New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-25
JAPAN'S REMARKABLE ARMY.
IT'S DISCIpLINE AND SOI.DIERLY BEARINd As
TONIsHED ALI. FOREIGN OFFICERS
CAPTAIN ELLOTTS REPORT.

ITS DISCIPLINE AND soIDIERLY BEARING AS
roNIsnED ALL FOREIGN OFFICERS
CAPTAIN ELLoTTs REPORT.
Washington, Nov "a (speciaD.-The first official
report on the character. conduct and equipment oil
the japanese army. shown in the recent war IN
the Orient has been made public by the Navy De-
partment. The report is that OF Captain o. r.
Elliott Of the Marine Corps. who commanded the
American force at Seoul Corea, at the outbreak OF
hosttes and who later had under his command
the guard that held in readiness for service at
the United States Legation at Picking captain
Eiotts report says In part:
The quiet, soldierly discipline OF the Japanese
troops astonished all foreign officers who had the
opportunity of observing them while DISSEMINATING
on the march, occupying camps near. or while
bileed in cities not their own In 1870 IN obedience
to an edct Of the Mikado. the Diamios mustered
their Samuri and each and all Of the 2OOHO heredi-
tarv soldiers of Japan laid by their swords in day
and the privileged class became OF the people Inc
feudal system, which had defended the country
closed II to foreigners, made invasions ana nIied
Nippon for hundreds Of years with chivalry ana OPP
pression ended The country was defenseless nav
ing neither army nor navy. but the Progressive
party Immediately took steps to create both mod
eled after those existing among enlighteneo nal4ns
ARMY officers of good standing from America
France and Germany were employed 10 lnstr T,n
organize and drill the new defence, but no
was preferred and the japanese army is now m a,
eled. with slight and suitable changes ai'er '"a'
casual observers. though military men. are apt apt
t credit the iron discipline adopted from the Ger
mans With creating in less than twenty years an
army thoroughly equipped proncient ~ Sisripiino
p~hicb ives unouestionng obedience and patient
endurance but these latter qualities alrea1y 1870
40 ' his Class were ieavened by them; besides ior
the first time in the history or their har These
a conSons had more to do with their high Ign
standard as soldiers in my opinion thah 'ne ~
Japanese infantry regiments are homSsThe Two
physeay the men 90 v nSr y in age or more than
~sny in nO nfsn in wss6 In they ARE
NOT Surdened with overeshy men neither ra au T
the siasnHth 0' Forced marches did not leave
fourth Of the regiment srass cnn, IN be sc counted on
nearly unit Undoubedly b 5nsE are up to de-
aHs 0s oss small parties on Sne Se
two occasions We're Sut Oh beS ana vii, if' take panic
under heavy reverses is not known. ine ,n al as
fairly well set but do rot snow wsehs Carriers
hmt believe slow marchers although i9r snoi .
distances they over ground very very r aIns Drill
has In grea. degree eliminated the naive ten
Of beng and ln do nGf out
the hips, this. think. is due iroi' '"e '''
kin mi rifles are made at the arsenal in Toxic ana
are called by the inventors name Murah "a prest
Of two patterns Ihs SHe boigun Of
Mcsli6re sighted TO l4G0 metres without , VIM
Eanss ne Very short and the cheek wide The
ar,ridoa hoy is OF leather holding about iorS N Z
rounds about four inches deep so as 10 aito ~,rev
stonner ia made into IL one end to contain o..
The bel, is OF heavy black leather WIN ,~rn1e.
buckle The knapsack Is OF russell lea. 49,
al one end holds the blade or the l;oc+s
above the soldiers left shoulder when the knasSon
IS slung The blanket was Of SKY Dlue. anu siT ~
rolled was strapped on top ana doWh edOn 'iHe 70
/ tho knapsack An extra pair OF SHOES va az .So
strapped each side, soles our, JUS heT Ike
1an on the back was strapped TN box shaped iIne
me ca Sc of pair Of binoculars THIS was he '
sack and was used for eating from ana car
| boIle1 rice There tray for tea; etc. Inc
water bottle Of glass covered WIN en,,1er
"Cooking in camp das done for the company AZ
| Kitchens large iron pots being the only utens,.s
Boiled rice took the place OF bread yea DeeL T t
4 could be purchased. and dried hsh brought from
| Japan formed the ration. think the cost OF d
single ration per day was three ecs y sEd several
times the hospital under charge OF Dr IRWIN, sur
geon TO Viceroy Ii Hung Chang. Wounded Chnese
eoIders were treated here during the winter sur
econ Major James, of the British Army, had charge
wounds made by the smal-caAbre enNeioped pu-
! let He kindly gave me every opportunity 10 *.
! and much information in regard to these WOUNDS
| saw about thirty OF the wounded. In no case were
homes shattered TO any extent even at the exit OF
| the ball The puncture was clean; no bullet was
! found in the patient, the easing was UNKNOWN
whether OF steel softer metal. they ala not
seem to defect striking but cut thelr way
! fed they had received their wounds at distances
VARYING from $50 To 400 yards. They healed readily.
often by first intention. None OF the wounds were
in the leg fo~ the had made their own way
| road more than 200 miles. and were several weeks
on the road. All suffered more from frosbitten feet
! than the bullets out OF the thirty cases saw.
| think probably the Cd .i5-calbre lead ball would