Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-09-29

Bay are almost the finest vessels OF their class
anoat, and could make matchwood OF any British
vessels here except the flagship, and they are
manned and officered entirely by japanese sea-
men; while the war department has at least 10000
men under arms at this moment, and on q declara-
tion OF war could put 100000 troops of all arms,
and perhaps many more, In the field, with weapons
equal TO any carried to-day except the latest re-
peating rines, all OF whom would have served al
least year with the colors and the majority for
three years. and who would make desperate night
against any army In the world. Yet twenty -nve
years ago japanese soldiers wore hugh groSteSque
Iron mask helmets TO frighten the enemy, chain
and lacquer armor TO turn bis blows, their great
shoulder-cannon would have been antiquated In
England at the time OF the Armada, and they were
led by man with q fanl or course the japanese
military reorganiZers were able 10 draw upon a
large class accustomed TO the use OF arms, TO pre-
pare the way for consumption, and the japanese
have always had taste for fighting, but after
every allowance the rate OF progress Is simply
marvellous.
PROBABLE JAPANESE ALLIANCE.
Is there any reason for this sudden apparition
OF Japan In arms? The authorities here think
30, and they have received one or two warnings of
late that seem TO them incentives TO continue their
enortA China, VINO regards japan as a traitor 10
Asia, Is q perpetual anxiety, II not menace, and
In the Riu ktu Commonly called Loo Choo)
Islands and In Korea there have been already mis-
understandings OF a threatening character, while
the question OF Chinese immigration, which Japan
will have TO face as other nations have done as
ment, looms up uEp'sasan IL. Moreover, Japan
eSe statesmen beIev, tina. sooner or later some
body Will wan. 10 take Korea, and they desire 10
pe In position wlsl thai day comes 10 preserve
the neutrality OF J-pai. or, II necessary, TO o1er
an alliance 70 Ety,and or the United states, or
Russia OF Ch.l.. % may pest SUIT thein, tnat
For the Pacific is destined, they know, 70 be the
theater OF great events not very far on, and the
Japanese alliance will be the key Of the Pacific.
II Is hardly needful add that the necessity for
an alliance IS lar more probable Tor Japan tnan
the option OF neutrality. Her army and navy are
therefore well worth the attention OF European
and American statesmen at this moment, and oy
the Kindness OF II. L count Oyama, minister OF
war, and H. E Count SaigO. minister or the navy,
who have supplied me- with all the Official Stats
tics necessary, and afforded me abundant oppor-
tunities OF personal Inspection, am able TO give
more accurate account OF the naval and military
condition OF Japan than has yet been puolsned.
BEGINNING OF AN ARMY.
By the abolition OF the DaimioS, or feudal lords
at the Restoration In 1868, a voluntary and
patriotic process which reduced their enormous
incomes by 30 per cent, and therefore rendered
them unable TO maintain any longer their large
armies OF retainers, the lSdmGroi, a proud and
well-oorn class OF nghtlng men, extremely skilled
In the use OF the terrible japanese sword, and
comprising 10 per cent OF the whole population,
found their occupation gone. IL was therefore
easy 70 enrol them into an army. But although
they were born lighters. brave to a fault and
faithful 10 one OF the most punctilliouS codes OF
honor that has ever been devised, their employ
with this great difficulty, that they found them
selves frequently suOordineted In position men
who were their social interiors and who, except
for the uniforms, would have been compelled TO
pay them every respect Discipline, therefore,
was hard 10 preserve, and the enrolment OF the
Sonsurdt only served TO NIL the gap necessarily
intervening between the two poles OF feudallsrn
and CONSUMPTION The latter became law in Japan
In 1874, when the modern system may strictly be
said 10 oegfn- lac army regulations were revised
and the forces increased by the Official edlcts OF
December 2S, 1883, and these constitute the
japanese military system OF to-day. The first
article DEGREES universal CONSUMPTION: Every
male inhabitanI OF the country will be subject 70
military service from seventeen to forty years OF
age" The japanese land forces are divided into
a. Standing army; b. standing army reserve; C.
Reserves; a. Territorial army. And the military
service thus decreed consists Of
n years with the colors, l. e., in the Standing
Army.
b. years in the standing Army Reserve.
G. years "a the Reserves
IL IL years In the Territorial Army
The total service being thus theoretically for %
years-the interval between II and 4O-but practi-
cally for twelve, Tor while the forces b. and are
required 10 join the colors for sixty days each
year, the Territorial Army Is called out only in
case OF war or grave emergency. Special provision
Is made for men between II and 20 Possessed OF
certain educational certificates, corresponding TO
The French U0t0rltdires and German Frei,ci{li0e
who are permitted 10 volunteer Tor one years serv-
bee at a time, supporting and clothing themselves
~shoud they acquire rapid proficiency" however
the regulations add, "they may be allowed TO quit
the RANKS after few mouths" This seems extra
mon In Japan-n the paradox be permitted-th,t
allowance Is almost always made for IL. con.
scnptlon rlgidiy enforced however would supply
each year lar more recruits than the government
desires 10 enrol the calculation being thar 2IO GOO
youths are annually amenable To service.
AswEKPIsG SYSTEM OF EXEMPTIONS
was accordingly devised, and this is perhaps the
weakest point OF the japanese method, for as has
often been remarked in discussing CONSUMPTION.
the more the exemptions the greater the unpopn.
larty OF the service. The following list OF
persons shows how loosely the net is thrown. ana
MANNED and deformed persons are OF course. per
manently exempt, and those who do not reach the
prescribed height OF 4 IT. liz IN. are exempt
simultaneously called on, or a man having a
brother already serving; j the brother OF a man
who has died or been permanently disabled while
with the colors; A. hers OF heads OF families VINO
are over %, or who are deforned or Otherwise in
capable Of managing their Affairs, and those next
In the direct line D. heads Of families; priests:
teaehers and professors In pub &c schools or col
leges; b students OF officially recognized educa
tional institutions (thls wide exemption Dealt an
almost fatal blow at private schoois); 8, persons
whose civil rights have been suspended !:
a ~ persons s,aouP rAc'ieins medicine with
and prefect1rsi assemblies: r.. governm e.ay
ofncisls whose duties cannot be performed nv
Others Even after the exemption. however, Of
these persons and others, comprising In ali no
fewer than two-thirds OF the whole number liable
10 serve, the number renainng-oyer IN OO
annually. Is considerably larger than can he ABB
r
numerar1es" has therefore been Invented hinder
which conscripts drawing SUPPLEMENTARY ticket.
serve only one year and then drafted In the
ordinary course into the First Reserve OF Ihe
Standing Army, unless In the meantime they are
required 70 NIL vacancies in the regular forces
serving with the colOrS for three years. There
IL accordingly no f1xed number or these .Super.
hunlerares' at any time, but Just as many as ~.
main over In any year from the men called upou
the con,criptions, minus the exemptions, alter
the regular standing army has been brought vi
70 the number the minister OF war desires 10 have
under arms.
THE okGANrzlrroS OF THE JAPANESE ARMY
differs s.igAtly from that OF European forces ant
therefore add brief account OF the units OF thu
chief arms In the infantry, a regiment consist.
Of three battalions OF four companies EACH and or
peace footing a company Is made W OF ) Officers
q non-eommissloned officers, and lGO privates-
IS< men or all TANKS On a war footing so prf
Yates are added. making a total OF 272 men. A
regiment OF infantry on a peace footing consists OF
commanding ofncers, ID officers. $40 non-com
mlssloneu officers, and $40 privates In all On
eluolns y non-combaIant ofrcers) 2,3.7 men, anc
~ horses On war footing the number
OF privates Is raised 70 $50. Ia cavalry :
battalion On a peace footing comprises I59 neI
Ol ali ranks and l:io horses. and a war footing
% lsS men and lao horses. In artillery a BAT.
tefy Vwo or which from a brigade, Instead Of
sN as Win u.s. consists OF las all ranks d6s
active and 50 reserye) with 80 horses and guns
On war footing 10 gunners and 2 guns are added
brigade Is thus composed on a peace footing OF
commanding officer, IL officers, 81 non-comfnis-
s.1neo oine-rs, 2fO gunners and . non-conbai ant
Sncers-.Oo OF all ranks with guns and Is(
.oaseS . oE war footing this Is increased 10 :st
men Win IL guns and 2.5S horses The artillery n
armed with 71-oentimeter guns OF an Iratian
Osaka er al 'enai a