New-York tribune., 1901-04-07
PART II.
TWELVE PAGES
JAPAN'S NAVAL POWER.
IT LIES NOT ALONE IN HER SHIPS AND
GUNS, BUT is AUGMENTED BY THE
SPIRIT OF HER SAILORS.
BY DR.. WILLIAM ELLIOTT cR1FFrs
Formerly Professor in Toxic University

years ago had only junks should at the naval
pageant in honor OF the late Queen Victoria
fly its flag over the largest battleship in the
world. When the Empress of India died the
Hatsuse, built at the Elswick works north Of
Newcastle, was hardly ready for sea service
Nevertheless. the Mikado telegraphed such i'm
perative orders TO the Japanese Legation in
London that the big ship Of 1920 tons dis
placement, and named after little stream In
Japan, sailed with her officers and crew
10 Portsmouth taking a prominent part in the
evolutions. thousand years ago when our
fathers were barbarians, its name was cele-
brated in classic poetry
Pure is Hatsuse's mountain brook.
so pure II mirrors all the clouds of heaven
To the minds of the Mikados sailors and off
GERS Hatsuse calls up pictures of a tinkIing
stream, shady hooks and sheltered cottages set
against a glorious background OF mountains
that are lovely TO view and inspiring with
precious associations
This is what has built the Japanese navy and
given il a soul Here is a suggestion Of the
secret Of Japans power. To the foreigner filed
with the white mans conceit, that power is hid
He thinks Japan is strong because she has bor-
rowed the inventions of the West the forces ef
modern civilization But Japan's own internal
vgor is greater than any she can borrow in a
material form Her true line of progress is not
n machinery-it IS in internal spirit and or
ganization. Her revolution within during the
last half century-begun before Perry arrived
is more thorough than any visible external
changes
HER NAVY LIKE THE PHFNIX
The story Of the japanese navy is like that of
the phGnix. II is case Of rising 10 full life cut
OF ashes II was for defence against her enc
mics that Japan in the early seventeenth cen
tury destroyed all her seaworthy vessels. What
ever afoat that had a capacity Of Over twenty
five hundred bushels was ordered TO the flames
The ashes were blown to the winds or taken to
fertilize the soil Then foreigners were excluded
and the people included. save as a storm might
blow sailors into the Black Tide and drift them
10 American shores, Only one coming tower
10 watch the world was let at .;agasaki For
over two centuries until the American whaling !
fleets came too numerously in japanese waters. !
Japan slept like a thorn rose. II was first the !
whale, then Yankees, then Perry that woke !
her UP.
Within only seven years after the first Ameri- |
can steam warship, the Mississippi, had gone |
round the globe. the japanese by themselves |
navigated q steamship across the Pacific They |
began first TO buy vessels of foreign model for |
trade, and then 10 for war. for all around |
were earth hungry nations Conquered India |
and humbled China showed the japanese what |
they might expect. Sham Christianity is doubly |
thief, and the japanese knew il. They bought |
first in the shipyards of the United States. |
through the American Minister, Robert H !
Bruyn. This wooden feet. secured primarily |
for the service Of the Tycoon was seized by |
japanese students returning from Europe. who !
set up the very shortlived Northern Sea Re |
public" The Nikado's single ironclad the Stone |
wall, renamed the Adzuma. sent the rebel craft |
10 the bottom, and then became the nucleus for |
the new navy Of iron and steel. In 1894 this |
consisted Of sixteen steel and seventeen wood |
or composite men-of-war and twenty-six tor |
pedo boats.
WILL FIGHT FOR COREA.
When China, in defiance of treaties. claimed
Corea as her apPanage, she was resisted as |
Russia viii be- should she claim he same thing |
Though China mad battleships and the Jap |
anese had none, kilograms from Toxic ordered |
the japanese war steamers TO move at full speed |
TO intercept the Chinese transports. and If |
necessary, to fight the fleet. How the lighter |
Cruisers floating the sun banner. met the |
heavier battieshps having the dragon flag aloft, |
and drove them away. and then again attacked |
sno blew them up with torpedoes, utterly
initiating Chinese sea power. is known TO his |
tory II was the men, not guns the superior |
spirit not matter, that won.
Out OF the small mountains Of silver which |
The Chinese paid IN indemnity at the banks in |
London. the japanese have bought fleet |
Furthermore they now build and equip some Of
The best vessels of their size in the world in |
Their own yards. Yokosuka. Yeddo Bay. IA
nous for the grave of VIII Adams. the Eng
lish pilot of 1872, is the birthplace of some
OF the prettest and most effective Of the smaller
Japanese men-of-war. Yet what most surprises
naval experts is TO find the biggest Of the
worlds battleships handled so easily by japanese.
Equipped with the last refnements Of modern
Invention and technical skill. these monsters OF
destruction are managed by natives who are at
home with their tasks. both deck and in
engine room In a word though Japan's ships |
built in Europe are great, the secret Of japanese
sea power IS not in the fighting machines put
IN the men who work them.
JAPAN LEARNED FROM THE WEST.
Long ago the Japanese learned what sham
Christianity is and how INSCRIPTIONS are the
eager nations of the West. They resolved to
learn the secret of the foreigners power, and
They have done it, They built their war schools,
sent their bright Young men abroad, and made
themselves sensitive on all sides TO take in
knowledge This was all with purpose-to
Keep their country undefiled and unconquered
They aimed TO have the finest army and the
best navy in the world. and expected that IN
Time they would have it.
Chagrined to find that the so-called civilized
nations blind her real virtues, the ifuil
OF centuries Of training. Japan determined that
they should be impressed by her military anu
naval display If the world would not know the
Japanese as a people Of refinement and culture
ihen the world especially the aggressive an"
respassng world should know them as soidlers-
80 let US master the last secret Of the ior-