The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1895-05-02
BELKNAp ON JAPAN.

Belknar, U. S. A., who has spent many
years in cruising around Japan and
British possessions, prophesied just
what has come to pass in connection
with the Japan Chinese war. The
Rear Admiral made China, Japan and
England particular study while his
squadron was around those lands and
he could speak with greater degree
of accuracy than probably any other
man. In his prophesy he took oc-
casion to correct the public mind that
Japan was not a strong nation. He
made statements that we're simply
astounding, but in view of Japan
crushing China so completely they
must be regarded as true to that ex-
tent in which statements are allowed
to be SO regarded. His comparisons
between England and Japan are so
interesting and striking that they are
herewith given:
1.-The growing strength of the British navy
is menace to the rest of the world but the
sun flag of Japan may yet humble the proud
flag of Britain. Such may be the distinction
reserved to that newcomer among the ma
| TONS have seen in recent years the officers
and crews of English and Japanese ships of
war under various circumstances. 1 have
seen an English Admiral handle a force of
| ten ships in japanese waters and Japanese
| Admiral manHuvre fleet of twenty-five
ships; and do not hesitate to express the
opinion that, were English and japanese
fleets OF about equal strength to meet in bat
| tie, the chances would be as favorable to the
japanese as to the English. The japanese
will fight; let there be no mistake about
that. The sun does not shine on a more de-
termined or more intrepid race than that of
Japan.
''Japan's army is to-day the equal of the
British army in organization and equipment:
superior to it in homogeneity, mobility and
discipline. In hand-to-hand fighting the
BRITISH race has never surpassed the men of
Japan. AS rule, England's antagonists
have been the effemin !, a r,.., - 1,. -,
non-soldlerly Chinese, the spear-armed
tribes OF Africa, and the hapless sayaees of
the isles of the sea. Aided by the colonists
sue uroVe the French from the continent
but. in turn, the colonists the scorned fruit
OF her own loins thrust her from this sol,
with a valor and determination that she
could not withstand. No British force has
ever met on the field of battle an Oriental
race at all the equal of the japanese in mar.
tlal career and intrepid spirit. No Gives
career would have been possible on Japanese
SOIL His forces would have been driven into
the sea oy the fierce hordes of feudal Japan
ana their dauntless following. There is not
one incident Of personal rrowess or of indi-
Vldual valor in the annals of England that
may not be matched by similar deed of
courage or heroism in the annals of japan
me martial spirit of Japan antedates that
OF Britain: and hereafter, whether on land
or sea, the arch robber of the universe will
find all she cares to meet if she comes into
hostile contact with the forces of Dial Nippon
"Japan's conduct of military and naval op-
erations in the war with China seems to have
been without fault Ping Yang and Yalu
will go down the ages among the most mo-
mentous of land and sea fights of modern
times. Contrast the instant mobilization OF
her army, its complete commissariat and
thorough preparation in every detail for
foreign service, with the scandalous story OF
English unreadiness, criminal commissariat
and fatal blunderings in every direction at
the outbreak of the Crimean war and during
the first year of it's waging
Her statesmen avow it to be their purpose
to make Japan the England of the Pacific
and the portentous events in the Orient, now
commanding the startled attention of the
world, are but the elimination of long
cherished policy and maturely-planned pur-
poses. The island craft the aggressive wis
dom that has made England so dominant, SO
potential in the affairs of the globe for the
past three hundred years, is fast finding it's
vigorous counterpart in the progressive
steps and well-considered aims of Japan
With president vision and dauntless intent
and an earnestness of soul that possesses nc
other nation in this age, she presses forward
to enlarge her national horizon and to be-
come the dominant power on the Asiatic
shores of the great Pacific
1.-The annals of Japan for the past thousand
years show as much personal valor, strategic
ability and heroic incident as can be found
in the history of Great Britain or of any