The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-06-29
HER SUBJECTS
CAPTAIN KUROOKA ON JAPAN'S
NAVAL EXPANSION.
Being an Island Empire, Japan Must
Depend On Her Navy-Naval no
gains of Two Powers.


relations at present existing between
Japanese Minister Resident Shima-
mura and Minister of Foreign Affairs
Cooper do not seem to be as pleasant
as they might be, still the diplomats
of little Japan do not hesitate to talk
to the President on matters concern
ing the Japanese navy.
Probably one of the best posted men
in the naval service on this point is
CaptainT. Kurooka of the warship
Naniwa. He has given the epitome of
Japan's naval expansion. The Captain
says that Japan being an Island En-
pire, must depend on her navy. Her
aim is merely to protect her subjects.
Briefly stated, the present cabinet
has decided to construct six first
class cruisers of 5000 tons each with
the best protection that can be had.
Two of these ships are to be built
during the first period of the EXpan-
sion, and four during the second.
Thus, by the year 1906 the Japanese
navy will consist of 81 ships having an
aggregate displacement of 25s,30O tons.
For the sake of lucidity it may be well
to recapitulate the total force of the
japanese navy at the end of 1906.
The navy will then consist of six first
class battleships of 1920 tons, one
| caoonJ ,I,cc n, ttlaSbip of = OAK toms
six first-class armored cruisers of over
5000 tons each, seven second-class
cruisers of over 1000 tons, six third
class cruisers of 5000 tons each,
twelve fourth-class cruisers of over
1 800 tons each, three torpedo gun
boats of 1900 tons, one torpedo depot
ship of 6,750 tons, eleven torpedo-boat
destroyers, 115 torpedo boats, twenty
five gunboats and sloops.
When Japan went into war with her
big neighbor three years ago, the YES
sells standing first on her naval list
were four cruisers of 4,27S tons each.
If it be her misfortune to have to
fight again, she hopes to enter the lists
with first line composed of six bat
tleships, ranging from $4,000 to $4,000
tons, and six cruisers of $500 tons.
Her penchant for torpedo-boats is
interesting. The battle of the Yalu
taught her that, without these craft,
the full fruits of victory are hard to
reap. 1t is more than probable than
if Admiral Tto's squadron had been
accompanied by torpedo-boats, the two
Chinese iron-clads which played such
an important part, moral and practi-
cal, throughout the war would never
have escaped to Port Arthur. The
quick-firing guns of the japanese
cruisers had virtually silenced these
vessels, so that they could scarcely
have stopped rush of torpedo
boats. Further, at Wei-Hei-Wei, show
ed the Japanese that the officers and
men of their navy have all the quail
ties needed for successful torpedo
attack. These object lessons explain
why it is that, whereas, 26 torpedo
boat-destroyers satisfied her three
years ago, she has now resolved to
have rs, with II torpedo boat catch
ers and a big torpedo depot ship.
One of the first class cruisers win
be built at home, and the others will
be procured from abroad. Already
an order for one of the line battle
ships has been placed with the Thames
| (EnglanD Ironworks, a first class
cruiser has been ordered from France,
another one from Germany, two secon-
class cruisers from America, and one
second class cruiser from Sir w. G..
Armstrong &, Co.
AS for the orders procured by Amer
lean shipbuilders, they are chiefly SEN
timental. Experts allege that the
hulls alone of the two cruisers now
building in San Francisco and at
Cramps yard on the Delaware, will
cost as much as the hulls and arma-
ment combined would have cost in
England.
The japanese Government avoid de-
lay at present. Russia's proposed eX-
penditure of eighty million pounds
sterling for purposes of naval eXpan-
sion does not encourage the Japanese
to be dilatory. The year 1906 is fixed
for the completion of Russia's program
and the year for the completion of the
Siberian railroad