Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-02-02
|YA|NAGATA DIES;
/ ARMY GEN|U5OF
JAPAN \ IN WARS AI|| |
Prince Often Referred
to as Moltke Of His
Country.
Was One of Noted Men
Who Overthrew Sho-
gunate; Was of Genro.

| Who CVerthrew ShO'
gunate; Was of Genro.
Toxic, Feb. 1.-(By The Associated
Press. Field Marshal Prince Yama-
gata, Japan's octogenarian publicist,
| one of the few remaining "genro" or
elder statesmen, died at / 40 o'clock
Wednesday afternoon at his home in
Odawara.
Field Marshal Prince Aritomo Yama-
gata was one of the three survivors of
the .'genro" who played a distinguish
ed part in the restoration of the Jap
anese royal house. The two remain
ing members are Marquis Matsukata
and Marquis Saionji.
As member of that body, Prince
Yamagata was one of, the personal ad-
visors of the throne and he welded
special power because it was he who
built up and became supreme head
of the Japanese army as it is known
today. He was frequently called the
Japanese Moltke
Appealed Recently for Old Friendship
Prince Yamagata maintained an at
htude OF friendship toward America.
In letter, written to Poultney Bige
low, In 1921, he appealed to American
leaders in thought and affairs for hear
ty cooperation with ..the leading men
on this side of the Pacific (the Far
East for the restoration of the tra-
ditional friendship between the two
nations" He declared that Japan's
fixed policy was to maintain the most
cordial relations with America and
that he was convinced that the prob
lens arising between the two coun-
tries were all amenable to amicable ad-
justment if the leaders of both sides
sincerely endeavored to understand
them and applied to their solution
sound sense and broad craftsmanship.
He denied that Japan was "schem-
ing to become law unto herself or
playing the rule of an overlord in the
management Of Far Eastern affairs
and declared that his country enter
tained no such ambitions.
Predicted New View of Japan Soon
Concerning Japan's actions in ST.
IBERIA and Shantung, he asserted that
these may have given occasion to mis-
Interpretation but that the time was
near at hand when such misunder-
standing will be swept away, when the
world will appreciate that Japan never
entertained sinister ambitions in these
quarters" The prince characterized
the misunderstanding between Amer
lea and Japan ''as only passing symp-
toms, certain to disappear before rea-
son and sanity"
Prince Yamagata was born April %.
1888, the son OF sar3urai of Choshu,
orI ho of ha oh
tains Of the Choshu clan in resisting
the invasion of the Shogunate army in
1866. He threw himself, heart and
soul, into the great movement for the
overthrow of the Shogunate. which had |
eclipsed the power of the Nfikado for I
so many years, and when the latter
was restored to- the throne, Yamagata
rose rapidly through imperial favor and !
his remarkable ability as leader.
Preferred Russian War System
Following mission to Europe for |
The purpose of studying the French |
and German military system, he was
appointed vice minister of war in that
capacity succeeded in having the Prus-
sian system of -conscriptiOn, with GER
tain notifications, adopted in japan.
Another of his incidental achievements
was the abolition Of the sword -wea ring
habit of the samurai classes. 1t was
/ difficult task and dangerous one
20 combat that tradition, but he sue
.eeded in getting an imperial edict of
abolition, and was forceful enough to
nave it. obeyed. Shortly afterWard. !
,owever, the edict was withdrawn, and
another substituted by which the privi-
ege of wearing the sword was extend
ID to all classes. Naturally, that which
vas no longer monopoly of a special
.aste ceased to possess any further
,alue and the old samurai custom died
/ natural death.
Almost Talked Off Revolt
In 1873, he received the war min
ster's portfolio, when he was only 36
ears old, and on the outbreak of the
satsuma rebellion in 1877, he went to
he front as chief of staff of the i'm.
,erial forces. 1t is recorded that, tax
ng advantage Of his friendship forl
saigo Takamori, the rebel leader, he
wrote him personal letter pointing
'ut the futility Of the attempt against
he imperial authority and-the advis-
lbility Of surrender. 1t has been said
" some authorities that Saigo had de-
ermined to profit by this advice when
e was beleagured by one of his leu
enants to spare him the disgrace Of
alling alive into the enemy's hands.
1t the close Of the successful cam
aign, Yamagata received the first
lass order Of the Rising Sun and was
ppointed successfully chief of the
eneral staff, home minister. and min
ster Of justice, in which two latter
apacitics he reorganized the system
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