The San Francisco call., 1908-08-09
PANESE OFFERS
COUNTRY'S SECRETS
Treason at Last Shows Head
Among Subjects of the
MikadO
Attempt Made TO Sell Plans of
Fortress in HokkaidO to
the Russians
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE CALL

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE CALL
TOKYO. July 22.-Tremendous ex-
citement has been caused recently in
the military circles of Japan over the
attempted sale by Japanese subject
of the plans of the big fortress in
Hokkaido to the Russian embassy in
Tokyo. OF course, the whole affair has
been kept a profound secret; but some
of those privy to it must have whis-
pered TO their wives. for the affair has
now attained publicity. So reasonable
an enterprise would in any country be
naturally a matter of grave conse-
quence; but in a land of unexampled
patriotism where it least of all might
have been expected the results are un-
pleasant and sensational in the ex-
treme.
The plot retains a good deal of it's
original mysteriousness, but what is
known of it happened in this wise: One
morning Mr. Suzuki. the Japanese in
terpreter at the Russian legation. was
called upon by fellow countryman of
his, man of rather imposing appear
ance and some military bearing, who
caused some degree of surprise by ex
planning that his business was to OBJ
tain from the legation authoritative in
formation as to the possibility of Sc
curing financial concessions in the
waters adjacent to Vladivostok.
PRODUCES MAPS OF FORTRESS
The visitor. who proved not an unin-
teresting conversationlist. gave his
name as one Ishiyama Shinichiro, a
former public procurater in the national
law courts and subsequently a law
yer in Hokkaido. The interpreter ex-
planned to him the course of procedure
necessary TO acquire the privileges de-
sired, and in return became so inter-
ested in his new acquaintance that he
accepted a cordial invitation to call
upon him at his hotel which pleasure
he afforded himself several times un-
| til a strong attachment opened up be-
tween the two men.
At last Ishiyama revealed the true
purpose of his journey to the capital
( He had come thither. he confessed. TO
complete an enterprise that would make
sisted him rich enough to be forth
with independent for life. He intimated
that he had valuable documents in his
possession, for which the Russian au-
thorities would be prepared to pay
any price. These papers, he assured
Suzuki. had been obtained through
naval and military officers who had
consented TO share with him in the
plot and its certain spoils, and he
Z ~
to make a litde money he was well
come TO become one Of the contra
ternity on the way to wealth; his duty
would be to act as interpreter and ne
gotiate the terms.
Thereupon 1shiyama opened his port
manteau and took out some beer bot
ties. which, upon being uncorked, in
stead of giving evidence of the re-
freshment Suzuki expected, produced
from their necks a series of minute
but admirably made maps of the Hok-
kaido fortress. These, Ishiyama ex-
planned. could be easily sold at the
embassy for at least 100000 yen, and
that if Suzuki succeeded In closing the
| bargain. he would be entitled to 20
per cent OF the proceeds. In the event
of the ambassadorial authorities be-
| ing unable to negotiate with him, Su-
zukis expenses would be paid to ST.
Petersburg, where the plans would un-
doubtedly be at once purchased by the
naval authorities.
DETECTIVE ARRESTS PLOTTER
Suzuki. with some effort to conceal sur
/ prise. affected to enter enthusiastically
/ into the scheme. Being out ostensibly
/ to make some necessary preparations.
he called in a detective in plain clothes,
whom he introduced to Ishiyama as a
\ friend who could be of great use to
/ them under the circumstances; and TO
/ the detective Ishiyama innocently re-
/ peated most of what he had intimated
/ to Suzuki. Upon gaining full particu-
4 lars OF the intentions of Ishiyama and
securing the discriminating documents,
/ the disguised officer revealed his iden-
/ tity and arrested the would be traitor.
This incident acquired some degree
/ of significance in view of the fact that
of late similar crimes have been in
! creasingly frequent in the naval and
military circles of Japan. Several men
are at present in prison at Yokosuka
awaiting trial for the revelation OF Sc
crets in connection with the navy yard
there. These offenses are new in
Japan, and are perhaps to be ascribed
/ to the present economic depression of
the country. which is pressing so hardly
on some, especially those dismissed
| from the government works because of
retrenchment in national expenditure,
! that they are led into doing almost
anything to secure the means of liveIi-
hood they have lost