The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1908-06-04
THE LEON REPORTER. THURSDAY. JUNE q 1905.
. An Episode Of the
Russo-Japanese War.

Japanese war Sessan Herano, young
japanese, left his weeping mother and
sweetheart to go with his battery to-
Manchuria.
While the separation and knowledge
of their beloved Sessan's peril con-
stantly wore upon the women, they
were from time to time made happy
by news of the young mans steady
rise, he soon attaining the rank Of
captain of battery. His promotions
delighted the loved ones at home, and
little Tsusima Amakuki's eyes alter
nately shone brightly at the hope that
her lover would come home great
warrior and were sad with the thought
that he might never come home alive.
But one day news was received of a
very different kind. Captain Herano
had been stationed at an important
point with his battery and ordered to
hold it at any cost. He had been at
tackled by small force, which had
come on steadily in face of a terrific
fire with no loss whatever, and before
they reached the japanese position He
rano and his men found it necessary
either to desert their guns or be taken
prisoners. Herano drew off the com
maDd, leaving the guns, which it was
impossible to save. But before the
Russians came near enough to prevent
him he seized caisson containing am
munitSn and with the help of his men
dragged it away This was the only
part of the battery saved.
His general, seeing his retreat, rode
up and ordered him to go to the rear
under arrest
General" said the captain, 81 have
a request to make. l desire that the
caisson we have saved be placed under
the care of my first sergeant
whats caisson compared with a
whole battery?" snarled the general
"You should have died at 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
hear more at the time, so he granted
the strange request and ordered the
first sergeant to take charge of the
caisson. AS soon as there was a lull
in the fighting court martial was or
dered to try Captain Herano for his
inglorious retreat. When his little
sweetheart heard of his disgrace she
was more panied than if he had died
in defense of his guns. Sessan wrote
only the facts, not venturing any opin-
ion as to what punishment would be
meted out to him. His case was
mystery to his superiors, for they We're
all aware Of his brilliant record up to
the time of his disgrace.
Finally the court convened, and the
captain was brought before it under a
charge Of cowardice and ineffciency,
the specifications being, first, that he
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
his men in craftsmanship, since his
shots had done no damage to the en-
envy; third. that he had dragged away
caisson Of ammunition when the same
effort might have saved gun which
was far more valuable
Some witnesses testified that the
gunners fired too low, others that they
fired too high. One witness declared
that he could tell the difference by
sound between a shotted gun and
blank cartridge, and that Captain
Heranos guns We're not shotted. This
was the most damaging testimony of
the prosecution, for commander who
would receive an enemy with blank
cartridges must be mad. When the
evidence against him was all in Cap
tain Herano was called upon for his
defense. At his elbow stood his first
sergeant, at whose feet were piled a
dozen shells. At word from Herano
the sergeant took up shell, which he
lifted with such ease as to surprise all
present, and placed it on a table be-
hind which sat the president of the
court
There" said the accused, sis one
Of the shells with which we defended
ourselves in the recent attack
Taking heavy artillery saber from
the sergeant, Herano raised it and held
1t poised for moment above the shell.
The court, seeing his intention to bring
the sword down on the explosive,
jumped from their seats, but too late.
The saber's edge descended with ter
rifle force on the shell.
Was Herano so desperate as to COM
NIT suicide and kill those who sat in
judgment over him!
No. There was surprise in store
for those who looked on, with eyeballs
starting from their sockets The shell
was split in two like woodEwhich it
was-and out poured heap of saw
dust, while red dust of brick rose
from the parts.
Gentlemen" said the captain, "do
you wonder that we were beaten with
such means of defense? You think we
should have died at our guns. Well,
suppose we had, who would have
known of the character of this ammu-
nition?'
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