The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-11-19
JAPAN TEN YEARS HENCE.


Her Provisions For strengthening Her
| Army and Her Fleet.
Neither the military nor the na-
val forces of Japan can yet be called
very formidable, judged from q
western standpoint. They are re-
markable for an Asiatio nation, but
relatively to the population are GER
tainly not excessive. Japan called
into action men enough for her war
with China and easily brought that
huge, numbering power to its knees,
but the regular troops that she
maintains in her establishment are
not very numerous. A late state.
ment puts tho aggregate in officers
and men ut 1891.
But the new programme, which
has received legislative sanction,
provides for an increase of these
forces until tho total becomes near.
ly double, making tho standing army
In 1905 not less than 14i, 900 strong.
That force, which tho reserves could
swell to perhaps half million or
more, will be sufficient for her, with
her comparatively isolated position
and the capabilities of her coasts for
defense. And yet how little burden
will be imposed on her treasury is
clear from tho estimate that tho an.
nual cost of maintaining this great
establishment will DO not over S14,.
600, 900.
AS with the British isles, howov.
or, whose geographical position rela.
tive to tho adjoining continent ia.
pam greatly resembles, the great
arm of defense for hor is tho navy.
There also u programme looking for.
ward as far rs 1906 is completed In
the first place, tho basis of the now
loet is tho force of vessels which
oyercamo tho Chinese navy. Then
there arc tho ships which wcro cap.
tured from China, or at least tho
part of them that can be repaired.
1t further appears that thoro were
at that time building in Japan three
fast modern cruisers, while she had
ordered in England two fine large
battloships, that have since been
launched and before long will be
added to her available foot
But in addition tho Japanese diet
has provided for many other vessels.
According to published figures, there
arc to be two stages in tho ship
building programme. Tho first,
which includes 81 vessels, reckoning
large and small and displacing an
aggregate of 40, 500 tons, is to be
completed in 1902, while the second,
comprising 90 vessels, with an az
gregate of 90, ,S95 tons, will DO fin.
ished four years later.
Here, then, Is a provision for no
fewer than III vessels, with an ag-
gregate of 115, 7S5 tons, to DO com.
pleted ten years hence. Japan is
able to carry out this remarkable
plan with the moro case from the
fact that she has secured very
heavy war indemnity from China,
which can be laid out on tho first
cost of the ships, but their mainte-
nance will be no slight additional
burden on the empire, although, if
her naval expenses arc as small rola-
tively to European as arc her mill
tary expenses, she will hayo less to
complain of.
Her determination, however, to
mako herself an eloment To bo rock
onod with among the navics of tho
world Is plain, and she at once has
tens the execution of her plan and
perhaps deprecates foreign criticism
of it by giving part Of tho work
to European and foreign shipyards.
1t IS said that throo battleshipS,
thrco cruisers, torpedo gunboat,
"a torpedo tender, four torpedo de-
stroyers and four first class torpedo
boats will be built abroad, and two
OF the cruisers arc likely to DO con-
structod in this country
Alike in her industrial and her
and naval development, the
next ten years will no doubt SEQ
great progress in Japan, and she is
plainly preparing herself for lead
ing role in determining the fortunes
of tho far east.-Now York Sun.