The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-11-14
1HE VIEW FIGHTERS or THE EAST.
Aduir,, BeIknsp's Estimste of tie Jsp-
sress Ar,y snd Navy-Jspsn's Aston
isht,n waritke Records.

~ TIVE EDITOH w NE obN-EWs Niia
TO the question asked you by "A Soldier
whether in your belief japanese troops could
cops with European troops, or. for example,
with an English force. man for man. i beg 70
dissent from the opinion expressed by you as to
the superior martial spirit and staying qualities
Of the English race. This I do with difidence.
but with some knowledge gained In personal
contact with Japanese people In the waters and
on the soil Of japan as an officer OF the navy In
1887, is67-6s, 1874. and from 1889 to 1892,
respectively.
The annals Of Japan for the past thousand
years show rs much personal valor, strategic
ability, and heroic incident as can be found in
the history Of Great Britain or of sny other
European power during that period. Her states
men and military and naval men even Of to-day
are proud descendants Of men who were trained
To all martial pursuits and in the stern school Of
constant war, ages before the battle Of Hastings
was fought. The sword. "the living soul Of
the Somurdi.' excelling in temper. toughness.
and elasticity the blades OF Damascus and To-
ledo. was never welded by DETER. stronger. or
more intrepid hands than by the centuries
trained military class Of Japan.
Niutoku. the Sage Emperor. who ruled the
empire the greater part OF the fourth century,
was as wise a prince as the Great Alfred and
did as much for the amelioration of his people.
The reign Of the Empress Sukio two centuries
later was as good for her subjects as that Of
Queen Elizabeth for her lieges Of England nearly
u thousand years after. The great Yoritomo
equalled William the Conqueror as n soldier
and surpassed him as a statesman; while
Yoshitsune, Nitta Yoshisn, Kato Kiyomasu, No
bunaga, Hideyoshi. and Yeyasu may be placed
alongside the Black Prince. Richard C1ur de
Lion, Marlborough, Cromwell, Give. and We'll
linRton. and not suffer from the comparison,
whether for able Heneralship and great achieve
ment In the field or for wise counsel and master
full purpose in affairs Of state. There is not one
incident of personal prowess or Of individual
valor in the annals Of England that may not be
matched by a similar deed Of courage and hero
ism in the annals Of Japan. The great sea fight
Of Dem-no-Cra was as significant as and moro
carnage on the field OF Seikighara was trebly in
excess of that Of Waterloo on the English side.
never surpassed the men Of Japan. England
has, indeed, won victories in every part Of the |
the effe3inat as races ces' Of nj ind dhs' he non nsSd Hsiy
Chinese. the spear-armed tribes. Of Africa, and
IN tRe ,h hsP pnlon isvas ss Of the i; lies q the sea A., AIDED ,ksi
continent. but. In turn, the c~olonists, the scorned
fruit Of her own loins. thrust her from this soil
not withstand. No British force has ever met
on the field Of tettle an Oriental race at all the
Intrepid spirit. No Gives Career would have
been possible on Japanese soil. His forces would
lowing.
The annals of the world do not show a prog
ress equal to that Of Japan since Commodore
Perry carried the flag Of the United States into
fury. But the greatest development and most
d deierm 1ra% tho 5sii ewing ro of y Eiu ,% ? methods d
1868, commonly called the RestorStion. The
real entrance OF Japan into the family Of ma
lions begins at hat period. The abolition Of
from that thraldom. and thrilling with new life.
she pressed eagerly forward. aiming to advance
naval, military. and commercial power. Her
s iaMss zen SyeT it to 2, he their purpose e make
.tentous events in the Orient. now commanding
the startled attention Of the world. are but the
maturely planned purposes, The island craft,
the aggressive wisdom that has made England
globe for the past three hundred years is fast
hnding its vigorous counterpart in the progress
day. With president vision and dauntless in
tent. and an earnestness of soul that possesses
70 % enlarge Sshsr sseT n IN Shas nE Eeri fas P %nd Is fSS sco%a
lne dominant power on the Asiatic shores of the
Her army Is to-day the equal OF the British
army IN organization and eguibinent; superior
navy. pattsrned after moBBi ritish a and d h%ePpinan;
Ines, Is In g state OF efficiency, discipline, and
,apr tgnang corps that any nation might envy No
iefence, and. II Japan continues to maintain her
policy Of Japan for the Japanese
Of her national life, she will excel ali other
Nations in prudence and wisdom.
She knows full well what has befallen India
bprmah, and Egypt from admitting a few Brit
sh traders, and capitalists within their boun-
siam through the Vaccinations of both Eng
and and France. She has seen. this long while,
md the brutal means used to accomplish Il;
md she does not mean that such fate shall
'vertaEe her II stout hearts and strong arms
She knows, too. that England has all along O
nina; that tRRe0' Ens II her d is t1l sa, war aoy WITH .
I'm every moyemento Of her feet in the China b
riend Of China, stand; eagerly rsead DO az ee t Ias .
with her reinforced fleet to seize a Q
trategic point OF Chinese territory the instant
ihlnese stress OF disaster makes IL feasible. MOI '
she forget. as wrongs to be redressed when h
french troops At Yokohams: the insistsncs sG of b
Ter to continue tariff scReduleese T fned IN a ISfcf ssg !.
handed by them, their claimed extension of =
OF the laws OF the empire pertsinina
quarantine that all modern Governments and O
i ! r humanity have heretofore respected in h
Not six months have elapsed since Japan de- o
hat great country at her feet suing Tor peace a
lsT conduct OF military and naval operations o
nd ialu will go down the ages among the mnsf 81
OF land and sea fights OF modern n
Contrast the instant mobilization OF he- =
rmy, its complete commissariat and thor =
ugh preparation In every detail for foreign -
arvice, with the scandalous story OF English q
nresdiness,, criminal commissariat, and fatal N
iunderings in every direction at the outbreak st
Z the Crimean war and during the first wear OF :,
waging; compare also the readiness :,
no the achievement OF the Japanese navy with :
le poor showing the British navy made In 81
le Baltic and Black seas during that same NJ
rimean war; The Japanese fleet went about
5 work without confusion or bluster, but In !,
ertect conhdence as To its ability 70 meet sue al
,ssiuily Il The Ca Ins, or any other fleet q like m
apler shaIpened his cutlasses at a public din h
IN London prior To his departure for the :.
attic. and how he came back without nick n Cd
Iot OF blood on their blades. 10 the chagrin OF m
, much better. a
From the moment the present war ends and m
lpan retires within her borders as one of the a.
'nquerinG nations OF the century, she will feel :"
she has cast on her swaddling clothes Of 70
oderh civilization and Of quasi submission 10 at
le treaty powers in matters OF tariff concern IN
id extra-territorial rights. and she will demand
lease from the CALLING bonds OF the EXISTING
radon In no uncertain or minclng tones. For co
sars she has been plemen her creation NJ
"A IA AFfaafAWH n.Wa. "