Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-11-27
An Episode Of the
Russo-Japanese War.
5 NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.,

sweetheart TO so with his battery Il
Manchuria.
While the separation ana kmowletlg,
OF ilicir beloved Scssans peril con
stantly wore upon the women. the,
were from time To time made haDps
by news OF tie young mans steady
rise, hc soon attaining the rank oil
captain uf battery. His promotion.
delighted the loved ones at home. and
little Tspsima Amnkukis eyes alter
nntcly shonc brightly ut the hope that
her lover would come home Il urea
warrior and were sud with The II D gllt
mai uc might never cone home ;i,iyc.
but one day news was received OF "A
very dlfltrcnt kind. Captain IIerano
had been stationed at an important
point with his battery ana ordered TO
hold II at amy cost. He Ind been at
tackled b. Il small force. which had
come OH steadily In face of Il terrific.
fire With 40 loss whatever. and before
they reacled the Japanese position He.
roEo ard. his men found II necessary
either 10 desert their guns or he taken
prisoners, licrano drew on the com.
man.l. leaving the guns. which il was
Impossible 10 save. But before the
Russians came near enough TO prevent
him he seized II calsson containing am.
munltion ind with the help OF HIS ncn
dragged II away. This was the only
Part OF the battery saved.
His central. seeing his retreat, rode
up and toricrcd him 10 go to the rear
under arrest
"Gcnqal," said the captain, II have
n request 10 make. ! desire that the
caisson we have saved I've placed under
the carjof my frs; sergeant"
WHATS u eaisson compared with n
whole iattery:' snarled the general.
You sipuld lave died ut Your guns"
"rhatWoud have involved the death
Of many more who may live anu con-
Iuer byIuiy retreat"
The kptain had been an excellent
officer. lnd the general was too much
engaged With wcishiicr matters 10
hear ipec at The time. so he granted
the str4lge request and ordered the
lirst sergeant Ia take charge OF the
clissOu. As soon rs there was II lull
IN tho lighting II court martial was or
lcrcd try Captain Hcrano for his
retreat. When his little
swee,hctt beard of his disgrace she
was MOD panied thnn II hu had died
Ii. defc:ii, Of his guns. Sessau wrote
nnly the hcts, not vonturing any opin-
Ion MS To what punishment would he
melted out 10 hiio.' His case was n
mystery to lis superiors, for they were
au aware onhis brilliant record up to
the time OF IL disgrace.
Finally theFourt convened. aud the
captain WAS Fought before It under Il
charge OF colartlice aud inefiiclency,
The specliicaibns being first. that he
had not died his guns. but had him
sell given thdTdcr for his men 10 re-
treat; second, That he had not trained
his men In craftsmanship, since his
Shots had dof no damage To The en-
cmy; third. t4t he had dragged away
q caisson OF atmnnition when the same
EFFORT might hve saved a gun which
WAS far nIortSaluahle.
Some WITNESSES testified that the
sInners nrcdEo low. Others that they
hrcd too hlgs One witness declared
that he coull tell the difference by
sound letwf Il shottcd gun and
blank eartritc. and lhat. Captain
llerano's gunWcrc not shotted This
was the mos idamaging testimony OF
The prosecntij for a commander who
Would rcccir| nm enemy with blank
cartridges lust he mud. When the
evidence aeakt him was all In Cap
tain Hcrano as chilled upon for his
defense st Is elbow stood his fist
sTgeant. ut Nose feet were piled a
dozen shells. lt word from Herano
tie sergeant tk up shell. which he
lifted with au{ ease us to surprise all
present. cnd laced 1t on II table he
hlnd which a the president of the
court M
There sa the accused. "is one
Of the shells tth which we defended
ourselves IN q recent attack"
Taking hey artillery saber from
Tue sergeant. Franc raised 1t and held
II poised for u loment above the shell.
The court. seef his Intention To bring
the sword dfn on the explosive,
Jumped from t,ir seats. but TOO late.
The saber's edc descended with ter
rifle force on q she'll.
Was Heranop desperate as to COM
mt suicide nnjkill those who sat In
Judgment ovr1im.
NO. There Is n surprise lin store
FOR these who pked on. with eycballs ]
starting from fir sockets. The shell
was split IN like wood--which it
wa laid out bred heap of saw
dust while a "a dust OF brick rose
from the parts,
"eh''emen,1aid the captain. do
you Wonder tis We were beaten with
SUCH means OF fcnsc? You think we
should have 81 at our guns, Well.
ca ~ 4