GREAT JAPANESE GENERAL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2086, 22 May 1907, Page 4

GREAT JAPANESE GENERAL

PRINCE FUSHIMA’S VISIT TO ENGLAND.

Tlio cablegrams of the last few days have contained several references to Prince Fushima, the Japanese envoy to England, who is being feted l ight royally, and out of consideration for whose susceptibilities “The Mikado” has been banned. While Prince Fushima (otherwise General Nishi, one of the heroes of the late war) was in Paris a few weeks ago, the correspondent of the London Daily Chronicle had an extremely interesting interview with him. The correspondent says General Nishi is a true Samurai, cherishing all the traditions of old Japan, and a firm believer in the future of tho race to which he belongs. Quiet in manner, laconic in speech, with penetrating blue eyes, he carries the weight of his sixty years lightly. In Manchuria ho proved himself ono of tho ablest of Kuroki’s divisional commanders, and earned tho name of “Nishi the Tireless.”

Continuing, the correspondent says —Tho picture of General Nishi that lias indelibly burned itself into my memory was as I saw him erect on a bullet-swept slope at Motionling, whon his division was hurling back tho mass of attacking Russian infantry. I was in a trench near by. Tho General stood there immobile, watching tlio Russians being driven down tlio valley. Tlio bullets hummed" like a swarin of angry wasps. Ono ripped through tlio leather ease of his fieldglasses, but this man of marble gave no sign that ho oven noticed it. “Tireless Nishi” was on the light of Kuroki ill those bloody days round Liaoyang, stemming the tide of Orloff’s advance, and holding liis ground with tho tenacity of a bulldog. To-day tho sceno was different. Instead of a soldierly, erect figuro in uniform, I saw a quiet, elderly-look-ing man in the conventional (frock coat, smoking a cigarette in a room at tlio Grand Hotol, and looking out of the window at the changing kaleidoscope of the street. The bronzed face lighted up as I

was announced, and gripping my band in both of his, the General gjuve me a hearty salutation in Japanese, its English equivalent being, “How are you? I am delighted to see you.”' We sat, smoked, and fought-tlie campaign over again. “It was nothing,” said tjie General, speaking through an interpreter, and referring to'the Motienling incident,“simply nothing at all,” he added, with a deprecatory wave of the hand. “I cannot agree with you,” said I. General Nishi returned laughingly, “Perhaps you know the Japanese proverb, ‘He that praises hjmself is a fool.’ ” Had lie read the published extracts qf Kuropatkin’s book? No, lie had not, had I reed lan Hamilton’s book, and did I know if the second volume was published ? he countered. “Nishi, the Tireless” is now Direc-tor-General of Military Education at Tokyo, and he told me he had come to Europe on a special mission to study the various methods of imparting military instruction. “I think yoij liaye something to show us,” he said, with that modesty so characteristic of the Japanese. “Hardly, ’ I remarked. “Europe, in a military sense, would like Japan as the mentor.” General Nishi proceeded to say that the knowledge acquired by travel and finding out and adopting the very-best other countries had to offer Japan bad always felt to be tile real road to efficiency ,j and efcbat economy in this direction was like burning one’s nails to make fire or setting

a ladder on a cloud. I’rinob Fushima’s visit to England accomplished, that of General Nishi will begin. Ho hoped to see Europe, lio said, especially military Europe. With characteristic courtesy he apologised for not knowing some European lauguago, and in tlio picturesque phraseology of Japan lilconed himself to a blind man peeping through a fence. There I disagreed with him, and ventured to assort that ho would roturn to Japan with all, the systoms of military education at his lingers’ ends. Ilis itinerary has not yot been fixed, but ho will remain in Europe about a year, and with him as 'aide-de-camp will bo General Odaka', of tlio Japanese General Staff. Ho will spend some time in England, Franco, Gormany, Austria, and Italy, returning probably by way of America’. “Wo hope to profit much by, tlio trip. Even a brick may become a gem if polished,” said the general, with another laugh. “Yes,” ho jwont on, is too early to ask me my impressions of Eurojio. Wait till I soon.more of it.” Nishi has three hobbies —soldiers, automobiles, and airships. If he knew French he would stop and 1 converse with every soldier ho met. He distrusts motors, for he has but a nodding acquaintance with them. Still ho likes to watch them from the safe vantage ground of the Champs Elysees, as ho did to-day. lie has also found time to visit the tomb of Napoleon, to pay his respects to the greatest captain of his ago. Tlio old soldier on guard was a Crimean veteran, and it interested him to know that this veteran fought side by side with the British. Like the majority of Japan’s warrior heroes, Nishi is shy and reserved. He shrinks from the limelight of public adulation, and it was only with tho greatest difficulty .tliaff he could be got to speak of his own personal achievements. “Yes,” he rejdied, in answer to a question, “I find Paris pleasant after Manchuria, but then,” he continued with’ a sly smile, “I was able to find my way about Manchuria; I could not do that in Paris.” Here I showed the General some photograqhs I had taken, showing him exposed to the fire at Motionling. “Yes,” said he, allowing his thoughts to wander back to that memorable occasion, “many brave men fell on that day. The ltussians were gallant foes. Now it is finished, and we are firm friend,'J. > Goodbye,” said the General holding out his hand. “Come and see me again. I am looking forward to meeting Sir lan Hamilton when I go to London.”