The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-18
JApAN.s ARMY AND NAVY.
TEEes and Guns Used by the Soldiers,
- #f MN SaiIora md Marines.

WASHINGTON, April 17.-Commander
Nvaola, an attache of the Japanese lega-
.'ol,, referring to the military operations
CT The Chino-Japancse war just closed, said:
1T has afforded wide field of observation
on modern methods of warfare. as it has
been the first great conflict since the
Franco-German war when the implements
of war were far less advanced than they
are now. At the outset, the Japanese sol
diers were armed with old style rifles.
Among the guns captured from the Chinese
at Ping Yang 1t was found that they had
a few very superior repeating rifles, al
though the bulk of their arms were primi-
tive and useless. Japan has since under
taken to rearm all her soldiers with re-
peating rifle of the latest tpye. Already
about one-third of the troops have this
new arm and the government arsenals are
hard at work turning out the guns for
complete equipment. The new gun is after
a French model of thirty-two or thrty-one
calber and is extremely simple, having but
one screw to unlock its entire mechanism.
This simplicity IS regarded as very essential,
larly recruits cannot work q complicated
gun and their effectiveness is much reduced
tnereDy.
I'm heavy ordnance the Japanese have
used Krupp, Armstrong and Hotchkiss guns
and. have found that they are the best
available. There are Maxim rapid-fire
guns in use, but the army and navy are
both supplied with an Italian rapid-fire
gun when has proved very effective. Inc
heavier guns are made in other countries,
but the light field pieces are constructed
in Japan's gun factories. The equipments
have been in marked contrast with the anti
quated weapons of most OF the Chinese.
The troops of Ii Hung Chang were well
armed and well drilled but the others had
bows. arrows. spears and old-time single
fire muskets.
1.-The war footing of the Japanese army
is not up to 10000 men. The peace footing
was 60.C00, distributed in six garrisons.
Now that the war is over. it is not likely
that an immediate reduction Will be made
back to the peace basis, for IL the final
terms of peace include cessions OF territory.
permanent or temporary, there will have
10 be forces for these localities, besids
equipping the six home garrsons. The mill
tary headquarters have been at Hiroshima
during the war, as the naval docks there
gave ready access to the fleet, but with
will go back to Toxic. The designation OF
Prince Komatsu as commander in chief was
undoubtedly for purposes Immediately con-
nected with the war, and his service in
1.-THE lessons in the naval branch have
been no less valuable than those Of the
military. The particular value OF the cruiser
as compared with the battle ship has been
thoroughly demonstrated: The deadly, eff
fects of the torpedo boats have also been
shown. I have watched the work of these
craft with special interest az 1 was in
structor at the torpedo school and n num-
Der OF my students have distinguished
themselves on the torpedo boats. OF the
two Chinese battle ships captured at Wei
Hai-Wei. one ia partially sunk, her upper
decks being just visible above the water
and 1t is not vet certain whether the Jap
anese wreckers will be able to save her.
The other one is afoat and can probably
be restored although one side Is hadlv torn
open by torpedoes and other explosives