A SURPRISING STORY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3079, 9 May 1917, Page 8

A SURPRISING STORY

JAPANESE TROOPS IN FRANCE. [The following from the Sun Francisco correspondent of the Dunedin "Star," is rattier surprising. Whether it is true or a characteristic piece. oV Press fiction from the United State, must be left for the reader to decide. Jt is published for what it may be worth.]

Although strongly associated with the Entente Allies, it was learned in the United States with the greatest surprise that thousands of Japanese troops have been landed on the west coast of Canada during the early part of March by the Allies and transported to Quebec, and are now in France. It was definitely known that the first brigade of Japanese troops, numbering 25,000 men, passed through Canada in the first few days of March, hound i'or Trance. Ths information was learned from J. L. Tobias, chancellor of the Chicago T.aw School, who learned of the troop movement from aii inspecting engineer in the employ of the Canadian Government, 'i-'he engineer lias now returned to his home in Chicago. Here is the story as told to Tobias:—"l thought, the entire world knew by this time the/Allies had begun to transport Japanese troops across -America to France. Not until my arrival in Chicago did I become aware ot the censorship on this news. T was not the only astonished one when I saw 25,f1Pfl Jananese soldiers marching in Ottawa last week. .'They had come from Vancouver. Tn front of the palace the troops won , reviewed by exPiemier Tauriev. Afterwards they gave an exhibition of their fitness by' doins a double-quick march for a mile to the railway denot. At the (tpnot they were entrained for Quebec, and" the journey across the km. Their outfit wss perfect They u-ere rnuinned for a Inn* campaign. I was told hv Cantain Aseltine, hend of n Canadian battalion rnwit'y returned ,frnm the trenches, tliat this hrirwle was (lip first of a lnrge number of ,T<nwine.3i» soldiers wMcli the. Allies nre s"»(linjr to Trance. He estimated that within two months moro ■ than a million ,T:ipnn?s9 "•mild be in th« ■ trenebos of Pra'piv. 'I'll- Pnnmlinn officer explained that t.l<" first brigiulp of Hie troops tn pus* tl-rowrli Caniuln wer» veterans of tile T?u.ssn,Tnpn"ps» VTnr. and were the pick of the Jfikndo's army.