THE PORT ARTHUR ATTACK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 36, 11 February 1904, Page 5

THE PORT ARTHUR ATTACK.

DETAILS AKRAwfiEB IN DECEMBER. JAPANESE OFFICER'S LETTER. The attack upon Port Arthur by the Japanese fleet was definitely decided upon by the Japanese Admiralty as early as last December, and at that date the preparations were so complete that naval officers who have been in correspondence with Mr W. J. Napier, chairman of the Auckland branch of the Navy League, were quite aware of what they would be called upon to do when the jjreat crisis came. Mr Napier gave a "Star" reporter a number of very interesting facts of a general nature in connection with the war, and in relation to the preparedness of the Japanese, quoted from a Japanese officer who visited Auckland some time ago. The well written letter, demonstrating so unaffectedly a heroic determination to die for the sake of the nation if death would serve it. reads: — '"War is inevitable. You, of coarse, know as well as we do the coarse of the negotiations between our country aud Russia. If Russia continues her bad conduct in the East, then we must fight. We know that we can destroy the Russian fleet, ajid I have been already detailed to go to Port Arthur on the outbreak of war and destroy Russian battleship with my 18-inch fish torpedoes. I shall do this very well, but cannot expect to be alive afterwards. I will be killed with the Russian shells. I believe. Should such prove fact then I will not see you or pretty Auckland any more. I may meet you in heaven. I have still very pleasant recollection of your beautiful Lake Takapuna. and if I survive the war I , will certainly try very hard to pay : Auckland another visit. Our officers and men in the whole fleet are very jolly and very anxious for the war to begin. The Russians think they can crush us, but wait, you will see," Mr Napier continued that the war had been looked upon in Japanese naval circles as inevitable, the particular month in which negotiations would finally break off being of coarse indeterminate, but that the upshot would be war was a firmly held opinion. The feeling among Japanese naval officers is that it i≤ a war which the very existence of Japan renders necessary. The object, of Russia, it is firmly believed, ■was tke final absei>gHe» of Jajae, Oerea

being taken as an intermediate State. The Japanese therefore regard it as a war of life and death. The officers place no value upon their own lives, so far as he could see, if they think the interests of the nation and the race can be advanced by any acts, however daring, which may result in their losing their lives. They are extremely cheerful in their letters, and looked forward almost with boyish glee to the outbreak of hostilities.