The sun., 1895-04-22
England and japan.

England and Japan.
a few days ago we recalled to the memory
OF our readers that remarkable letter about
the japanese war which Rear Admiral BEL
KNAp sent to TIE SUN in November last {;
and we may now say that some passages of
It possess a new interest at this time by
teason of the unsatisfactory attitude of Eng
land toward Japan since the complete
triumph of japanese arms. The English
press still entertains the opinion that in the
event Of trouble between the two powers
the meteor flag of England" carried by
English naval vessels and English regiments
would speedily burn,' as THOMAS CAMP
BELL has it, over the sunken navies and
scattered armies of Japan.
In speaking of the possibility of u conflict
between the English and the japanese
navies, Admiral BELKSAP remarked:
The growing strength of the British navy is q
to the rest OF the world but the flag OF
Japan may ye. humble the proud flag OF Britain.
Such may be the distinction reserved to that new.
conner among the nations have in recent
years the officers and of English and japanese
ships OF under various circumstances ! have
seen English Admiral handle q force OF ten shlpsin
Japanese waters and Japanese Admiral manoeuvre
fleet OF twenty-five ships; and do not hesitate
A.'ress the opinion that were English and Japanese
lcats OF about equal strength to meet in battle. tho
chances would be ns favorable to the Japanese to
the English. The Japanese will fght let there be
mistake about that. The does not shine on
more determined or more intrepid than that of
Japan
Admiral BELENAP made a striking COM
parison between the record Of the navy of
England in her last great war and that of the
Japanese navy in the war just ended:
Compare the readiness and the achievement of the
Japanese navy with the poor showing the British
aavy made In the Baltic and Black seas during the
Crimean war. The japanese ieet went about It's work
without confusion biusteT but In perfect confidence
ss to Its ability 10 meet successfully the Chinese
any other feet OF like force We ali recoect how
miral Sir CHARLYs NAPIER sharpened his cutlasses at
public dinner In London prior to his departure for the
Baltic and how he came back without nick spot of
blood on their blades TO the chaSrn OF all England.
Nor did the fleet In the Black Sea do much better
years Japan has been supplenentng her creation OF
effective navy by the construction OF strong forts
and heavy batteries ut all the important ports the
narrow channels leading to them. Armed with Krupp
and other rlfed OF heavier cl!ibre they await
with composnra the attack of any hostile feet. No
Er;ish Minister will hereafter attempt. TO enact the
meddlins and monac!ns part OF PAaKEs at Toxic.
nor win sny British fleet boaloari with impunlty
second Tensoshima"
These are the opinions, founded on obser-
vation, of veteran naval officer who has
spent many years of his life in Japanese
waters, and who is as keen IN observer as
ever commandedan American squadron.
Not less impressive were Admiral BEL
ENAP's remarks about the japanese mill
tary establishment:
"Japan's army Is to-day the equal OF the British
army in organization and equipment; superior to 1t
In homoseneity. mobility and discipline. In hapdto
hand fighting the British
men of Japau. As rule. EngIands antagonists have
been tho eYcminate races OF India, the .soidcry
Chinese, the speararIned tribes OF Africa, and the
hapess savages OF the isles of the sea. Aided by
the co'on!sts she drove tho French from this
cou incnt, but In turn, the colonsts. the scurned
fruit OF her own loIns. thrust her from this soil
with q vaor and determination that she could
not withstand. No British force has on the
hed o. battle all Oriental ut all the equal
Japanese in martial character and pld spirit No
Gives career would have been possible on Japanese
soil His forces would have been driven into the sea
by tho fercc hordes OF feuGal Japan and their daut
less following There Is incident of personal
pro"ess or OF Individual yalor In the annals Eng
Land that may moi be matched by similar deed OF
courage or herosm in the annals OF Japan. The mar
tial spirit OF Japan antedates that OF Britain; and
hereafter whether on land the robbcr of
the universe win md all she meet II she
comes into hostile contact with the forces o. Dai
Nippon"
Again, the Admiral makes a comparison
"Japans coniuc; OF military and naval operations
seems TO have been without fault Ping Yang and
Ya.u viii go down the ages among the most momeu.
tous OF land and sea lights OF modern times Contrast
tho Instant mobilization OF her army, Its complete
commissariat and thorough preparation In every
detail for foreign service, with tho scandaious
story OF English unreadiness. criminal commits
sArat, and fatal blunderngs in every direction at the
outbreak OF the Crimean aud during the year
OF Its waging."
Japan has kept close watch upon Eng
land ever since the outbreak OF bostlities
with China:
"she knows that England has all along been So
crety opposed 10 her In this war with China; that
the Ensiish iest has dogged almost every movement
Of her neet In the China and Yellow seas against the
enemy. She knows. too. that Great Britain pretend.
ing TO be tho friend OF China stands eagerly ready
with her reinforced heet to seize strategic point of
Chinese territory the instant Chinese disaster
makes t feasible She knows full well what has be-
fallen india. Burmah, and Egypt through English
Vaccinations She has seen, this long while, the
British squeeze upon tho throat OF China and the
brutal means used to accomplish It. and she does not
mean that such fate shall her II stout hearts
and strong arms can prevent It."
The astuteness OF Japanese craftsmanship,
and the far-reaching policy for the consum-
nation of which Japan is striving, were
well characterized by Admiral BELKSAP:
Her statesmen It TO be their purpose TO mako
Japan the England Of the Pacific and the portentous
events In the Orient now commanding the startled
attention OF the world. but the culmln alton OF q
lonScherished policy and OF maturely planned pur.
posss. Tbs iSand craft the aggressive wisdom that
has made England so dominant so potential in the