The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-12-25
An Episode Of the Late
o-japanese War

Wnile tHe separation huu kn0Wtcugt
Of their beloved Scssan's peril con
stantly wore upon the women. the,
were from time to time made bapp,
by news OF the young mans steady
rise, he soon attaining the rank b
cnptaIn Of battery. Ills promotion
delighted tho loved ones at home, ant
little Tsusimn Amakukls eyes alter
nately shone brightly at the hope tlia
her lover would come home d grca
warrior and were sad with the though
that he might never come home alive.
But one day news was received Of b
very different kind. Captain Heranc
had been stationed at an important
point with bis battery and ordered "a
hold II at any cost. He Ind been Mt.
tackled by d small force, which had
come on steadily In face OF terrific
hre with no loss whatever. and before
they reached the Japanese position lie.
rnno and his men found II necessary
either TO desert their guns or be taken
prisoners. Hcrano drew Off the com.
mnnd. leaving the guns. which II was
impossible to save. But before the
Russians came near enough TO prevent
him he seized calsson containing am.
munitlon and with the help Of his men
dragged II away, This was the only
part Of the battery saved.
Ills general. seeing bis retreat. rode
up and ordered him TO go TO the rear
under arrest
General" said the captain, II have
n request 10 make. desire thnt the
caisson We have saved be placed under
the care OF my first sergeant"
"Whats caisson compared with a
whole battcryi' snarled the general.
"You should have died Mt your guns"
"That would have involved the death
Of many more who may live and con-
quer by my retreat"
The captain had been an excellent
officer, and the general was too much
engaged with weightier matters to
bear more nj the time. 30 he granted
the strange request and ordered the
flrst sergeant to take charge OF the
calsson Az soon as there was lull
In the aghting court martial was or
dered to try Captain Herano for his
lnglorious retreat When his little
sweetheart heard Of his disgrace she
was more pained than II be had died
in defense Of his guns. Sessan wrote
only the facts, not yenturing any opin'
ion as to what punishment would be
meted out to him. His case was a
mystery to his superiors, for they were
all aware Of his brilliant record up to
the time of his disgrace.
Finally the court convened, and the
captain WAS brought before II under
charge OF cowardiee and inetiiciency,
the specifications being, first, that be
had not died at his guns. but had him.
self given the order for his men to re-
treat; second, that he had not trained
bis men In craftsmanship, since his
shots had done no damage to the en-
emy: third. that he had dragged away
n caisson OF ammunition when the same
effort might have saved gun which
was far more valuable. =
Some witnesses testified that the
gunners fred too low. others that they
fired too high. One witness declared
that he could tell the difference by
sound between shotted gun and
blank cartridge, and that Captain
Herano's guns were not shotted. This
was the most damaging testimony Of
The prosecution. for commander who
would receive an enemy with blank
must be mad. When the
evidence against him was all In Cap
tain Herano was called upon for his
iefense. At his elbow stood his first
sergeant. ut whose feet were piled
iozen shells. At a word from Herano
The sergeant took up shell. which he
lifted with such ease as to surprise all
present. and placed II on table be,
lind which sat the president Of the
.ourt.
There said the accused, "ls one
II the shells with which we defended
ourselves In the recent attack"
Taking heavy artillery saber from
he sergeant. Herano raised II and held
poised for moment above the she'll |
The court. seeing his intention to bring |
he sword down on the explosive.
umped from their seats, but too late.
The saber's edge descended with ter.
life force on the she'll
Was Herano so desperate as to com.
ait suicide and kill those who sat In
Judgment over him!
No. There was surprise In store
or those who looked on. with eyeballs
tarting from their sockets. The shell
'as split In two like wood--which It
out poured a heap OF saw
ust, while a red dust Of brick rose
rom the parts.
Gentlemen" said the captain, do
ou wonder that we were beaten with
ich means Of defense? You think we
lould have died at our guns. Well.
oppose we had, who would have
nown Of the character of this ammu-
ltion?
Every shell proved the same, and
10 court was convinced.
In a few days Tsusima was delight.
to hear of her lovers acquittal and
,inSta tamnnt