El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-05-28
A japanese Soldier

" HERE were many reasons for
Takei's rapid promotion. He
had a better education than
most Of his comrades, before the en-
2 peror called for his services in the
army. His genteness and good hui
NOR made him popular among his
comrades and his energy was appre-
ciated by his officers. When he was
made a corporal all the congratula-
tions ne received from his comrades
were sincere for they knew that he
had deserved promotion
When the captain talked to his men
about their horses he said You have
your hands, boys, and can take care
Of yourself, but the horses have only
four legs and cannot do so. When
We go into battle and the horses are
not in good condition, who will pull
the ammunition cartS2 You will have
to do il yourselves and that is why
you should take good care of your
horses"
One hot dusty day the men were
practicing hitching and unhitching the
horses and they did this so enerEet-
lcally that their clothes were soaked
with perspiratiOn,
The Japanese horses are never easy
to handle and the heat and work
made them restless. Takeis horse
was known for its viciousness and II
was particularly UnrUly that day.
'Unhitch." the captain commanded
And then again: Hitch up"
This was too much for Takei's
horse It kicked and pranced and did
everything to make the work hard fo-
him and when at last he succeeded in
getting il hitched up, it buried its
teeth in his shoulder
The pain robbed the soldier of his
last spark of patience and in his an
ger he struck the horse twice with
his whip.
The captains voice: "Takeil Takei."
brought him back TO his senses
Takei ran up to the captain and
stood at attention
Company, attention. the captain
commanded
All stood motionless. The captain
turned to Takei and said loudly:
Corporal Takei I have taught my
company to be good to their horses.
and you, a corporal who ought to set
the men a good example have twice (
beaten q horse hitched to a cart Do !
YOU know how it feels to be beaten, /
when YOU cannot mOve2"
Takei remained silent
Then I viii show YOU. It feels like /
this" And he hit TaSei with all his /
strength a singing blow across the Z
shoulders.
Takei tremblcd. he raised his eyes /
and looked at his captain, his neck
and cheeks suffuSed with a deep red
Then he stood mOtiOnless once more,
his clenched fists opened while he was
waiting to be sent away
Again the captains voice;
Corporal TakeL"
Yes, captain.
The captain only heard the soft
answer. but he went on You, a cor
poraL have been beaten like a dos
within the sight Of your men, Could
any disgrace be GREATER Your father
viii be proud of YOU
The insult of these words made the
men shudder, but Takei stood as mo-
uc1less as statue
The captain went on
You beat your horse twice" There
was a threatening tone In his voice !
A gain he raised his arm and the whip
fell mercilessIy in exactly the same
place as before. This time Takei did
not clinch his fists and did not blush
His face was deadly pale
The little captain looked at him for !
few seconds. before ne commanded
Go back to your horse
Takei saluted. ran back to his cart
and the drill went on
Takei was sitting in the barracks
with his mead resting in his hands The
men were whispering together. Then
he oldest sergeant stepped forward
Corporal Takei-'
He did not look up
What is itE he asked.
do not think you are disgraced In
lur eyes. 1t was all the horses fault
We all know he is a vicious beast We
would have done the same and we
eel that the captain was too severe
IN you
Takei stood up and said:
No, it was the horses nature ana
-ou cannot blame it. The captain has
old US TO be gentle to the horses AMI
was sacrificed for the sake of the
egiment. Just as the white men be-
ieve their God sacrificed his son for
heir sake When ]. a corporal was
hus punished it was because the cap
ain wanted to show the men what I
hey might expect. None of them VIII {
yer abuse a horse Onw. And the
aptain beat me for the sake Of Japan,
nd I am proud Of him. You may tell
he men that I Will serve him, true,
worthy son of Nippon, more faith
ully than ever"
A month later the captain sent Tor
ne sergeant major.
Sergeant UmcnetO has been trans
erred to the fifth battery. Whom 90
.Ou suggest Tor promotion into his /
lace
There are Takahochi. Kondo and
-" he hesitated-
The captain stamped his foot impa-
iently.
Corporal Takei." II
The captain seemed satisfied. He re-
,eated. Yes. of course, You may tell ,
ergeant Takei Of his promotion
Yes. captain. When viii you test
limp
4 tested sergeant Takei at drill
month ago and he passed the test with I
0n0-. M cJhe- test is necessary
The sergeant major saluted and left I
Re understood the captain.