New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-15
NOCrS ACT REGARDED
AS HEROIC SACRIFICE:
Japan Looks with Admiration,
as Well as Sorrow, on the
Trauic End of the General.
LAST LETTER I'd MlKADO
Emperor Desires That the Sui
eide May Cause No Change in
Plans Of Special Ambas-
sadors Now at Toxic.

Toxic. Sept 1.-THE dramatic death Of
General Count Maresulle Nogi. the SOL
slcr.hero Of japan. and that Of his wife.
go Countess Nogi. who yesterday coiaci-
5srtaUy with what was considered The
,upreme moment Of the nation-the de-
,srturc from the capital OF the body OF
IN, tate Emperor Mutsuhito for its final
-ssting place at Monoyam
.r,cldc the general by gaShing his throat
with sword and the Countess by STAB
hing herself I'm the abdomen. is regarded
nv the great soldiers Of Japan and Gy
,ba GENERALS other countrymen as mag
ridcent act Of patriotic duty.
Eut the nation being in the deepest
mourning and the new Emperor being
forced into seclusion by the death Of his
father IT Is impossible to confer the usual
nosthun,ous honoTs and. consequently,
General Nogi officially is not dead.
The count on Thursday morning. prior
70 attending the funeral services Of the
late Emperor at the palace, summoned
photographer 10 his home in AkasaN,
suburb Of Toxic, and in the garden OF lis
residence posed with his wife while their
picture was being taken.
Afteryard the count and countess at
landed the early funeral ceremony at the
imperial palace and subsequently, the gen
.rsI visited the death chamber, where the
body of the Emperor was lying in state.
the soldier kneeling before the bier sew
eral minutes Offering homage TO his de-
parted sovereign and friend.
Last Letter to Sovereign.
Returning homeward at the conclusion
~ the ceremony, Count Nogi called at the
oslac. OF Prince Fushini. where he was
rsrber Of the reception committee
When he reached his home the general
90, down and wrote q letter 20 his new
sovereign. Yoshihito, and then placed
hand NJ crepe around a wall picture CT
vu.suhito. Summoning mis- wife. the cou-
Mo carefully rehearsed their plans Tor
committing suicide, dXing a time tnaI
would be coincident with the departure
from the capital of the late rulers oodS'
rho coiint and countess dressed them
selves in full Japanese costume ana
drank from cups which had been the
cift of the Emperor TO the general
farewell draft OF sake.
When the booming Of single gun
fred in the palace grounds to notify the
ponulace that the Emperor's BODY was
being moved on the journey TOWARD us
las, resting place. echoed through the
Nogi home the hero Of Port Arthur STOOD
erect and firmly gripping a short s"oro
plunged it into his throat. As the count
fell 10 the floor the countess stabbed
herself in the stomach. Both the Sol
der and hts wife we're breathing when
found bv an inmate of the NoEi nome,
out before aid could De summoned IheH
lives had ebbcd away.
Letters left by General Nogi, IL is IN
ierstood explain his deed and also CON
tain an apology 70 Prince Arthur or Con
nsught the special Ambassador OF Gredt
Britain at the imperial funeral. 70 WhoiH
the JAPANESE soldier was speclaIly az
tached No messages OF coincidence III
connection with the suicide or the count
and countess Will be sent Tor seVeTai
days
emperor Yoshihito to-day expressed
the wish that none Of the plans or the
special foreign ENJOYS be changed. Phil
andeT e. Knox the special American
Ambassador. and his suite Will Vstt
Mike this afternoon, where, after slshl,,
seeing among the famous temples anu
mortuary shrines there, the American
Secretary OF State will return 10 the
capital on Sunday afternoon. Nr Knox
WIN be received In farewell audience Dy
the Emperor and will attend luncheon
at the palace on Monday