HOW JAPS FACE DEATH

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1696, 31 August 1904, Page 73

HOW JAPS FACE DEATH

SCENES ON TRANSPORT. Death rather than submission was the fate which was voluntarily chosen by the Japanese soldiers and others who were on board tho transport Kinshiu-maru at Gensan, when the Russian warships suddenly appeared on the scene. The “Kobe wnronicle” reprints from a native paper a most interesting account of this stirring incident of the war. It appears that the men had been ashore sconcing, and had been re-embarked. The escorting torpedo-boat destroyer flotilla put to sea, and the transport followed, but scon the vessels were separated in a fcg, and when this lifted the Kinshiu-maru found herself close to some warships, when the Rigri-l ff stnp ,J flna+p-d from +he mainmash and the firing of a blank shot across the Kin shin’s bows, brought the vessel to a. standstiP This turn of events naturally caused surprise and astonishment on board the transport, but nothing could he done in the way of escaping. Lieutenant-Commander Miaoguchi, who had charge of the work of' the transport, proposed visiting the warships and taking such measures as required by circumstances. This was agreed to be the best course, and, having said farewell to me military officers in command of ihe troops, and accompanied by Captain Yagi, Paymaster licla, and an interpreter, Ur Kondo, the' Lieutenant-Commander rowed to the nearest warship, whence, as is known, tho party never returned, and are now prisoners of Avar at Irkutsk. THEIR LAST HOTJR. On board the Kinshiu-maru the military officers assembled in the saloon and took counsel as to their course of action. The officers Avere Captain Shiina, Captain Sakurai, Lieutenant Terada, Lieutenant Yokota, and Ensign Higaki. After tho conference Captain Shiina Avent into the ■’tween decks, Avliere the men had been ordered to assemble, and gave orders as to the course to be taken by them. MeanA\ r hile both the transport and the Avarships liad been lowering boats, and soon three officers boarded the Kinshiu and ordered the troops to lay doAvn their arms and surrender, stating that if they-did so they Avould be taken on board the Avarsliips. The soldiers Avere given an hour in Avhich to arrive at a decision, and, having allowed the creAV of the steamer and the passengers to take to the boats, the naval officers returned to the squadron. It Avas now past midnight, Avith a bright moon" "arid clear sky. A great silence prevailed on the transport, which hoav had only troops on board and a feAV

bluejackets and coolies. Captain Shiina once again inspected his men, avlio were found in perfect order, some motionless, but others fixing bayonets or loading their rifles, preparing for the end. Sergeant-major Was hi at as collecting the maps, sketches, etc., kept by the officers; Sergeant Okano gathered in the notebooks of the men, and maps and notebooks Avere thrown into the engine-room fire. A corporal ordered the men to take off their numbers on their shoulderstraps, so that everything should be destroyed Avhich could prove of any value to tho enemy afterwards. SELLS HIS LIFE. DEARLY. It Avas past one o’clock on the morning of April 23 Avhon tlio Russians discharged a torpedo against the forepart of tho transport. On this Captain Shiina again went into the •’tween decks and freed the men from military discipline. They Avero told to tako Avliat course' they thought fit; as nothing could be done to avert disaster. The men, anxious to knoAv tho fate of tlieir officers, swarmed up the companion-ways to the saloon, found tho doors locked and no sound issuing therefrom. Inside were the officers, aaTio had agreed to sink with the steamer, imprisoned in the saloon so that they should not fall into the hands of the enomv. Particular and scrupulous to the last, the officers had persuaded Can tain Sakurai, avLo did not belong to their regiment, of the inadvisability c-f his dying Avith thorn. Captain Sakurai, au old experienced officer, regarded by the General Staff as on© of the smartest officers of the army in Northern Korea, left, his comrades, and the manner of his death is unknoAvn. According to report, however, it seems there was not perfect unanimity in the manner the officers should meet their, death. It is stated that Lieutenant Terada dissented from the command of Captain Shiina that tho officers should die together, and left the ship, voAving that he would ec-li his life to 13)e enemy, but die fighting. What became of Lieutenant Terada is not known. WENT DOWN SINGING A BATTLE SONG. Tho end of the mon was equally tragic. Spmo minutes after Captain Shiina had given his last commands, Avhich left the soldiers to their own resources, Sergeant Ivuri.su and Corporal Horisaka committed suicide by shooting each other, and many followed this example. Sergeant Okano Avent on deck, drew his SAVord, and committed hara 1-ciri, an example, avg arc told, Avhich Avas folimved by some of his men. A rather .more soldierlike Avay of spending the last moments of their 1 ives Ava-s that of Corporal Hasbimoto and some CO men, who from the deck fired repeatedly at the Russians by tho corporal’s command. The enema- replied Avith fatal effect, but the end of all Avas uoav near. Fifty minutes after the first torpedo Avas discharged a second torpedo struck the Kinshiu-maru, and nearly cut the vessel in two parts. It sank in thirteen minutes, but during this time a hot lire Avas kept up by tho Japanese, who went down Avitli the ship, cheering and singing the marching song of their regiment. Tho final stag© cf this chapter of the Avar is Ave'll kncAvn—how about 60 of the men succeeded in getting clear of the ship, either before or after she sank, and reached the coast: but there Avere noncombatants Avhoso fato Avas quite uncertain, bluejackets and coolies, Avhom it is thought possible the Russians may haA 7 ® picked up afterwards. The end of many on board the Kinshiu-maru is one more striking example of tho heroism Avith. which men can be inspired Avhen tho alternative to death is surrender and the sense of military disgrace.