Japanese Crown Prince on Service.

Manawatu Herald, 17 March 1904, Page 2

Japanese Crown Prince on Service.

The eldest son of the Emperor of Japan, who has decided to go on active service again, went through the last campaign against the Chinese, sharing to the full the hardships of the soldiers, eating a private’s rations, and dividing his blankets and few luxuries with his humbler comrades. Later on, in the bitter cold of a Manchurian campaign, he wore only a white duck uniform, which he even declined to allow the soldiers to wash for him. “ Every* body else has to wear a dirty uniform,” he said. “ Why should mine be washed for me ? Here lam not the Crown Prince; I am simply one of Japan’s soldiers.” The lixnperor himself does not stop short of hard work when his army is in the field. In him officers and men have a fine example set them. During the conflict with the Chinese the Mikado worked steadily at the business of the war from 5 o’clock in the morning till midnight, tiring out all his

ministers and secretaries, and refusing to rest or even take food. “Why should I enjoy luxury and ease,” he asked, “ while my brave soldiers in Corea are suffering hardship and peril ?”