THE JAPANESE OFFICER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1920, 28 December 1918, Page 1

THE JAPANESE OFFICER.

The Japanese officer has, practically speaking, no interests of any sort, outside his profession; his social, engagements arc nil, and ho plays no games, nor does he walch any. There is for him no Lord',-) or Kennington Oval, no Ora ml National or Derby, no ’Varsity boat race or Henley. Even in the regiment the social side of the officers’ lives is to our minds curiously neglected. They have their mid-day meal together as far as possible, but no one lives in barracks, and there is no mess as we understand the word. Leave is seldom sought for; indeed, to most Japanese officer’s the regular lour of orderly officer ('nines round as a sort of red-letter day.

The following story will illustrate the spirit in which games are regarded;— Some years ago, (wo Japenese captains were sent to England (o study English, and, incidentally, to be attached (o British regiments. It happened that they wore attached to a unit where cricket and football were played a good

deal, and, being persuaded by their English comrades, the two Japanes'i Joined in as far as possible, and, when not able to play, watched the various regimental mat dies wit!) keen interest. Towards the end id their lime, the Japanese Military Attache in London asked the C.O. of the unit to which the two officers were attached to report on them, as, he reported on his own officers.. The C.O. complied, and sent in what ho considered a glowing report —“keen, zealous officers, etc.,” —winding up with the remark, ‘‘very fund of games.”

The Military Attache was aghast: his specially-selected officers ‘‘fond of games,” and wasting their time, no doubt. The officers were telephoned for to London, had an unpleasant interview with their chief, and were within an ace of being sent back to Japan in disgrace. It occurred to them to suggest that their C.O. be asked for a further report; when it appeared that “fond of games” was usually put on the credit side in assessing the character of an otlicer, there were few men more astonished than the Japanese Military Attache. To this day—lie is a famous general now —he tells the story against himself with gusto.