The New York herald., 1922-02-02
MARSHAL YAMAGATA
STATESMAN, IS DEAD
Japanese Prince, Once Chief of
Staff and Member of
Cabinet.

TOXIC, Feb. ASSOCIATED Press) -
field Marshal Prince Yamagata, Japan's
octogenarian publcist. one of the few
remaining "Genro" or Elder Statesmen,
died to-day at his home in Odawara
He had been critically Ill since jan
uary 5.
Prince Aritomo Yamagata was one or
the last of the famous group of Japa-
nese Elder Statesmen. another Of whom,
the Marquis Okuma, died recently. He
sc metimes was referred to as the Japa-
nese Moltke. In a long and full life
largely devoted to the service OF his
country, he saw it emerge from medic
valism and isolation to modernity and
international power.
The Prince was born on April 22.
1898, and was the son of a samurat of
Choshu. of which clan he early became
an able captain. resisting the invasion
Of the Shogunate army in 1865. The
Skogunfte had become more powerful
than the Mikado and Yamagata was
ore of those to throw himself body and
soul into the movement to overthrow
that power. When the Mikado was re-
stored Yamagata through Imperial favor
and also because of his great demon
strated ability as leader rose rapidly.
After making study Of the French
and German military systems, journey
ing to Europe for that purpose, he was
appointed Vice-War Minister and sue
ceeded In having a modified form of
the Prussian conscription system
adopted in Japan. He was responsible
also, In large measure, for the abolition
of the sword carrying habit Of the
samurai classes; a traditional custom.
the abolition of which was violently
opposed. An edict was issued forbidding
sword carrying, but later this was with
drawn and the privilege of sword carry
ing was extended to all classes, so
that the sanrurai classes, finding 1t no
distinction. abandoned the practice
When only SO years old. in 1873.
Prince Yamagata was made War Min
ister In the following year. at the out
break of the Satsuma rebellion, he went
to the front as Chief of Staff, and the
uprising soon was suppressed.
Following this campaign Yamagata
was made Chief of the General Staff !;
then became Home Minister and later
Minister of Justice. In these positions
he recrganized the system of local gov
ernment and affected judicial reforms
of note. At that time the country was
entering upon the beginning Of the era
OF constitutional government and Yama-
gaia again visited Europe, this time to
study systems of government. Upon
his return the Emperor summoned him
to form the first Cabinet. In this Cab
met as his colleagues were Matsukata,
Minister of Finance. and Oyama. Min
lister OF War. both members of the
Genro. that group of leaders to which
Yamagata belonged and which consisted
OF the closest advisors of the throne.
The Cabinet lasted from 1889 to 1901.
Commanding the First Army Corps.
Yamagata won decisive victories at
Ping-Yang and Chin-lien-cheng in the
war with China. He represented his
country at the coronation of Emperor
Nicholas of Russia, bringing back with
him the Yamagata- Lobanoff convention
in regard to Corea. During the Russo
Japanese war he was Chief of the Gen.
eral Staff, and when Prince Ito was sent
to Corea as acknowledgement in 1905.
Yamagata succeeded him as president of
the Privy Council.
Prince Yamagata was a militarist
and thorough conservative. He had a
host of followers but there were many
in Japan who regarded him as an ex-
treme reactionary one of n group con-
stantly opposing the progressive politi-
cal elements.