In the Battle of Chemulpo Bay in the Russo-Japanese War, the Russian cruiser Varyag was caught by surprise by a significant Japanese naval task force -- the Varyag tried to fight her way out, but she was severely outnumbered and outgunned, and, after taking heavy casualties, the crew decided to sink the ship to avoid surrendering it. The crew were hailed as heroes across the world, and the Japanese taught the story of the Varyag as an example of heroism at their naval academy. They won the battle and, ultimately, the war, but their culture was one capable of expressing both brutality and respect. The Bolsheviks, however, were creatures of pure resentment -- they desecrated the graves of the fallen sailors, tearing down the crosses and destroying the memorial chapel in Vladivostok, because they hated Russia, her faith and all of her heroes so much, despite some of the sailors from the Varyag even serving in the Red Army during the civil war. I think it's better to be "Japanese" than "Bolshevik" in your dealings with enemies.
markukule.mk
