Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-04-20
Japan, 1854-1894.

Japan in it's area, population, and geo.
graphical relation to the adjoining con-
tinent may be described as the Great
Britain of Asia. In 1891 it had 40, 453,
46l inhabitants; Great Britain has 81, 49,
2S5. Its area is 147, 655 square miles
Great Britain's area, 100, $40 square
miles. Both consist of two large and
several small islands, opposite and with
in a few miles of the continent. Both are
inhabited by an adventurous maritime
people and have a dense population, and
consequently II natural desire to acquire
land for their surplus population. Nor
does the parallelism stop here for both
governments are limited constitutional
monarchies, with parliaments and parlia-
mentary cabinets, which constitute the
real government; and the results, thus
far demonstrated by the present war, show
that Japan is tho great naval power Of
Asia to quite as great degree as Eng
land is the great naval power of Europe
while, if we may trust the published opin-
ions of our naval officers at the seat of the
war, the japanese manBuvre and fight
their ships with an intelligence and pro-
fessional skill that would do honor to any
navy in the world.
With we'll disciplined troops armed with
the modern small-bore magazinerifle u.s.
ing smokeless powder battle front Of
1000 yards will deliver five times as effect
i've fire rs can be delivered bya similar
battle front armed with the large-bore
Remington rifle using black powder, with
which the crack corps of the Chinese army
is armed. 1t is needless to expect that the
Chinese with their now Anticipated arms,
however brave, can resist the japanese at
lacking force; the mere difference in arms
makes the attacking force five-fold as
strong-five against one is too much odds
for any successful resistance
| Thus the result of battles between the
Japanese and Chinese could hardly have
been otherwise than as have been reported.
1t may be added that the hospital ser
vice, according to published letters of our
navy surgeons, is admirably managed
that the japanese army surgeons are
thoroughly educated and skilful, and use
the most approved instruments, anaesthe-
tics and antiseptic treatment
With regard to their army, there are
reasons to believe that in organization, ad-
ministratiOn, armament and mobility, 1t
deserves to rank with the best troops in
Europe or America. The Japanese in
fantry are armed with magazine rifle
of 81 calibre, using smokeless powder and
a nickel covered steel bullet; in range, &C
curacy, velocity of shot and rapidity of
fire, it was found fully equal to the Mann
Ticker rifle of Germany; it was invented
by Japanese officer, General Murata, and
both This rifle and it's ammunition are
manufactured at the government arsenal
in Japan. The artilley of the Japanese is
of the most approved modern system-for
both field, garrison and ship use. AL
together the Japanese army entered the
campaign perfectly equipped and organi-
zed for active service. The Imperial
Guard consists of two brigades of in
fantry, one regiment of artillery, one
squadron of cavalry, one company of en-
gineers $500 electives. The other six
divisions Of the regular army have an