A staff officer's scrap!book during the Russo-Japanese war (1906) (14594814538)

Identifier: staffofficersscr02hami (find matches)
Title: A staff officer's scrap!book during the Russo-Japanese war
Year: 1906 (1900s)
Authors: Hamilton, Ian, Sir, 1853-1947
Subjects: Russo-Japanese War, 1904-1905
Publisher: London : Edward Arnold
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN



Text Appearing Before Image:
ters.General Kuroki, one stafiP officer and myself; no oneelse. The conversation was intimate and unconven-tional. I gave all my Port Arthur impressions freely,and Kuroki was keenly interested, especially, I think, inhearing that so far no report which has reached us hassucceeded in conveying an adequate ideaof the stupen-dous monument to valour raised by victors and van-quished on 203 Metre Hill. I expounded my Nanshanand Telissu theories much as I have entered them inmy diary; and whether out of politeness or from con-viction my hosts seemed inclined to accept my views.Something, I forget what, turned the conversation onto the feverish restlessness which, at the beginning ofthe twentieth century, characterises so many greatnations. I remarked that the English people, by thedumb, stubborn conservatism which they consistentlyopposed to the zealous fervour of the Scotch and to theCeltic brilliance of the Irish, kept the ship of State oneven keel, and were the true cause of the grandeur
Text Appearing After Image:
The British Attache with the 2nd Division ist ArmyCaptain B. Vincent, R.F.A. Fuji Veils her Face 351 and stability of the British Empire. In the race ofnations, it was, I thought, always safe to back thetortoise against the hare. Kuroki seemed inclined to appreciate this sentimentand said, Certainly it is dangerous to change oldcustoms hurriedly. Now that we have beaten Russia,I hope my fellow countrymen will see that there cannotbe anything so radically wrong with us after all, andthat they will be inclined to continue their advancemore slowly. My own generation has about run itsrace. Nothing can change us. But, the coming genera-tion ? I would have greater confidence in the futureif I were sure that there is a large section of our peoplewho, like the English, have a positive dislike to change,even when it plausibly assumes the guise of improve-ment. We spoke of certain officers and of the comparativevalues of intelligence and force of character. The staffofficer incidentally remarke