LURID PICTURES OF THE WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12859, 6 May 1905, Page 1 (Supplement)

LURID PICTURES OF THE WAR.

[MY A military attach*;.]

Br. far the most graphic pictures of the war that have yet appeared are those of the military attache who conceals his identity under the letter " O," whose brilliant sketches to Blackwood's have now been published in book form. Of many of (lie incidents related," he says, in his preface, "I have been an. eye-witness;" and "for the rest, I have dealt at -hand, with the actors themselves. livery character in the book represent* some living actor in the terrible drama." THE STORY OF IvAMBIOTO. Here is the stoiy of the progress of a Japanese lieutenant through various phases in which he and the author have come in contact. Their first meeting is at a big dull reception. "The Foreigner," writes tho author, speaking of himself in this impersonal way, " was unutterably bored." Suddenly amid the " grinning faces" the Foreigner is caught by the sight of a little swarthy face—like his own, it seemed to be cast over with the thought of all this futility. The face, "in spite of the low forehead, heady black eye*-', and Mongolian blunt uess, was full of intelligence—at this moment cynical intelligence." The Foreigner speaks to the Japanese attache —for that is what the little swarthy Mian, was—hut at that epoch the Japanese had not yet learned a European tongue, and he could only hand, with a bow, his card to the courteous Foreigner; it bore the words: "Lieutenant 11. Kamimoto, Imperial Japanese Army."

Three years litter the Foreigner found himself at it midsummer party; lie went to the tennis courts, and there "a lithe little figure in flannels was the heart and soul of the game." It is Kamimoto; he is at this moment. a Cambridge undergraduate. He is completing his education in the service of his country. And the chief lesson apparently he takes away is a supreme contempt for our intelligence and our method?. The next time the Foreigner encounters the Japanese lieutenant the surroundings are quite different. He is in China on a diplomatic mission, and finds himself, among other places, in Port Arthur. Fit turned into a liarber's:—

"Four Russian officers from the garrison were tilling all the available space. The Foreigner was surprised at the freedom of speech of the Russian officers with regard to their professional duties, Itseemed this hairdresser's Was a sort of morning club-house. Vodka and beer could be served from ait auberge next door. In due course the Foreigner took his place in the chair. One look in the cheval glass, and in his surprise he nearly jumped out of the seat. There, behind him, lather and brush in hand, and a spotless apron, round bis waist, stood Kaminioto. . . . Here Stood his Japanese prototype, a perfect barber, reading the minds of the Russian officers from morning till night." IN WAR TIME. Finally, when war is declared,, the Foreigner again meets Kamihidto: — " It would have been hard to recognise in Kamimoto, as he now stood, the Cambridge undergraduate of a few years ago. He vas still mild in manner, but his cheeks were drawn and sunken with privation and sleeplessness; his uniform—he was chef-de-bataillon now, where he had been a company commander three days agowas torn, dirty, and weather-stained. The toes of his boots and the knees of his overalls were worn through by the rGugh scarps of the hillsides; even the scabbard of his two-handed sword, the blade which had been wielded by Kataiinotos of his house for six: hundred years, was started and friction marked, i'et withal, save for his eyes, he was mild and even feminine in appearance."

And then comes the filial phase of Kamimoto ; it is terrible and almost appalling. He and the Foreigner have been discussing the awful carnage they have seen during the last few days sd the fighting at Liao'-yang. The Foreigner had seen Kamimoto "lead five forlorn hopes that had failed."

"He had seen half the battalion blotted out amid th» entanglements, and had followed the remaining half over the Russian, breastworks, and on into the plain to the little rise upon which they now lay. They had reached it in time to throw up sketchy trenches in which the Foreigner, deadbeat, had cast himself down to snatch a moment's sleep. , 'Eat and ftvay your gods that yon may never see the like of this again. Think of death in thousands and wish for peace, pray for peace, work for peace.' And flic little officer mixed some tepid green tea- with his rice as is the custonl of his country."

And in the midst of this plea for peace, amid such strange surroundings, the little officer is approached by one of his sentiies: "with a smile, and en apology Kamimoto left bis European friend and dived into the cornstalks in the direction of the outpost line." Kamimoto has been called away because his scouts have discovered that, a. Russian column, which has Inst, its way. is wandering dejectedly and wretched along the Liao-yahg road. A BLOODS DRAMA. And here is the ghastly sequel:—'''Che men's rifles were across their backs, and their pale, worn face's were whiter than their 'blouses. There was no speech, no sound other than the squelching of their hoots in the mire. A surrender? No man came forward to arrange ciuartsi 1 for men too tired, 100 whipped and beaten to defend themselves - . No Japanese went forward to recommend to them such mercy as they had earned. . . . The voice of the ehef-dobataillou rose superior to the silence, 'the rifles crashed like one. The Russian column slopped dead in its tracks. The leading fours were so close that the Foreigner could see the look of amazement, horror, and despair upon the blanched features of the wretched men. Then, as the magazines ground out their leaden avalanche, the leading fours tried to surge backwards, tried to save themselves in flight, ft whs awful! The titles made no smoke to hide the hideous spectacle; it was like the. execution of a. bound man. Flight Mas impossible, for the magnitude of the confusion prevented retreat or retaliation. The little Japanese, shouting and jeering, were, now upon their feet, and redoubling the rapidity of their tire. With blanched cheek and set teeth the Foreigner watched this terrific curt-din to the bloody drama in which he had participated, lie saw the white tunics melting into the mud like snow under a sleet shower. He saw a mad rush towards the cornstalks baulked by the intensity of the file. He saw such of the Russians as remained on their feet throw their arms into the air and stretch out their naked hands towards the rifles that were annihilating them. Their shrieks were in his cars. Then, as if by magic, the firing stopped. A little figurehe knew it well, the whole battalion knew it—leaped in front of the tiring. For a moment the fa<:>e was turned towards the Foreigner. 'the mildness, the culture, the charm wei'o gone; animal ferocity alone remained. lb was Kamimoto as he. wouldJiave been a. hundred years ago. His/* two-handed sword was bare in his band. He raised it gleaming above his head and dashed down into the amphitheatre. Like a pack of hounds his men streamed down after him. The Foreigner covered his face with his hands. The end was too terrible. He turned and fled back to the trench. Here he collected his raincoat and water-bottle, and then, with the horrihle picture ever before him. vent south to collect, his thoughts.'

THE COST OF FAILURE. We have heard a good deal during the war of Japanese who committed what is called the " happy despatch." There is one remarkable chapter in which this form' of seeking glory or blotting on- shame is told with extraordinary power. A body of four Japanese destroyer;!; was 'old off in the face of a terrible b)i;::::ard to do some work. Two of them were partially successful; a third was never heard of again. Lieutenant Watauabe, the commander of the fourth, seeing as be thought, that there was no chance of success, arid having lost touch with lii's consorts, put Into port. He bad committed the great crime; he had failed; and he had shown a want of courage and resource at the critical moment. He is called to see one of the staff commanders of Togo's fleet. lie is asked to give an account of his failure; he tells it straightforwardly: »— "When he had finished the chief of the staff handed him the paper packer of cigarettes which lay on the table. Then drawing in his breath to the full extent of his lungs, the chief staff officer said: 'Lieutenant Watauabe, you are- relieved of the command of your boat, and you will report yourself for duty to the commander of the gunboat Oshima.' The face of the commander as be heard this news was as expressionless as that of the staff officer who gave the order. Watanabo saluted gravely, and withdrew from the cabin, lie passed to tho quarter deck and joined a group of officers. They discussed the fortunes of the war, the prospects of the future, and the various topics which were of interest at the moment; and then the picket boat having been piped the lieuten-ant-commander went over the side smiling to his friends. Yet as he passed down the gangway and returned the salute of the sentry, to all intents and purposes he was a dead man. Aud what is more, every one of Iris friends knew it." "VINDICATING HIS HONOUR." And then comes a. description, of the deliberation and ceremony, and even solemnity, with which Watauabe prepares to purge his shame by suicide: — " The servant was about to pick up his master's uniform when Watauabe detached the two medals from his frock-coat, and wrapping them, in a piece of 'paper instructed him to take them to his; home in Japan. 'The. rest,' he said, pointing to his uniform and his sword, '"ill go with me.'

"The servant carried flu: personal effects away, and Watanabe was left alone. He turned and looked seaward over the dull, grey expanse of water towards the horizon, which stood out as the line dividing him from the stronghold of hie country's enemy. He never took his gaze away from that skyline until the second engineer returned and took him by the hand and led him to the place which was prepared. Here the crew of the launch hud assembled. They stood round in a semi-circle, and placed in front of thorn was a white sheet. At one end was a Japanese pillow, at the other a little table. On this lay, wrapped in a, clean white paper, a short knife. Wataiiaba strode to the sheet; he bowed to his comrades, and they all stood in attention in iuute salute. He then gat down'and arranged his posture so that his neck might lie upon the pillow. Having settled himself, lie proceeded to unfold the lower portion of his dress, and lay bare some four inches of skin from the waistband upwards. The second engineer handed "him thtt paper-covered knife; he seized it. in the middle of the blade, and turning his .'head bowed as well as he could in his prostrate position to his comrades. His eyes finally sought the second engineer's. This officer was in position; he stood at Watanabe's right side with a naked sword in his hand. At an inclination of the doomed man's . head he raised the blade skywards. With one bold, firm, and determined action Watanabe self-inflicted a slight incision from left to right; he turned his eyeballs upwards, the second engineer caught the' signal, and with a singls sweep of the sword he helped Watanabti to vindicate his own honour, the honour of his forbears, and the fair name of Japan." A JAPANESE OFFICER'S FATE. There is no service too mean, as, of course, there is none too dangerous, for the Japanese officer to perform. One erf the tasks set to them now and again is that of wrecking the railway linethat thin thread of steel on which the lives of all the hundreds of thousands of the Russian soldiers depend. This is a capital offence; any man caught in doing it is immediately executed. The work is usually left to the Chinese brigand; but now and then a Japanese officer is sent among these fellows to stiffen their resolution and to give "intelligent direction, to their efforts. And many a Japanese officer has fallen in this service. Here is a curious little episode in which two old comrades of the days before the. war. meet when a train-wrecking party lias been captured* red-handed; it is something- of the inevifahleness and high tragedy of war, mixed also with its gleams of pity and tenderness : --

''It is a beautiful morning as these severe winter mornings go-, and the two Russian officers in charge of the bridgeguard turn out of their sung little bivouac under the embankment to hear the report that the night patrols have captured four train-wreckers red-handed.

""Bring them up.' says the. tall, fair fur-covered senior, who is an officer from the European army, and has been posted to this section of the railway on account of the energy ho has displayed in preventing damage to the line by the marauding Hunhutzas. The four wretched culprits are brought before him. Miserable*, (heir captors had extended to them nothing of the hospitality of mean warmth which they themselves were able to find in the bivouac of the bridge-guard. Miserable, indeed, but stoical withal.

"The Russian officer, as he lit a cigarette, walked over to the prisoners ami peered into the face of the. shortest of the four. lie took off the fur cay, and laving hold of the queue beneath, gave i! a wrench. It icame away in his hand.

"'Ha, ha! 1 thought; so; it Mas too daring for these wretched Manchu's to have under take by themselves.' And the tall Russian laughed loudly. The laugh died on his lips us he looked at the Japanese face be tore him ; he changed from his own tongue to French, looking the while like a man who has seen a ghost.

'"My Cod!' he said, 'it must bo the same; to think that you should hare come to this

"The masquerading Japanese answered in .halting French: 'Yes, eaptaiu, when we were comrades together iu Eure-et-Loire wo never dreamed that it would come to this!'

"Tho Russian steadied himself, and, without saying a word, took out his cigarette case and handed the Japanese. ■< cigarette. Then he tailed his servant and ordered some spirits.

"'Perhaps you would prefer tea';' he said to his .sorry guest; ' ii is quite ready, only 1 must apologise that it. is Russian tea!' '

'"The little Japanese admitted that he would prefer he tea. A? he dra.uk ii the Russian captain grimly gave some orders to the escort, and, pulling Out his watch, he. reverted to French —

"'Lieutenant Zanioto, in live minutes you will be shot. Jt is the only concession I can make to you. Your three companions will he hanged immediately from the bridge girders. Cod ho with you*!' "