The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-02-03

Editors Note: This Il the Sec
ond Of nix timely stories on Japan
q today. and the island empires
amazingly rapid rise from = prim-
tive land 70 . first-class world
power In the short span Of 10
odd years.
A powerful modern army lengthens
it, shadow across China backing up
ito demand for foreign trade with
machine guns and artillery.
The long-nosed guns Of the worlds
third greatest navy echo, In tones like
thunder, the same demand from
shanghai's harbor.
MiNtaristic Japan is on the march
Ia Asia again.
At the front, its guns speak. Back
on the island empire its idle factories
wait Many means have been sug-
gested for curing the depression that
is world wide. Japan, however. has
its own peculiar method.
Vast China's economic boycott
against Japan Is going to be broken,
or else
And that is why the Japanese are in
China today.
Japan's modern army came into be-
ing soon after Commodore Perry OF
the u. s. navy had forced the medic
val hermit empire to open its doors
to world trade about IS years ago.
It's modern navy was born at about
the same time.
But behind each lies a most col
orful story-a story that goes back
to the dim centuries before the
Christian era.
In those primitive days. and IN the
DAYS that followed up to IS years ago.
japan grew the hardest fighting men
that the world ever produced. They
were trained from the cradle on. their
meat was unhulled rice. Their motto
was Live and die with sword IN
hand" They were the samurai, pro-
fessional warriors.
In the early days of cross-bOw and
keen-edged sword, approximately
one-fourth Of the able-bodied men
constituted the nations army Ser
vice was for a defined period. during
which all taxes we're RENTED.
With the advent Of the eighth CEN
tury. the CONSUMPTION list increased
Every stalwart man was caused 70
bear arms; every weakling was
shamed as a mere breadwinner.
In the 18th century, the whole ma
ton came under the sway Of the mil
itary organizations. Rich feudal
chiefs gathered soldiers around them
to protect their feifs-and help them
collect taxes from their subjects.
X X X
In those ancient days, the prln-
cipal weapon was the bow and arrow
Japan even had its William Tell; III
histories record that certain Tam
etoto shot an arrow through his broth
er's helmet to recall the youths al
legiance without injuring him.
Even as late as 1852, q powerful
warrior named Masatoki-with bow
and arrow-"made 1888 successful
shots in 20 hours. or more than foul
q minute" Endurance contests are
nothing new in Nippon!
In addition, there was the sword. 4
single-edged weapon, wickedly curved
delicately balanced. beautifully orna'
meuted. Professional swordsmer
toured the country, challenging othel
experts to public combat.
The samurai carried two swords
Q long one for combat and short
one for cutting off an enemy's head
after he had been dispatched. Such
heads they took to the silken tent OF
their commander after the battle te
be counted The commander, 1t seems
kept the books.
These knights Of Old Japan wore
armor of iron and leather, inlaic
with gold and silver.
+ +
Prior to the 18th century, battle
resembled q gigantic fencing match
It was opened with human sacri-
flee, usually prisoner or a con-
demned criminal. Nobody advanced
until notice of attack was given with
. singing arrow.
These early warriors had an ultra
courteous way about them. They
marched out. singled out foe and
addressed him personally, proclaim
ing his name and titles to his partic.
ular enemy and often adding his
. fathers records.
Then the two went to it-like hun.
dreds Of others were doing around
them.
Hara- kiri-honorable suicide arose
among these professional soldiers. Nc
Japanese was sentenced to death; he
was merely sentenced to commit sui.
eide. He did SO by falling upon hi
sword and disemboweling himself. A
friend stood by with short sworc
to cut off his head as soon as thu
stomach was gashed. The justice Of
such an order was never questioned
Often, hara-kiri was committed as 8
voluntary protest against some unjus
ruling. These men never heSitatee
to die for a cause.
Are their descendants equally will.
ing to die for modern cause?
A few years before Commodor.
Perry forced the opening up Of Japan
the governor Of Nagasaki reached TIL