Cover art

Koreans receiving Cavalry

"Oh! it is easy to cross the Yalu river."

—Japanese War Song.

My dear Ralph,

Last year, I remember, you were a little reproachfulbecause I sent "Tom Burnaby" to Jack at Harrow, and Imade you a half promise that possibly at some future dateyou Taylorians should not be forgotten. I am better thanmy word. Here is a book—too late for your birthday, butin time for Christmas—which I hope will meet with yourgood favour.

It is now nearly ten years since, on one of the bridges inOsaka, I watched a battalion of the Imperial Guards marchingto the China war. The Chinese had been driven acrossthe Yalu and hustled through Manchuria; the Guards wereto assist in carrying the war, if necessary, to the walls ofPekin. There was something in the bearing of those short,sturdy, alert little soldiers to arrest the attention and givefood for thought. They had all the purposeful air of ourown Gurkhas, with a look of keener intelligence, and a joyouseagerness that thrilled the observer.

In the China war the Japanese were for the first timemeasuring their strength. It was