The herald., 1917-11-01

TT WAS gala day indeed in Akita,
beautiful city In northern Japan.
i Excitement prevailed where peace
and quiet usually reiCned supreme.
The tiny, narrow streets were literally
lined with gay rising sun" flags. and
the whole city had been transformed
with gay lanterns and bunting. At ev-
cry gate crowds of children and grown
ups, too, had gathered with IN expect
ant air, for this was the first of the
three days In which Akita was To en-
terrain. or rather, be entertained by
the soldiers. They were to gather
there from the different army posts
throughout that section of the country
70 participate in annual manuevers,
writes Lillian \. Wheat in the Los An
Geles Times.
Soon they began TO pour into the city
from every direction, by every road,
some 5000 hlue-Clad mcn-sOme with
field artillery, some with blankets and
camping equipment. some with horses
and Red Cross wagons. some walking
and some riding, according TO rank.
Many had marched over 100 miles. All
the morning they streamed pnst our
place. bound for the "enObn" (parade
grOund). where they were to stop and
rest and prepare their dinner.
At noon few men. dusty and per
spring from the long tramp, turned
In at our gate. 10 beg hot water of the
maid for their tea and n hibaChi or
Goals owe. which they might smoke
while they rested and ate their lunches
Of dried fish and rice, which they had
In small aluminium boxes in their
packs. The maid rushed In To ask per
mission Of me TO serve the "hetni sans
(soldiers), impreSsins upon me the i'm
portance of the occasion. For II is
serious business with these patriotic
people. ! realized something of the
pride Japan must feel in her soldiers
when / caught sight of these sturdy.
bronze fellows who had stopped 10
lunch under our stoop. Are you
tiredT' | asked.
"Iie OkaSan watakushi. dOmOwa
OmoShrai." (No. honorable madam,
we do cnjoy) This expresses their
sentiment exactly. They may be tired
physically. but their spirits never flag
where patriotism is concerned.
Not Just Coss in a Machine.
We had lived near the barracks
ever since our residence in Japan. and
had heard the air being torn to shreds
every morning and evening by buglers
In training-hud heard the crack Of
bayonet practice day after day-had
seen squads OF soldiers pass in the
morning going on their long trnmps,
or TO do target practice, which was
held two miles out from town, and
return hot and dust-cOvered In the eve
nings, but until now I had never felt
ANYTHING but an Indifferent interest in
them. II was surprising TO find that
they we're intelligent individuals and
not Just cogs In great machine. /
began 10 take real human interest
in them as | questioned them more
closely about the coming maneuvers.
Holiday had been declared, they told
me. along the route which they had
come. The roads had been lined with
village school children shouting ban
Zais" and waving their tiny paper flags
each with its conspicuous 'riSing sun"
in the center. Likewise Akita was
trembling with excitement and would
turn out en- maSSe To match the ma
neuvers. for. they added with pride,
hardly n house hui has a s0n who has
| done, is doing, or will 30, military duty.
japanese Troops in Action.
Il was an occasion of unusual inter
est. for these were the first maneuvers