The evening times., 1901-05-20

Efsu I'm BEEs'AhE tC'fqSOV tat>h f@H u
Peace Footing and $4,000 on II
war FootiEE-Sorsle Recent Work.
In view of the universal interest at
present being manifested in the outcome
of the Manchurian dispute, and because
of the wonderful work done during the
Chinese troubles by the japanese Army,
a comparatively unknown institution, the
War Department has prepared for the use
of the Adiutant Generals Office a very
valuable and complete list of notes on
the military forces of the little Empire
whose small brown men have shown
that they are not to be despised. but are
in a position to demand recognition and
rank with the largest Of the Powers.
As the notes compose the first official
information ever transmitted to the out
er world as to the formation and opera
ton OF the Japanese forces, they will rank
in value with the very complete Notes
on China prepared for the Adjutant
Generals Office some time ago.
The mass of information contains ref
erence to the affairs of Eastern Asia and
to the immense strides made in the mill
tary and naval forces of JaDau- The
strength and quality of the army is
dwelt upon The notes say that
the organization was more severely tested
than the fighting capacity in the China
war in 1884, and more recently in the
operations in North China they have had
an opportunity to exhibit their training
and qualities side by side with European
and American troops.
The report states that the japanese
have won Iaurels IN every engagement
Their discipline. endurance, and bravery
evoked universal )encomiuns among all
who saw their work IN the field and their
organiza ton The only doubt existing IN
the minds Of military experts regarding
their excellence is as to whether, in the
field of the highest leadership, the Japan
ese marshaIs and generals would be equal
to matching themselves against Western
generalship-
Japan for military purposes. according
to the notes, is divided up into three great
| first divisions-the eastern, central, and
western There are in these twelve small
er divisions. besides the guard divisions.
Each division comprises four DattaliOns
OF infantry, besides details Of other
branches The six principal divisions
have their headquarters respectively at
Tokyo Sendai, NagOya, Osaka, Hirshi-
ma and kumamcto-
The first division CTokyo) is equal to
double any of the others and comprises
eight battalions. Japan has a total foot
ing Of 1SG. 900 officers and men and war
footing Of go gC0 officers and men, exclud-
ing all transport troops and embracing
only actual combatauts.
Among the features of the system is the
fact that on the army pay rolls az Z.090
taiIors. 900 shoemakers, 10000 grOoTas and
]. 800 attendants The medical staff is one
Of the most complete IN either Europe or
Asia. All officers holding only temporary
commissioned rank are included in the
list Of petty officers.
Up to two years go the "tondnehei,' a
system of military settlement, prevailed
in many of the islands composing the en-
pire. This was found fairly convenient
as it served for both coIoniza ton and de
| fence, but from the purely military point
| of view it was an unsatisfactory method.
! The Government, therefore, decided to
/ abolish It, and in 1Ss9-I910 began the or
/ ganization OF the Seventh Army Corps.
| The cost Of the entire corps when COM
/ pieted was 2-0g0.g00 yen per year, but last
1 year only {93 OJ0 yen was appropriated.
The proEra nnrne for the corps includes the
/ construction Of powerful batteries al
/ Tsushima, keelUnE, and at the Pesca-
/ dores. All Of these have already been be-
gun.
/ The completion of the military expan-
/ sion programme has been set for 1906
| when it is expected that Japan viii by
{ then be prepared to meet any Power Sc
/ work Of completing an enormous navy
/ Will then be looked after and the little
/ empire viii have become formidable foe
! and a powerful ally.