Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1906-02-25

gun, striking the long cannon erected by the
youth Jiro at the previous bombardment, burst.
ing, rolled the bronze tube from the carriage and
swept 1t into little knot Of pioneers, crushing
and killing the majority Of them outright.
bitter smile, torn from the heart Of the
commander, curled his lips.
Having defed the civilized world, | little
fear the shoguuate," he said; "and yet l cannot
spend more time here. Our guns are dsman-
tied. That is an omen for retreat. 1t was Jiro 3
gun, and here is Jiro's letter"
Summoning his officers, the Prince gave the
order to evacuate the works. Horses were at
tached to such Of The guns as were worth saving.
Then, with these in the rear, the remnant Of the
ShimonoselSi garrison began the march to the
Choshui fortress.
Upon rejoining his chief in the latters private
apartment, Oguri had news to impart.
ut is strange army, truly" he said, chat
the Shotgun has sent against us. They are en-
camped near the highway, good days journey
north of u.s."
"a strange army, you say" inquired Mori,
mindful of Jiro's letter.
"Ay. Though all the clans were ordered to
march against us, but few have done so, and
they are sick, silly fellows, growing at having
to leave the court and its pleasures"
'How are they armed? With rifles"
"Some."
Artillery"
"The pieces taken from us in Kioto"
Mort was lost in reflection for some moments.
Then:
"Let all retire to rest at once"
1t was the middle Of the afternoon.
Mori added, without pausing to explain to his
puzzled chief lieutenant the reason of his strange
order: cat dusk report to me-"
However large an army the Shotgun might
have sent against the men of ChoshIli, the fort
ress defenders with its attendant army went to
their unaccustomed rest without the slightest
fear The for+raas r,;oht now well he considered
In addition to its regular defensive
works. constructed Immediately upon the return
of Mort from his melancholy wedding-day, there
were now deep moat Of great width construct
ed about the whole region of the fortress gun
factories, and the works built by the Prince of
Satsuma.
All that afternoon the army of NTori slept
The first hour of darkness departure from
the fortress. First rode six companies of horse
men, from whose body scouts were thrown out.
Next marched two thousand infantry, all with
rifles. They wore no heavy armor, and as their
company commanders gave their orders, their
tactics were seen to be modelled upon European
forms. Finally, in the rear numbered sixty field
pieces Ogur rode with the cavalry, directing
the route of the army. Close behind him was
Toro, who, since the affair of kioto, was on in
innate terms of good-felowship with the chief
lieutenant.
Mori, attended at distance by his staff, rode
in the centre of the infantry division. The en-
tire direction of the current routine he left to
his subordinates, riding modify apart from all
The men marched with firm and light step. On
their own soil they were more assured and hope
full of the issue.
"Oguri,' asked Toro as in perfect quiet they
advanced with their cavalry-"Oguri, how may
| atone for Kioto"
''By following my orders closely" answered
the serious Oguri. "You, with the cavalry, are
b. oh Iafa dno
begns.''
"I swear by the god of war will not" prom
ised Toro.
"You must move to the west at least four
miles, throwing out your scouts regularly"
"I will. Only give me the chance. Was not
for the failure at Kioto!" said Ioro,
his face quivering in spite of himself
Eyes, and no. said Oguri; ''but, at all events,
his highness has not held it against you. He
told me that after-events justified you, since the
enemy had artillery at your gate"
"But he allowed me no chance to explain that
I ordered the pioneers back when / heard their
artillery being brought up. I wanted to check
them at once"
"rThe Prince has nothing but affection for
you," said Oguri.
"Ah!" cried Toro, in delight.
The other smiled, half paternally, half reprov-
ngly, at the enthusiasm of youth.
"But you must restrain yourself during the
first half Of your maneuver," said the chief lieu
tenant; "during the latter part you may give
free rein to your impetuosity."
As the first sharp light of the September day
began to make visible objects along the highway,
Oguri held out his hand to Toro.
''Now CO." he said, "and remember all have
said to you. Now is your opportunity"
Toro dashed sleeve to his face. Then, turn
ing to his cavalry, he raised his sword in COM
nand
Forward"
Sharply turning, the six companies wheeled
due east, to disappear in the distance. The
main body advanced for two hours. Then Oguri
Jaw that Toro had reached the spot settled upon
in their plan of battle.
MORT, leaving the centre, came briskly up with
his staff, to assume the ordering of the forIna
lien. The infantry were set out in two close
ranks Back of them, in the centre, the sixty
ield-pieces were assembled, their horses tethered
close by
"Scouts!" called Mort to Oguri
Scouts and skirmphers were thrown out. All
rested upon their arms.
The place was broad and level plateau,
through whose middle the highway ran. Back
of Morris artillery rose a steady height which
The army had crossed. Facing the force resting
upon it's arms, the plateau stretched out for
mile until sharp descent came into view. Up
his the army of the bakufu must climb, since
he great highway was also there.
II was time OF idleness for Morris troops,
until towards poon, when the outposts reported
10 the main body:
"The enemy is approaching"
Mort issued number of orders, the effect of
which was instantly seen. The artillery horses
we're attached to the guns, the infantry closed
ranks. All stood at arms.
Oeuri approached the Prince.
"Shali / send the guns to sweep them down
before they can gain the plateau" he asked, in
"a tha nat uPnl nf "a
place seized upon him.
mo; let them reach the plain and form in
their best order. / wish to crush them com
pletely"