The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-05-24
MILITARY FUTURE OF JAPAN
Colonel CockeriI Discourses the
Spartans of Asia.
Their Fine Soldieriy Bearing. When
Once Reused They Do Not Know
What Fear Is. Not Yet Thor
oughIy Tested. Love of
Country Their Slogan.

The fayorite discussion in foreign cir
oies here just now is the probable future
OF Japan from military standpoint 1t
Is held that while Japan has shown won
derful skill, alertness and courage in
her war with China she mot with such
slight resistance that ono cannot Judge
rightly OF her real fighting capabilities.
1t IS difficult to find an Anglo Saxon
who can be induced to believe that
Japanese army can DO created which
will stand up man to man aud face
such troops as England, Germany or
the United States could put il the field
On course the fighting peysistency and
endurance OF the Japanese in modern
warfare have not been tested. We know
That the Teutonio and Arglo-Sa4on
races will fight all day and get up next
morning and begin where they left off.
We know that in prolonged sieges,
marches and charges they have the
chang on" or bulldog characteristic.
This has not been demonstrated of the
Japanese, for nobody has recently stood
still long enough in an inimical WAY TO
enable them to test that great military
qualify.
But this wo do know-that the Japa-
aese are n nation Of warriors, fierce and
implacable, despite their polite externals
and quiet domoanor. They are proud
and sensitive, even TO tho point of kill
ing themselves when humiliated They
do not know what fear is when their
blood is up. The foreigners who wero
with them at Ping Yang, Port Arthur,
Wei -Hai-Wei and Newohwang say that
they went to battle with light in their
faces and tho joyousness of a picnic in
their demeanor. There were no strag-
glers to the rear or three or four faint
hearted men helping comrade to the
ambulance who had met with misfor-
tune in having his ear or n finger shot
OFT, as saw i'll our civil war. They are
the most obedieut and easily disciplined
men in the world. They love the mill
tary routine and will sit or stand all
day where thoy are told to remain They
live ON little, and they never complain.
They are just the right size for soldiers
"A feet Ii inches being their standard
height. They are muscular, and they
carry their loads with case. Their pa
triotism and love Of their emperor nre
boundless. A foreign teacher in their
schools says that If every schoolboy
should be asked what his dearest ambi-
ton was he would reply from his heart
that his hope was that he might some
day die for his emperor. 1t will be un-
derstood that in all the schools in japan
tho boys wear more or less of a uniform.
and all are trained in marching. In the
higher schools military drill is obliQa-
tory II we have not here the material
Tor soldiers, where is it to be found?
When Ill Bulgaria during the Russo
Turkish war, made up my mind that
the Turk, If he could have drill, disci-
pine and good leadership, was the great
est hght1ng animal ON earth, but in the
very nature of things this fearless fatal
ist cannot DO disciplined, and RS for
Leaders. They are not obtainable under
the existing system. There are not ten
ofncers in the Turkish army today who
are worth the powder that would be re-
CURED to eliminate them from military
activity.
With the Japanese it is quite differ
emit Their officers are trained, skillful
gentlemen, and they know how to com
nand the respect and love of their men.
Armed with the best weapons that can
be made, ready always to die if need
DO, proud of themselves and hating Mt
no sacrifice for their country, where can
better soldiers be found, and who ia
Wiling to test their endurance? II re-
CURES no persuasive bounty to take
these men to war, and no shouting
priests to lead them on the battlefield.
Ehey are the Asiatic Spartans, very
different in mold and temperament from
che hireling Ghoorkas and Sikhs Of
England and the tallow faced Tartars
who follow the predatory eagles of Rus
sia.-John A. Cockerill in New York
Herald.
violcts This Cats Fodder