St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-04-18
LESSONS OF THE WAR.
japanese Diplomatic Talks of the
Use of Modern WeuDons.

~.
WASHINGTON, April 17.-Comman.
der Myaoka. an attache of the
Japanese legation, referring to the
military opera tions of the Japan-China
war just closed, said:
1t has afforded a wide field of oh
serVation on modern methods of war
1are, as 1t has been the first great
conflict since the Franco-German war
when the implements of war were-fa p
less advanced than they are now. AT
the outset, the Japanese soldiers were
armed with an old-style rifle. and the
battle OF Ping Yang was fought with
single fire guns. Among the guns
captured from the Chinese it was
found that they had very faw
superior repeating rifles, although the
ouik OF their arms were primitive and
useless. Japan has since undertaken
10 re-arm all her soldiers with a re-
peatlng rifle of the latest type AL
ready about one-third of the troons
nave TINS new arm, and the govern
ineht arSenalS are hard at work turn
ing out the guns for a complete eouip-
heHl. Inc new gun is after a French
nodel, OF O.S2 or OBJ caliber, and is ex-
trenely simple, having but one screw
10 unlock its entire mechanism. This
simplicity is required and regarded as
very essential, as it has been found
that soldiers, particularly recruits.
cannot work complicated gun and
their effectiveness is much reduced
thereby.
In heavy ordnance the Japanese
nave used Krupp, Armstrong and
Hotchkiss guns, and have found that
they are the best available. There
are no Maxim rapid fire guns in use
out the army and navy are both sun
piled with an Italian rapid fire p,In
winch has proved very effective. The
heavier guns are made in other
countries, but the lighter field pieces
are made in Japan's gun factories.
These equipments have been in
marked contrast with the antiouated
weapons of the Chinese. The troons
or Ii Hung Chang were well armed
and well drilled, but the others had
poWs, arrows, spears and old-time
rifle muskets.
The war. footing of the Japanese
army Is not up to 10000 men. The
peace footing was $4,000 distributed in
six garrisons.
NOW that the war is over 1t Is not
likely that an immediate reduction will
De made back to the peace basis. for if
the hnal terms of peace include ces-s
slons of territory, permanent or tenn
porary, there will have to be forces
Tor these localities, besides euuippine
the six home garrisons. The militarv
headquarters have been at Hiroshima
curing the war, as the naval docks
there gave ready access to the fleet.
put with the restoration of peace the
headquarters will go back to Toxic.
The designation of Prince Komatsu
as commander-in-chief was undoubt-
edly for purposes Immediately connect
ed with the war, and his service in that
capacity is not likely TO be permanent.
The lessons in the naval branch have
been no less valuable than those of the
military. The particular value of the
cruiser as compared with the battle
ship has been thoroughly demonstrate
ed. The deadly effects Of the torpedo
boats have also been shown. I have
watched the work of these craft with
special interest, as was instructor at
the torpedo school, and number of
my students have DISTINGUISHED them
selves on the torpedo boats. Of the
two Chinese battleships captured at
Wei-Hai-Wei one is partially sunk, her
upper decks being just visible above
the water, and it is not yet certain
whether the japanese wreckers will be
able to save her. The other one is
afioat, and can probably be restored,