed to the advance.
| The general staff of Mort, which included
Cent? Toro and the boy Jiro, were summoned
about the Prince for council.
MoIi who had dismounted from his horse,
spread out upon the ground and examined by
| the light of lantern the plans OF the heights
! overlooking Shimonoseki Quickly he marked
upon their surface black spots.
'Here you will dig your trenches" he ordered
Toro "It is time for the work"
The heights overlooking the water below were
entered first by the advance guard, now under
Mort in person. A Gordon was placed about
them. with every approach from the land guard
ed Into the large circle thus formed Toro led
the laborers under their direction. At once the
trained pioneers began the erection OF earthworks
upon a system impaired by Mort to Toro, and
| from the latter direct to the chief pioneers The
entire space of the immense circle was soon filled
by the burrowing grubbng laborers.
| While these were sinking holes on the land
ward side, it became apparent that no raised
Notifications to be made target for ships.
The hills themselves were cut into, but always
upon the landward side, leaving their natural
| elevation towards the sea. Thus the guns
would lie in pit below the surface of the high
lands The walls were all within.
| Morris next task was the formation OF the in
fentry into another circle TO the andward of
chat occupied by the pioneers. Into the centre
of II the cannon were drawn. where they were
| 10 remain until the trenches ready for
| their occupancy. The remaining force OF cavalry
Was massed az convenient station, whence they
could be sent quickly to any desired point.
40 BE Continued Next sunday