The Bottineau courant., 1909-02-12
CHAPTER v.
In Secret Paths,


Nippon, the home of the Samurai,
in her adoption of newer methods, had
not permitted her secret service de-
partment to remain in ancient form.
Modelled on those lines which had
made the intelligence bureau Of Rus
sia one of the most effective In the
entire world, and proflting by the pub
ncity given to nearly every movement
of Importance in the United States,
she was minutely informed Of all that
had been and was taking place In the
country she hoped to overcome. She
had depended upon this knowledge as
a valued factor for the su5jugation of
that country capable Of closing its
doors to the world would also find
m >ans to circumvent foreign agents.
To the last minute she relied upon her
emissaries in nearly all the larger
cities of America under the direction
of Count Seigo.
Away back in the time of the Toku-
gawa Shogunate, when the almost in
vincible leader Seigo was an idol to
the youth of Satsuma to be toppled
over only in the civil war of 1877, his
son was being educated in a leading
American university. The downfall
of the father practically eXiled the lad
in the United States until family and
political influence had time to reas-
sert itself, when by progressive steps
he gained the good graces of his gov
ernment and was given responsible
positions in affairs of state. His
knowledge of the American political
situation was complete and accurate,
and no man was better informed on
the strength and weakness of the re-
public.
1t had been largely through his ad-
vice that the dispute between the two
nations, trivial in itself but porten-
q pretext for war. Thoroughly con-
versant with congressional methods
in the United States, he had watched
year by. year the quibblings of legis-
lators over naval bills which usually
ended in inadequate appropriations.
Of broader mind that they, he had
long foreseen that country which
had come into distant colonial posses
sions must Of necessity enlarge it's
navy and augment it's efficiency, ex-
pend money in unremitting streams
for maintenance, and stimulate it's
men to seek individual excellence in
gunnery and drill. He had observed
the growth of conceit, which, like rust
beneath a coat of paint, led men to
believe so devoutly in American su-
periority that they neglected to ana
lyze the actual power which could
positively be developed. BY process
of elimination he estimated the fight
ing value of the American navy, dis
carding vessels still in service but
obsolete, and others still on paper but
looked upon by the unsophisticated as
q part Of the nations strength. Ma
tional prowess he regarded as small
factor when granting equality.
Seigo's observations had been 70
careful and his conclusions 50 logical,
that reports sent to and passed upon
by the elder statesmen Of Japan had
led them to feel certain of victory
long before war was declared. Nor
had his predictions in the opening
events been unfulhlled. True he had
not expected the abandonment Of the
Philippines; but he had confidently
ioretold the period Of torpidity, Of con-
fusion and lack of cohesion, which had
followed. It was with satisfaction,
therefore, that he observed the trend Of
declared. and from the quietude of his
study saw the whole country waiting
for the government to act while ap-
parent.y it rema ned somnolent
Thu Huirnndsr of the islanda cana