The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-31

 \ T is a great thing to be a mighty gen
 eral and lead your soldiers to victor, 4 in war. It is greater still to be at tht head of a nation during a war and man age it's finances and government in suct way as to bring that war to a success ful conclusion, and greater than all to be able to take hold of the government when the war is over and direct it along the lines of prosperity in the arts af peace.
 The Story of katsura.
 All these things form a part of the past life and the present situation of Marquis Taro Katsura, who is now the Premier and also the Finance Minister of the Jap anese empire. Born in 1S47, when James K Polk was President of the United States, and only six years before Com modore Perry made his first expedition to Japan, he fought, as a boy, for the em- peror in the civil war which made his majesty the real ruler of the Japanese people. Shortly after that he was sent to Germany to study military science, and when he returned was made Vice Minister of the War Department.
 
 out Katsura was made the commander of a division and in 1900 he became War Minister, and held that position under several premiers. As such, he has had much to do with bringing the army to its present efficiency; and when the war with Russia broke out, he in the meantime having been elevated to the Premiership, was of the greatest value to his country in carrying on that great struggle. He was still in office when peace was de- clared, but there was such public discon- tent over the terms of the peace that he retired, recommending the Marquis Sai- onji as his successor.
 The Premier of Japan.
 That was in 1906. Now, only three years later, we find the great warrior marquis again at the head of the govern visers, including the chief states men and financiers. of Japan. have decided that the country is going too fast and that its business needs reorganization. They find that they have an enormous national debt growing out of the war, and that the revenues and expenditures of the government must be reformed. As their leader they have picked out Katsura and he again holds the premiership There is no man in the empire so well fitted for the position. He appreciates the military necessities of his country to the full, and he has at the same time a working knowledge of its financial re- uuirements. He has already inaugurated q policy of retrenchment, economy and reform which has raised the value of the Japanese bonds in all of the great mar kets of the world, and which in time if carried out to a conclusion, will proba- bly, make the Japanese one of the cred itor nations of the world.
 It was to talk with Marquis Katsura about the financial situation and its pros poets that l called upon him at his off cial residence this morning. Each of these high Japanese officials has an official residence in addition to his private home home. That of Marquis Katsura is back of the state department and right next the Chinese legation. 1t is large house. built in foreign style, and it was in a big parlor, furnished in red, with a red car pet and red walls. that I was received by the Premier His excellency does not speak English and MT. Sassano of the department of foreign affairs acted as our interpreter
 But let me tell you how the Premier looks. He Is of medium Japanese height, which is considerably under that ,f the averagf American. He is straight and well formed, having a big round head firmly set on d pair of broad shoulders. He has high forehead. short black hair