Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-12-26
the MlkADo's ARMY.


It's Remarkable DIseIsiIns Sur
prlssd FersIsn military Men.
The first official report on the char
acter, conduct and equipment of the
Japanese army, as shown In the re-
cent war In the Orient, has been made
public by the Navy Department. The
report IL that OF Captain q. +. Elliott,
of the marine corps. who commanded
the American force at Seoul, Corea,
later, had under his command the
guard that was held In readiness for
service at the United States Legation
at Peking. Captain Elliott's report
says I'm part:
1.-THE quiet, soldierly discipline Of the
Japanese troops astonished all foreign
officers who had the opportunity Of
observing them while disembarking,
on the march, occupying camps near,
or while billeted in cities not their
own. In 1870, in obedience to an
edict of the Mikado, the daimios mus
tered their samuri and each and all of
the 2,000,OO0 hereditary soldiers of
japan laid by their swords In a day
and the privileged class became of the
people. The feudal system, which had
defended the country, closed 1t to for
eigners, made invasions and filled
Nippon for hundreds Of years with
chivalry and oppression, ended. The
country was defenseless, having nei-
Their army nor navy, but the progress
i've party Immediately took steps to
create both, modelled after those ex-
listing among enlightened nations.
Army officers Of good standing from
America, France and Germany were
employed to instruct, organize and
drill the new defense, but no system
was adopted until, from observation,
the German was preferred, and the
japanese army is now modelled, with
slight and suitable changes, after that
country.
Casual observers, though military
cipline adopted from the Germans
with creating in less than twenty years
an army thoroughly equipped, pro-
ficient in drill and possessing in the
highest degree that discipline which
gives unquestioning obedience and pa
tient endurance. but these latter quail
tiles already existed in the sons of the
samHri. and soldiers not belonging to
this class were leavened by them; be-
sides, for the first time in the history
Of their country. they were allowed the
privilege of fighting for her. These
two conditions had more to do with
their high standard as soldiers, i'm my
opinion, than the system adopted.
Japanese infantry regiments are
homogeneous physically; the men do
not vary more than two inches in
height. seven years in age. or more than
twenty pounds in weight In the field
they are not burdened with over
fleshy men. neither with the faithful
old soldier whose pride has Outlived
his strength. Forced marches did not
leave fourth Of the regiment stray
Cling in the road. and the endurance
of the men could be counted on nearly
as unit. Undoubtedly, they are
brave, but have not been tried in large
bodies up to demoralzing loss, al
! though small parties on one or two &C.
casions were cut off and fell together
like true soldiers. Whether they will
take panic under heavy reverses is
not known. They are fairly well set
up, but do not show it as much as the
regular foreign soldier; good weight
carriers, but i believe slow marchers,
although for short distances they get
over ground very rapidly on trot,
having what is known as good wind.
Drill has in great degree eliminated
the native popularity of being pigeon
toed. In marching they step too much
from the knees. and do not move out
from the hips; this, think, is due from
the use of the kimona in early life"