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


speak OF my own Impressions OF the Japanese
army. To begin with, Tokyo is almost as full OF
soldiers as Metz There is hardly five minutes In
the day when you cannot hear bugle blown
somewhere. Mounted Orderiies are always trot-
ting ABOUT. SentrfeS stand on guard almost as
thick as In France, and the groups and troops OF
young soldiers In their white summer suits and
become the most familiar objects in the CITY. The
men themselves are neither so short nor SO slight
as had expected, and their resemblance in dress
recruits was startling at first sight In their gy NJ
naSticS, which are very regular and thorough,
they are as good as Germans. which is saying a
good deal, and when stripped Tor these they show
soildly-buIIt, well-developed bodieS-exactly what
Americans cali ''stOcky." The rigid precision and
frequency OF their salutes, too, would satisfy q
continental martinez But the one para
mount impression that is LETT by a careful and
fairly complete personal examination OF the
japanese army Is Its resemblance similar forces
at nome. visited almost every military institu-
ton and Inspected every arm OF the service ex-
pectins always to find something new to describe
some amusing or picturesque combination OF
East and West 10 chronicle. But the expectation
was nowhere realized Everywhere i went and
everything saw-and the statement OF this is per-
maps the best return can make 70 Captain Mou-
raki who accompanied me, and the commanding
onlcers who so willingly and SO courteously turned
out their men for my fnSpectioD-I found Just the
same appearance, just the same drill and Just the
same discipline that exist at home. / have seen
most or the military establishments and many OF
the best troops OF England and the continent, and
however dull II may seem can only say that as
regards Japan in arms there Is nothing whatever
new to describe. The japanese army, In fact,
Is EUROPEAN FORCE,
and body Of any arm except the cavalry, which
would look rather small and ill-mOunted might
march through any town Of continental Europe
without being much remarked as foreign troops
The arsenal at kOIsnikawa, as have said Is Simply
Wcolwich on smaller scale, and It's English ma
chinery turns out its 100 rides ami 10000 cart
ridges 10000 necessary per day, and It's artisans
manufacture the saddlery and all the rest OF the
equipment with exactly the same regularity and
accuracy. The military college and academy are
models OF such inStitutiOns-"one OF the foremost
or similar Institutions which have seen in the
world, saw that Gen. Grant had written in The
visitors book OF one OF them. Particularly was
this the case at the TayOma College OF Tactics
&C., for non-commissioned officers, where l was
present at the annual imperial Inspection OF pla-
toon nring hiring at movable targets, fencing
gymnastics, &C., and at the conclusion OF when
| had tine honor OF being received by His
Majesty the Emperor. And the barracks OF
the second brigade OF the Imperial Guard
which visited were Just like barracks anywhere
else In the world-a good deal better than many OF
our wretched barracks In provincial En- gland al
lowance being made for certain national diner
ences Of food and habits. As for the performances
OF the troops themselves, have never seen the in-
fantry manual and platoon exercises letter done
and say this with full recollection OF seeing crack
frussian infantry at drill every day for months.
The marching and company drill, too, was first
rate. Ii one made any criticism IL would be that
the wheeling in line was somewhat Unsteady and
that the marching at ease four and six deep
through the streets shows the soveniness or their
French model. The squadron drill OF the cavalry
was excellent In every respect, and the mems seats
particularly good and their horses Particularly
well In hand, out the mounts are small and weedy.
and therefore this arm Is the least effective In an
pearance Finally, the battery drill OF the artil.
lery as saw IL would be highly creditable any.
VIII re. The two batteries came up at O gallon with
perfect steadiness, wheeled, halted, unlimbered
came into faction front, and loaded and nred with
a smartness and coolnesS and rapldity thar could
hardly be excelled, and that gave evidence of the
most thorough ana Intelligent drill
THE JAPANESE NAVY.
calls for much less description than the army for
its organization and conduct Except a limited
conscription) areexactly those OF England. En-.
glish influence and advice having guided its de.
veiopnent In every respect Tue squadron has
been at sea on It's summer cruise during my visit
but from all can gather from Japanese naval ar
iairs are conducted with great Intelligence and
experts assure me that its chief vessel, and ira
DOGGY ards offer almost no opportunity for crtti-
cism- With the exception or Captain John Ingles,
| r. N, naval adviser, the fleet Is manned and
of1lcered entirely by japanese. 1t consists or 30
ships OF all classes, 10 Quilt In England and Is IN
Japan, OF which the following SIX constitute the
| sea-going squadron: