THE LOSS OF THE KINSHU MARU

Otago Witness, Issue 2623, 22 June 1904, Page 29

THE LOSS OF THE KINSHU MARU

That Japan has been very lucky during the present war admits of no doubt, but on the night of the 25th of April she met with a misfortune that must be set in the opposite tide of the account. The officer in charge of the Japanese forces in Northeast Korea, growing uneasy at the raids of tho small party of Cossacks who had fired a small Japanese settlement at Iwon, resolved to send some troops there, for which purpose he despatched the transport Kinshu Maru, a vessel of some 4000 tons — formerly the British steamer Kmtuck, but now belonging to the Nippon Yiisen Kaisha, and for a long time on the run between Yokohama and Seattle— together with an escort of torpedo-boats to the place. The Kinshu landed her troops safely, and then, together with her escort, &«t out for Yiumsan on tho return journey. It was 6 o'clock on tho •evening of the 25th of April when they weighed anchor, and tlio weather looked so threatening that the torpedo-boats put into Cha-ho-po for shelter, but the Kinshu carried on, and a I 11.15 p.m. she suddenly found hr>r?-clf in the company of the Russian Vladivostoclf's squadron— the inglorious squadron, of powerful cruisers that have been hidiiig their beads among the ice floes of the frozen north since their little escapade near Hakodate soon after the outbreak of hostilities. After a signal was made to stop by the Russian?, the captain of the Kinshu. tho staff insj^cuiiff officer, and the chief paymaster, with one other, repaired to the Russian ships and wove, held prisoner. The enemy then signalled for all those remaining on board live Kinshu Maru to go on board their ships, and gave an hour's law for this operation. 4t 12 p.m. nearly all the crew of the Kinshu Maru had left her, but the soldiers, in compliance with orders, remained below. The Russians appear to have sent an. officer to inspect the steamer, but whether this was before or after the order to leave was given is uucerfcain. Presumably it was after, since it was not till 1.30 a.m. on the 27th, when the hour of grace had expired, that the first torpedo was fired. The soldiers then went on deck, and, lining- up in strict military formation, commenced firing on the Russian warships, who replied with their quickfiring guns, and did great destruction. When the last shot was fired the men left alive shouted out three cheers for their Ernporor and Japan, while their officers, in accordance with Japanese traditions, disembowelled themselves rather than fall into the hands of the Russians. Another torpedo fired by the enemy cut the vessel in two, and she" sink, when those who were left took to the boats. They were nearly swamped, but by throwing all heavy articles overboard they managed to keep afloat. They then rowed westward, and on the 26th, at 5 p.m., they reached an Hand on tho coast. Tho first boat to reach the island contained 37 soldiers. Another boat- with eight soldiers arrived subsequently. Tt is also reported that some naval men effected their escape in another boat, but. nothing has been heard of them. Tho greater part of tho crew are believed to have been taken on board the cruiser Rossia. Not one soldier was made prisoner by the Russians. Those that perished were: — Two captains, 2 lieutenants, 1 sub-lieutenant, 1 sergeantmajor, and 73 non-commissioned officers and men. Among those rescued there were 10 slightly and 1 somewhat severely wounded. The others died a splendid death 1 . Japanese newspapers are unanimous w.

regarding the incident &1 a petty affair with regard to its dimensions. For such losses a country at war must be prepared. They are also unanimous in declaring that the soldiers and their officers behaved in a manner worthy of Japanese "samurai." Military forces are powerless at sea, and they are well aware of the fact. There .was nothing to be done but surrender or to die, and these men chose death, as is a soldier's duty. They assembled on the deck of the ship, fired tboir last volley, and died. Nothing more could have been asked oi them. Their last act was a message to their country — a message which she reads to mean that, so long as Japan is served by euch men, she has nothing to fear. The newspapers are perplexed, however, by the conduct of Commander Mizoguchi and Paymaster lida, who seem to have proceeded at once to the Russian ship, and to have remained there. It is supposed that they yirent there with the object of saving life, and that the Russians immediately made prisoners of them; but, among the comments evoked by their actioii it is easy •to detect a note of disaatisfactio'n that they, " too, aid not choose death. Such a regret will give food for thought to philosophic Observers. It illustrates vividly the 'difference between Occidental and Japanese yiews of death. Captain Sakurai, who commanded the company of soldiers, and who died with them, has been honoured with the Order of rhe-Gofden Kite. He was an officer of high promise. In the war of 1894-5,. while still a young lieutenant, he distinguished himself highly, conducting perilous and independent operations which demanded the utmost intelligence and zeal, j The soldiers that died "were of the Fourth •Division — that is to say, tho Osaka Division, j ,The Osaka troops have hitherto had a bad j name among militaiy men. They were i charged with pusillanimity on the occasion . of the first Formosa campaign, and the j ■etigma clung to them ever afterwards. No | lopporfcuniiy of removing it was given to | them in the war of 1894--5. But they have j ■How rehabilitated their reputation. j A. Bellamy Beown.