New-York tribune., 1922-02-02
The "MOltkc of .ianan"

The "Moltke of Japan"
The "Mo1tke of Japan" as Prince
and Field Marshal Aritomo Yamagntn
was often called after his history max
ing victory of Pingyang. long ranked
as the greatest parsonage of Japan
after only the Emperor himself. and
came of an ancestry and had a career
worthy Of such distinctions Descended
from Seiwa Tcnno, Japan's tifty-sevcnth
Emperor. he was the eldest son of
Saburo Yamagata. a Samurai Of tho
Choshu clan and one Of the greatest
poets and philologisf' of Japan He
was born at Ifagi. in Choshu. con the
twcnty-second of the fourth month in
the ninth year Of Tempo to Wit April
%. 1898; and in his early life bore the
given name Of kyosuke.
Still a young man when the final
struggle between tho Shorun and the
Mlkado began in 1866, he threw himself
heart and soul in it. led the cavalry
OF the imperial army against the
Shogunatc invasion of Choshn. and won
victory so decisive as to 90 far toward
On account of that achievement he WAS
made commander of the tchigo division
OF the imperial army, cnrtured the
Shogunate castle Of Nagaoka. and sub
Jugated most of the On provinces. Nat
uraily, he was after the war taken into
an exceptional degree OF imperial favor,
and was in $50 and 1870 sent 10 Fu-
rope to study the military systems Of
the chief countries for the benefit Of
the Japanese army.
Founded Modern Army
The results of his tour laid the foun
dation Of the modern Japanese army.
Two OF the first changes effected were
the lntroduct on Of the universal serl-
ice plan and the abolition of the
monopoly Of sword carrying, which the
Samurai clans had enjoyed from time
lmmemorial.
There followed many years of de-
partmental work, interrupted only hv
the Satsuma rebellion of 1877 In 1871
ne was junior and then senior Vice
Minister for War. and in 1872 Minister
for War ond lieutenant general
He was chief of the general staff in
1878. Minister for Home Affairs in
1882, created a scount in 1884. mem
ber of the coast defense committee
and Minister for Var in 1885, Minister
ioi W vi ana also or ACrlCOlr0rp ana
Commerce in 1885. chief of the fort
ress construction department in 1886
and chairman Of the local adminstra-
tion investigation commission in 1897.
Started Many Reforms
second visit to Europe in 1888 was
for the purpose Of studying systems of
local government, and it resulted in
many improvements and reforms in
Japan. The next year he became
Prime Minister and at the same time
Minister for Home Affairs. He was
promoted to the rank of general in
1890 was Minister OF Justice in 1892
and president of the Privy Council in
1893. Then came the war with China,
in which he promptly went to the
front commander Of the First Army
Corps
His third visit to Europe was as a
special am bassador at the coronation
of Gar Nicholas II of Russia. and he
made it of great practical profit by ne
gotiating the famous Yamagata -Loban-
off treaty concerning Corea, the d.sre-
gard OF which by Russia few years
later led to the Russo-japanese War.
His journeys in 1896 led him to me
United States, where he was received
with honors little short Of those that
would have been paid to the Emperor
himself. He was ceremonlouslV re-
ceived by the Governor of New York.
Levi ?. Morton, at Albany, and sailed
from this port for Havre, on his trip
around the world.
On his return to Japan he was made
marquis and field marshal. Two years
'ater he was again Prime Minister and
received the Grand Gordon. In the
Russo-Japanese War he intrusted field
leadership to Younger men. bat HIM
self directed operations as chief of
the general staff. IN 1905 he was
president of the Prvy Council, and in
1907 was made prince ard decorated
with the first class Order Of the Golden
h lite