The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-11-15

TT WAS gala day indeed In Aklta. a
beautiful city In northern Japan.
Excitement prevailed where peace
and quiet usually reigned supreme.
The tiny, narrow streets were literally
lined with gay "rislng sun" flags, and
the whole city had been transformed
with gay lanterns and bunting. At ey-
cry gate crowds OF children and grown
ups. too, had gathered with nj expect
ant air. for this was the first of the
three days In which Aklta 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
TO participate In annual manuevers.
writes Lillian A. Wheat In the Los An
geles Times.
Soon they began to pour into the city
from every direction, by every road,
some 5000 blue-clad men--some with
field artillery. some with blankets and
camping equipment, some with horses
and Red Gross wagons. some walking
and some riding. according to rank.
Many had marched over 100 miles. All
the morning they streamed past our
place. bound for the "enoba" (pnrade
rrouno). 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. to beg hot water of the
maid for their tea and hlbachl of
Goals over 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 'hetnl sans"
(soldiers). hnpressing upon me the Inn
portnnce OF the occasion. For 1t Is
serious business with these patriotic
people. realized something of the
pride Japan must feel In her soldiers
when l caught sight of these sturdy,
bronze fellows Who had stopped to
lunch under our stOop. "Are you
tiredT ! asked.
"ue oknsan wntnkushl domowa
Omoshirni." tNo, honorable madam.
we do enJoy) This expresses their
sentiment exactly. They may be tired
physically. but their spirits never flag
where patriotism Is concerned.
Not Just Cogs In a Machine.
We had lived near the barracks
ever since our residence In Japan, md
had heard the mir being torn to shreds
every morning and evening by buglers
Ia training-had heard the crack of
bayonet practice day after day-hnd
seen squads of soldiers pass in the
morning going on their long tramps,
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 l had never felt
anything but an Indifferent interest In
them. II was surprising to find that
they were intelligent individuals aud
not Just cogs In u great machine. l
began to 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-
Eats and waving their tiny paper flags
each with Its conspicuous "rislng sun"
in the center. Likewise Akita was
trembling with excitement and would
turn out en- m8sse to match the ma.
neuvers, for, they added with pride,
hardly n house but has II son who has
done, is doing, or will do, military duty.
Japanese Troops In Action.
1t was an occasion of unusual inter
est for these were the first maneuvers