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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (April 10, 1904)
Japan is Preparing for a Long War By Frederick Palmer, Collier's Special War Correspondent Attached to the Japanese General Staff g d ... I iinniiimilM mi n niiim - iiiiI I - i , ii i!-- . l- MJVi. . jA . .im, vjjA' : jt gw' . A jttisv , M ,,,,, , -i TEIKAKU BANZAI" ("IONO I-IVK THE EMPIRE")-ENTHUSIASM AT KOBI TTPON THE DEPARTURE OF A TROOP TRAIN FOR UJINA, A PORT OF EM BARKATION FOR CORKA-Photo by James II. Hare Copyright, 1304, by Collier's Weekly. The Re today presents ltd readers With another of the letters of Fred erick 1... l'ulmer, the famous war cor respondent, wlio is representing Collier'B Weekly in Japan, together with repro ductions of photographs made for Col lier's by James H. Hare and Robert lJunn, who are following the mi kado's armies for Collier's. HI me the letter was written Mr. Palmer has been flvon permission to Join the urmy in lie fluid, und his next letter will be written from the front. Hy special arrangements with Collier's Weekly, The iiee. has the exclusive right to use the loiters and photographs furnidhed by that paper's correspondents In the fur euHt, Hum adding a most important feature, to this paper's already excellent War Htrvlco. The readers of The Itee only In llilrf section have the advantage bf this Inconipurahle service. (CopyrlKht, by Collier's Weekly.) )KIO, March 4, 1904. One convic tion here Is universal: Vnlrss Russia wishes to give up in the mhlHt of humlllutlon, the war will lie loK. To tho genera staff, plannliiK compiilKHH to extend over years, the impatience of the correspondents to bo lit the front comes as the potter of rain on the window pane. Those master tacti cians and strategists are like so many ma chinists directing u plant under cover. Now and then one comes out and chats politely With the inquirer, and Flips buck to the Inner mysteries. Once the whole powerful machine Is In action, the engineers, with a Japuneso andle, will pull aside the curtain. The first tableau was the dlplomutlc coup that caught Russia unawares. The second was the occupation of Seoul and the victory of Fuil Arthur. The third will be the ap pearance of a big army at some strategic point Even In peace times tho Japanese never say what they are doing; th?y announce in due time what they have done. Five men in the whole country, not more, know the plan of campaign, even In Its general policy. A cabinet officer put a question to one of the Ave, whose answer was: "It is better that you should not know. It will help us none If you do know, and you might. In an unguarded mo ment, let a bint pass your Hps." The correspondent who complains must recall that Stonewall Jackson never took his own staff Into his confidence. In this land, where authority comes di rectly from the emperor, one man, or a set of men, bears all the responsibility. The business of the rest is to obey. The major general himself muy not know what Is the objective of his division. He is as essentially one of the chessmen as his own privates, moved by the great players in Toklo. When a local paper says that an officer of the Imperial (luard has de parted, "destination unknown," it is telling as much ua the officer himself knows. Ten days ago Toklo was full of soldiers; today it is again a town of peace. At the office of the general staff, where Lieutenant (!en eral Huron Kodumu, the muster of the army's work, its plans, and Its ambitions, still remains, the mill grinds with the same regularity and fineness as in time of peace. This nation wants to make war. Every man, woman and child Is for bloodshed without end till victory corned. In natl nal finance ut such a time, belief Is the most valuable asset next to productiveness. If the people distrusted the government; If they hoarded their gold and icfused to sub scribe to tho war bonds, then wc should already be In thai midst of a crisis. The contrary is magnificently true. To a war overseas are brought tho sacrifices which are supposed to go with a war ugulnst the Invader; such sacrifices not In the last ditches, but at the outset, when victory Is In the air, as the South made In the Civil war, and Frenchmen made In IsTO. Joined with this Ih peacetime production. When a people stand ready to give to the govern ment their dally earnings and the sale of their products, the nation neeJ borrow only of Itself. In vain you may look for some class which does not regard this entry of Jap anese troops into a foreign land as a mat ter of life and death to the home land. There are literally no "antls" In Japan. The 100,tKK),0W yen loan is subscribed again and uKuln. Tho swelling provincial war funds ure fed by the money of all classes. Tho eoollo stakes his wages on the courage of Japanese troops; his employer stakes his business. Patriotism glvs the whola land the community of Interest of a club. The nobles send In their gold cups (perhaps given by the emperor); their wive send In their Jewelry, to bo melted down. A cer tain marquis gave all his horscj to the government. When It came to the carriage pair, madam protested a little. "My bus band was never so ungry with me In all his life as with that piece of selfishness," she said afterward. If you at home would understand how the Individual regards national affairs as his person il affairs, consider that a, foreign force had taken New York, Philadelphia and Washington and was marching Inland. Then the Rock mellers, the Morgans, the Vanderbilts, and the Goulds would contribute their millions to defend their property. The Japanese millionaire has no selfish Interest beyond the expansion of Japanese trade, wlch will follow Japanese successes. But he is a Japanese before he is a millionaire, Just aa the coolie Is a Japanese before he Is a coolie. The Imperial Guard has gone, "destina tion unknown." The next tableau will show them In action. The system that carries them from Toklo to Corea or Manchuria seems almost us obscure to a foreigner as that of Caesar's transports. Ten days ago trooper-packed trains were running out of Toklo; the nearby villages were alive with flags. Hy way of welcome the artistic in genuity inborn In every Japanese gave tho Inspiration of its patriotism full play in decorations. Utile crowds gathered to cheer the glimpse of a uniform. Now tho regular train schedule Is being re-established and a newcomer, who looks out of the window at the figures, turning tho giound for the sowing, might well ask If the country was really at war. This total absence of confusion, heretofore considered inevitable to preparation, is tho marvel that continues to impress one who waits upon the word of the general staff to go to the fiont. It Is this state of peace which partly an swers the question whether or not Japan can afford a long war. It Is now clear that the funds will be forthcoming to keep a gieut army In the field for two or three (Continued on Page Thirteen.) " -"' '.--. ' . a -a a VUJ I "I'Jj f' C"5 'i w. , PTE AM 1.AITNCH. CARRYINO BIX OVER CROWPF1D BABOEB IXJADED WITH rBOU TTTH JAPAXEEB TBASSPORTS TO TUB LANDING AT CilB- MLUO-fhol la; JL I IuiiaC0iTtKi4, hj CzOIlta-'a WAljr.