The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-05

Nothing can exceed Japan's warlike
preparedness, as far as the army and navy
themselves are concerned. / saw them at
maneuvres and do not hesitate to say that
they are ready to the last leggins button
writes German officer at Tokyo TO the
Boston Transcript"
This preparedness from the civilized
warriors standpoint is both external and
internal; the equipments are there and the
spirit is Indeed, limitations of European
courtly and military institutions has been
carried to such extent as to obiiterate the
source. What were originally French, Ger
man. or Russian service reforms have en-
tered into flesh and blood and mind of the
Japanese people so thoroughly as to be-
come part and parcel of their everyday ex-
istence and endeavors.
The army maneuyres took place on the
Island of Kyushu, and headquarters were
established at Hokata, with Prince Ko-
matsu in command, the latter being chief
of the Chapter OF Field Marshals, or SUI
preme War Council. Like a regular Eu-
ropean war lord, he arrived by special
train after everybody else, including the
foreign military attaches. As his saloon
car rolled into the station the national
hymn was played just as God Save the
Queen is on like occasions in London; but
there the similarity stopped. The Japs
consider yociferous salutation undignified.
They merely barred their heads and bowed
low as the great man stepped out and
walked to his carriage
Foreigners Wei Cared For.
THE Emperor's court marshal had taken
European colleagues ever executed such a
task more gracefully and more literally.
There were lot of US. Ever Chile had
modified a consul and metamorphosed
him into a warrior with the aid Of many
colored uniform and mighty sword, while
China and Korea made up in quantity for
any lack of quality that might develop. Ali
told, these Empires sent forty eight al
legged officers
The law of March. 1896. ordering the
gradual Development Of the japanese army, |
named the year 1903 as the time when the |
desired reforms etc, were to be com |
pleted but from what / heard and saw. |
the Tokyo War Office hsd not to wait for |
the expiration of the term. I understand l
that the complete complement of troops |
provided by the law referred to could be |
put in the field now, namely. the fifty-t two |
talions, thirteen regiments of horse of five |
squadrons each. as many regiments of ar |
tillery, with III batteries and six regi- |
ments Of siege artillery; furthermore. |
technical troops, train, commissariat' de-
partment. etc
Service is compulsory, and the Jap
anese are the only people not Disconnected |
on that account. Their ambition, that stops 4
at nothing, makes each raw recruit think 4
that he carries marshals baton in his 4
knapsack. Able-bodied men are subject to
enlistment at the completion of their sew
erteenth year. and remain under military |
control until they are forty. They. serve /
three years under the flag four years in
tie reserves. and FIVE years in the Land
gehr. Soldiers vino distinguish themselves
fer intelligence and diligence may be
placed On the reserve list before the ex-
Diration Of their term,
If l were to give detailed account of
the maneuyring. Il would read like the
report OF some sham battle or drill on
.arge scale held in Berlin, Munich or on
he plains CT AlsaceLorraiue. The Japs-
nese order OF march. advance, and re-
treat. their shooting regulations, cavalry
and gun practice are identical with the
German So are the technical movements.
,ecoun Oieeanrps etc