Evening star., 1909-07-11

Here also are the mines which were
used on land and sea. These are acorn
shaped iron shells as big as bushe
basket. which would blow up a ship al
sea or destroy company or a regiment
upon land.
The museum has every kind of shell
from some as high as ones shoulder
down to little fellows the size of your
finger. 1t has Japanese flags which the
Russians used to entice their enemies
within reach OF their guos. and Japa-
nese kite which they used to- test the
wind before sending up their balloons Il
has pieces of silk which they employed
during the latter part of the siege &c
make sandbags, and steel picks of al
kinds, from new ones. fresh from the
stores, down to some which are worn to
the length of ones thumb by digging
the rocks in the fort tunnels.
Much of the fighting was hand to hand
In tunneling into the forts the Japanese
and the Russians, were often close to
one another, and they remained 50 Tor
days separated only by ramparts of sand
bags AS ] looked at one of the ports
a Japanese officer pointed out tunnel in
which he said he had fought for several
days with his fellows. the Russians being
on the other side of the wall, so close
that the troops could hear one another
talk. Said the officer:
I'VE joked with each other using one
Of our men as an interpreter, and We even
passed brandy and tobacco over the sand
bags
How did the Russians fight?" asked.
They fought bravely. but the odds
were against them in that their common
soldiers did not know what they were
fighting for They did not care for Man
chura, and they had no faith in their
emperor Every Japanese esteemed it an
-, the
most Of us would rather have died than
heen defeated
.'But would not the Russians have beat
en- you if the war had gone on much
longer?'
II do not know" was the reply. I'VE
were in a bad way when the hostilitles
were suspended. Our money was almost
used up, and it is doubtful If we couio
have kept on fighting. Indeed we owe
everything to your President Roosevelt
It was his offer of peace that saved us,
and / can tell you We appreciate his
work at that time. The Japanese worship
him, and if he ever visits Japan we Will
just kill him with Kindness in showing
our gratitude"
x x
lust here I would say that I have
heard many such expressions concerning
Theodore Roosevelt. He is hero to the
Japanese and they cannot speak of him
too highly. His biographies, printed in
their language, have been sold by the
thousands, and even the school children
know all about him. During call upon
Prince Ito few months ago his excel
lency referred to Mr.. Roosevelt in the
highest terms. He said: Theodore Roose-
Welt is a friend of Japan and We honor
him much" The prince thereupon ordered
his servant to bring in a photograph OF
the ex-President 1t was originally OF
cabinet size. which Mr.. Roosevelt had
sent to Prince Ito with his autograph
at the foot conveying his regards. The
photograph had been enlarged TO more
than life size and it was beautifully
framed Prince Ito ordered 1t placed or
a chair facing US, SO that our ex-Presi
dent seemed to be part Of the inter
view.
The Port Arthur of today makes me
think of one of the inflated towns of oul
great west after its boom has exploded
Just before the war began the Russian:
were preparing 10 make it one Of the
finest cities of Asia. They had erected
enormous buildings for their officials anc
were putting up residences to correspond
Merchants and other private citizens were
doing likewise. New structures were go