Evening journal., 1900-01-16
Development Of
THE JAPANESE
Great Navy That They Have
Built Up in Thirty.One
Years.
YANKEES OF THE ORIENT


EFFECTIVE WORK AT THE NAVAL
COLLEGE ON ETAJIMA ISLAND.
THEIR ADMIRABLE ARMY DRILL,
WHICH Is AS REMARKABLE AS.
THE NAVY.
la an address Arthur Diosy, at the
opening meeting OF the ninth session Of
the Japan Society, in London, related
some experiences Of a visit to the far
East. Among the things which filled
Mr. Diosy with admiration was the
navy Of Japan.
Upon this topic he says: There Is
only one word for the navy OF Japan.
and that is miraculous IL Is. indeed.
miraculous navy. When you think
that thirty-one years ago the navy OF
Japan consisted OF two steamships, one
OF them about the size of Citizen A on
the Thames, the other very ancient
American man-of-war, which had been
sold at a very big price to Japan, and
when you think that at the present mo-
ment the ships Of the Japanese navy
are second TO none in the world in their
power, in their hardness, in their rate
of speed, in what may be called their
fighting efficiency, which Is produced,
as naval experts know. by putting to-
gether the ships speed, armor. size.
weight of metal that the ship can throw
at the enemy in a certain time-coal
consumption, steaming radius and
handiness-it is gratifying to be able to
say that in all these essentials the
ships OF Japan are behind none in the
world.
Even in numbers the Japanese navy
now stands eighth on the list OF navies
OF the world. and in another two years
time will probably stand fifth, maybe
even fourth, but at-all events fifth,
unless some very great efforts are made
10 increase their navy by the powers
now ahead OF Japan. Moreover. the
ships OF the japanese navy may be de-
scribed, think, as being the most in
diligently designed warships in the
world. because they are designed FOL
the particular work that they have got
e vary out, and for no other The
Japanese know that. their battles will
be- fought near home, and that conse-
quently they need not have very large
spaces for carrying coal. and thus tn,
space which would otherwise be filled by
bnnkers can be devoted 10 more gun.
and more projectiles, which. as W,
know by recent warfare. is the chic
point The ship that can pump tn,
greatest weight of metal into another
ship in the shortest time will be thu
victor
That is as regards the material
Now what about that which is mucl
more important. the men? The mel
OF the Japanese navy are simply per
feet. The officers who command then
are first rate; they showed it not man,
years ago Besides, / had an opportu
nifty. thanks to the great kindness o
certain japanese naval officers, oil
friends of mine, one Of whom is al
honorary member of this society,"
namely, Rear Admiral Kawara, WHOM
many Of you will remember as captain
OF the fine cruiser Yoshino, who en-
tertained many of us so Hospitality o,
board his ship in Plymouth Sound Il
lSsS-of seeing how they make Japa
nese naval officers. ] saw the factor
at work.
ON the Island Of Etaiima. one e
the most beautiful islands in the beau
uful inland sea, there lies the Imperis
Navy College. at which the cadets ar
trained who afterward become officer
IN the japanese navy. / will not wear
you with description Of what is on
OF the most perfect naval educations
establishments in the world, 1 will sin
ply tell you that the Russian nav,
attache at Toxic, an authority VIII
could not be suspected OF any undr
prediction for things Japanese sal
TO me: "Ha. Il is model for all N
navies OF the world; IL Is al
solute perfectionl" and absolute ne
lection II is. There several hundre
young Japanese gentlemen OF splend
physique have never seen a fin,
body OF young men between the az