The Washington herald., 1907-10-21
JAPAN Is PEACEABLE
Gen. Nishi Says His Country
FayOrS America.
DISCREDITS TALK OF WAR
Veteran Who Stormed Port Arthur,
and the EmperOr's Military Adj
wiser, Says There Il No Probability
of Conflict Between NatiOnS-De-
cIarcS Friendly Feeling Exists.

New York, oct 20.-'I think it will not
be long before our people will take out
naturalization papers in your country.
said Gen. Viscount Nishi, imperial gen
eral inspector of military education in the
Japanese army.
VIII the japanese make good Amer
lean citizens?" he was asked.
THEY will be most friendly and re-
spectfuI," replied this oId weather-beaten
warrior. who stormed Fort Arthur TO the
discomfort of the Russians.
He was on his way from a visit in
Austro-Hungary to Japan and was stay
ing incognito at a hotel in. New York en-
rogse. With him was Ad1t Gen. T.
Otaka, who was or his staff at the storm
ing of Port Arthur.
He is endowed with extraordinary pow
ers by the Mikado. his obligations being
tantamount with the authority Of spe-
cial imperial minister plenipotenuary.
War Talk News to Nishi.
What was the cause Of the recent war
talk" was asked
! Then followed an answer that was
longer than the others, with parenJhetic
Esaps.
/ The general says" said Otaka. with
an amiable smile. that was not a part
/ Of the generals demeanOr, that II is a
pity so many people believe what they
read in the newspapers. In his own cOun-
/ try there has never been anything but
the warmest feeling for the American
people. Because Japan was obliged to
/ fight in China, and because the war with
/ Russia. was forced upon US, it has been
represented that the japanese want 10
fight everybody. This is not true, he says,
/ between two great nations like America
and J-Oan."
But the japanese newspapers were in
part responsible for the same sort OF
thing?'
The general shrugged his shoulders, in
clined his head slightly, and was reported
to say that he was not aware of that fact
When reminded Of an interview I'm a
/ Tokyo paper with a-Japanese admiral
unpleasantly critical of the American
gunner, he was genuinely surprised
You do not change your laws often ir
Japan?" he was asked.
For 1900 years We have had feuda
laws There win always be an Emperor
Of Japan. a lineal descendant The law;
of the people, however. have been un
changed only for twenty-seven years"
Enlistment in the japanese army is
compulsory"
Every man in my country must seTy,
three years in the army
What is the strength Of the army to-
day?"
we have twenty divisions Of 5000 mel
each" said the general quietly When h'
was told that the entire strength of til,
United States regular army was abou
10000. he said. rs il possible2" and lapseg
into silence.
Your military education is like th'
European armiesT
ITO a certain extent, although We hav,
some differences IN the system of exami
nation. our officers undergo a physical
military, and moral examination"
what is the nature of the moral ex
animation
Morals of Men IA Factor.
a close watch is kept upon the char
'acter OF our soldiers, upon their habits
their endurance theier integrity Befor
La graduate Of our military college can b
made a lieutenant he must pass an ex
animation before a board Of officers, an,
be unanimously appointed by them. On
dissenting vote on that board destroys hi
military career
ITO this moral force you ascribe tn
unusual powers of endurance Of the Japa
nese soldiors?"
ITO their physical fitness, to their mora
lives, and, - course. to their love o
country 1t is the ambition of every sol
der in Japan to die on the battlefield
that with US is a glorious DEATH SAT-
the old soldier, with more enthusiasm an,
feeling than IS usual of his race.
FavOrs "Peace with Honor"
All nations. whether East or West
are human. and If they fight or disagree
it should be for moral reasons only"
, You indOrse aTbitrauOn?'
7 indOrse peace with honor; but If !
must be war, let it be conducted upon
basis Of the most merciful means
Always the moral issue seemed Of para
mount importance to the distingushe
man OF war. and in that regard he eX
emplified the japanese relation TO a
enemy