170           A Staff Officer's Scrap-Book
Comrades, can we live forgetting Comrades—gallant comrades—slain Ten years since ?    Oh, Powers ancestral, Did your life blood flow in vain ?
There must be some end to evil Even in our life's short span : Now is the hour—for we are inarching. Down with Russia !    On, Japan !
Vaunt not Russia's vast dominions— Boast not of her legions bold : What is vastness in a desert ? What are hosts whose hearts are cold ?
Thousands starving : traitors lurking : Coffers empty : lack of grain, How shall Russia stand against us, Stand the long and weary strain ?
But our own dear precious country 'Neath its Emperor can combine. A thousand years, and more, unbroken, Stretches back his Heaven-born line.
We are true and we are loyal, " Roshia," as its letters say,* Melts before the morning sunlight; Melts and swiftly fades away.
March then with our sunlight banner Waving proudly in the van : March beneath that glorious emblem. Down with Russia !    On, Japan!
June 9th, 1904.—Eode round the outposts, after having bidden a sad adieu to two charming countrywomen who have shed the radiance of their countenances   over   Fenghuangcheng   for the  past   two or
* The Japanese characters for "dew" and for "Russia" are identical.