Two Famous Generals Pass Through Missoula – 1907
Pay Homage To Great General
People of Missoula Gather At Station To Greet Baron Kuroki
Serenade By The Band
Japanese Residents Present Famous Man With Bouquet of Flowers and Souvenir of the City – His Escort, General MacArthur, Delivers Brief Address.
General Baron T. Kuroki, the hero of the Russian-Japanese war, and his party, escorted by Lieutenant General Arthur MacArthur and staff, passed through this city on train No. 4 yesterday morning and were given a great ovation during the 10 minutes that the train remained at the Missoula station. They were greeted by fully 1,000 people and were serenaded by the Missoula Eagle band.
Many of the Japanese residents of the city gathered at the station to pay homage to their famous general, and as an evidence of their admiration and esteem they presented him with a beautiful bouquet of carnations and a souvenir of Missoula. The presentation was made by Miss Mitsuko Yasumura, the little daughter of H. Yasumura, who was attired in white. As soon as the train stopped she boarded it and greeted the general in his car. The band played as the train pulled into the station.
The general responded to the greeting by going to the rear platform, where the crowd had gathered, and smiling and bowing graciously. The general has a kind face, and although he made no attempt to speak, he won the hearts of those who had gathered to see him. As he appeared his countrymen cheered lustily and waved the American and Japanese flags.
General MacArthur was asked for, and he appeared on the platform and made a few remarks on behalf of the party. He was greeted by energetic applause as he emerged from the car.
“General Kuroki and his party,” said General MacArthur, “are here as the guests of the United States, and it is very appropriate that you should greet them in this manner on this beautiful Sunday morning. They have been greeted thus all the way from Seattle to this point, and the courtesies are highly appreciated.
“It was the wish of President Roosevelt that these men should be shown every courtesy in this country, and it is very gratifying to know that the people have responded so heartily to that wish.”
The general suggested that everyone present join in a Japanese shout, using the word “Banzai,” and the people responded in a manner that was highly pleasing to the distinguished Japanese soldier. The train pulled out of the station as the last shout died away.
General Kuroki is en route to the ter-centennial exposition at Jamestown as the representative of the Japanese emperor. He will stop in Washington to pay his respects to the president.
The above article appeared in The Daily Missoulian on May 6, 1907.
https://www.newspapers.com/image/349232868
An article about General Kuroki Tamemoto can be found at Wikipedia using the link below:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuroki_Tamemoto
General Arthur MacArthur Jr., above, was the father of another famous general, Douglas MacArthur. Eighteen-year-old Arthur MacArthur earned a Medal of Honor at the battle of Missionary Ridge during the civil war, while his son Douglas earned the medal for his service in the Philippines during WW2. A few local men also served at Missionary Ridge, notably John Catlin, who is profiled on this website at the link below: