Chapter I: Preface

“Under the Mikado’s Flag” relates the adventures of two young Americans in Korea and Manchuria during the outbreak of the great war between Russia and Japan, which has for its primary object the settling of the vexing question of how much of the Liao-tung Peninsula shall remain under Russian control, and whether or not this control shall eventually be extended to Korea.

In the tale are related some of the causes which led up to this struggle, and also the particulars of the sinking of many ships of war, the numerous attacks upon Port Arthur, the landing of the Japanese troops at Chemulpo and other points, and the advance northward through Korea to the Yalu River. Here the Russians made a strong stand, but being outnumbered they were forced to retreat; and then followed numerous other skirmishes and battles, leading up to the great conflict before Liao-Yang, in which half a million men fought desperately for days—an encounter which has few parallels in modern history.

To those who have read a previous volume of mine, entitled “On to Pekin,” the leading character of the present story will perhaps seem like an old friend. Gilbert Pennington had already served in Cuba, in the Philippines, and in China, so it was no new thing for him to don a soldier’s uniform and go forth to fight as of yore. And what was true of the young man who had once been a lieutenant of the United States regulars, was likewise true of his bosom chum, Ben Russell, and their faithful old comrades-in-arms, Carl Stummer and Dan Casey.

At the present writing it is impossible to predict what the outcome of this great war will be. The resources of Russia are tremendous, but that nation has many troubles at home. On the other hand, the sturdy Japanese are fighting with wonderful bravery thinking nothing of facing death at every turn and with a strategy which is as successful as it is astonishing.

Once more let me thank my young friends for the interest they have shown in my previous books. May they find the present volume equally interesting and profitable.

EDWARD STRATEMEYER.

_October 1, 1904._

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. A MATTER OF BUSINESS 1

II. GILBERT LEARNS SOMETHING 12

III. DETAINED BY THE RUSSIANS 22

IV. TROUBLESOME DAYS IN PORT ARTHUR 32

V. THE FIRST NAVAL BATTLE 42

VI. AN ESCAPE AND A FIGHT 52

VII. AMONG JAPANESE FRIENDS 61

VIII. AT THE GERMAN HOTEL 70

IX. GILBERT LEAVES PORT ARTHUR 80

X. AT SEA IN A SNOW SQUALL 90

XI. AN ORDER TO LAY-TO 100

XII. IN THE LAND OF THE MORNING CALM 110

XIII. OLD COMRADES IN ARMS 119

XIV. ON BOARD THE “COLUMBIA” 129

XV. JOINING THE JAPANESE ARMY 139

XVI. ON TIME WAY TO PING-YANG 149

XVII. SURPRISED BY THE COSSACKS 158

XVIII. FACE TO FACE WITH A LEOPARD 168

XIX. GILBERT MAKES A PRISONER 177

XX. THE SINKING OF THE “PETROPAVLOVSKI” 186

XXI. THE BATTLE OF THE YALU 196

XXII. CROSSING THE RIVER 206

XXIII. AMONG THE RUSSIAN SPIES 214

XXIV. FIGHTING IN A STORM 223

XXV. ON THE MARCH 232

XXVI. PRISONERS OF WAR 240

XXVII. CAPTAIN BARUSKY HAS HIS SAY 249

XXVIII. A RIDE FOR LIFE 258

XXIX. GILBERT PLAYS THE SPY 267

XXX. CAPTURED BY THE CHUNCHUSES 276

XXXI. THE GREAT BATTLE OF LIAO-YANG 285

XXXII. FACE TO FACE—CONCLUSION 294

ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

He raised his wounded comrade from the water (_Frontispiece_) 210

“What are you doing here?” demanded the Russian officer 20

The stray shot was a most unexpected one 50

“We’ll be run down!” cried Gilbert 99

“Hullo, Ben! Hullo, Larry!” exclaimed Gilbert 135

The runaways were bounding forward at a furious pace 170

It was hard, exhausting labor, with little of glory in it 238

The Chunchuses surrounded the Americans and compelled them to halt 277

UNDER THE MIKADO’S FLAG