Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-23
(The end.)
JAPAN.s NEW NAVY.
Her First Mnneuvers With Fifty Yes
sells Entirely Successful.

sells Entirely Successful.
Yokohama Correspondence London Mall.
Considerable interest has been felt IN the
naval maneuvers-the first since the fleet
has undergone Its recent great expansion.
Everything was kept most rigidly secret
No press representative or foreign attache
was allowed to come within miles OF the
maneuver area and every possible precau-
ton was taken to prevent any details OF
the movements leaking out.
All that Is known is that thorough test
of the mobilization system. conducted on
exactly the same lines that would be OBJ
served in actual war, was effected, and that
the results on the whole We're highly reas-
surng.
Fifty vessels practically the whole of the
Japanese fleet, but for few ships on for
eign service, took part. There were five
line-of- battle ships. thirteen cruisers. a tor
pedo gunboat, ten torpedo boat destroyers
and seventeen torpedo boats
The general idea governing the move
ments was an attack on the Inland sea.
Japanese fleet opposing the entry of a for
eign squadron. Night attacks were made
by torpedo boats. which Were worked with
great skill, but in the end victory remained
with the defenders. At the conclusion of
the weeks operations review by the en-
peror took place at Kobe. His majesty was
on board the cruiser Asama. which, amid
the strains OF the Kimi ga yo the japanese
national anthem), steamed slowly along the
four lines in which the ships were drawn
up. allowing the emperor for the first time
in his life to gain coup doeil OF the best
part of his navy.
Undoubtedly the Japanese have line of
maritime defense of which they may well
feel proud, and 1t Is creditabe to them that
they have. in the face Of great difficulties.
built up a naval force equal to any that
France. Germany and Russia combined
could show In the far east. 1t Is often
spoken of as wonderful-and 1t Is. indeed
subject for admiration-that a nation which
thirty years ago was still in the junk stage
of naval progress should have been able in
this short space of time to provide and
equip efficient a fleet.
The Japanese had had absolutely no ed
ucation in seamanship Of a character likely
to fit them for the command of the ocean
The country had been shut up for centu-
ries and possessed nothing but coasting
junks of clumsy build and small capacity.
But perhaps this was a disguised advan-
tage There We're no old traditions to up
root, no time-honored fallacies to combat.
The Japanese started with a clean sheet
before them. They engaged the best avail
able European advice and placed OBJ
stacles in the way. paid what was asked
and lea rned their lesson in a spirit OF cheer
full obedience to thoseto whose hands they
committed themselves.
The result has been far more completely
satisfactory than in any other branch of
the public services. for the navy is in every
way superior. both in material and person.
old fighting class among its officers and the
pick of the hardy coast fishermen and sail
ors among the bluejackets who are much
harder and more intelligent than the rank
and file of the land service.
The naval officer Is. generally speaking,
not only as we'll trained In a technical
sense the military man. but is a finer
man physically more interested in his pro-
fession. less lstless. less given to stupid
forms of dissipation. Every credit. too,
must be given him for the capital way in
which he manages his big ships Since the
formation Of the navy no warshp has been
lost by faulty navigation. and in the ma
neuvers that have just been completed not
the least mishap was reported. There is no
doubt that In point Of seamanship. skill in
gunnery and bravery of officers and men,
the Japanese fleet would give a very good
account of itself against any force OF equal
numerical strength in the world.
A greater contrast cannot be imagined
than the decks and engine rooms of Jap
anese and Russian warship. The Japan
ese keep their ships almost clean as an
English man-of-war: the Russian ships are
not very much better. in that respect at
least, than the vessels which formerly made
up the Chinese navy. The truth Is that the
japanese is a sailor. though circumstances
have been against him; the Russian is not,
though his rulers. from Peter the Great
downward, have been trying to make his so.