New-York tribune., 1901-04-07

it his ambition and hope to die for him. This is
what makes the Japanese navy. Statistics tell
one story.
1t is this: To-day Japans navy consists OF
eighty-fve vessels eight first class and two
second class battleships all afoat and equipped
and among the very finest in the world; twenty
cruisers. ten coat defence ships and forty-ive
other vessels of the dispatch torpedo class.
Her three navy yards at Sasebo. Kure and
Yokosuka rich in modern resources. and
even in the making of armor plates she intends
TO be Independent. She has a body Of trained
seanlen numbering twenty thousand. with
great mercantile marine to draw from.
But this is only half. 1t Is but one wing 70
the bird. wheel to the wagon. the
japanese say. The floating fortresses of steel,
with their big forty or sixty ton cannon. quick
firing and machine guns. steel cupolas and
coming towers, searchlights, powerful engines,
the gunboats and torpedo boats and torpedo
destroyers are but one Phase of strength
from the outside by the foreigner. But
from within in tradition, in training. in
patriotic glow, is the greater strength. What
music, what poetry, what thrill of joy, nerv-
ing the and attuning the blood Of every
sailor and officer to do and TO die for everlast-
ing great Japan, the very names Of their
warships. Behind the brand guns and
ships are omens Of cheer a thousand years old
and Oregon and "Olympia' appeal TO us?
Then the names 'Naniwa." "Takao'' 'Akitsu-
shima" and "Takachiho" appeal to the Japanese
more because of a longer national history. So
grotesQue to alien ears, these names music
to the japanese. They more inspiring. be-
cause reinforcing. They have a thousand years
Of poetry Of exalted associations, of precious
and even holy memories in them, even of a
land unconquered and unconquerable.
WILL CHALLENGE RUSSIA
with these sonorous mellifuous names
are associated the deeds of heroes, the glories
of art, the beauties OF nature and all that urges
to heroism and sacrifice "Fuji' tells Of her
peerless mountain, "Asahi' OF the morning
of her glories "Yashima" and "Shikishima"
glow with poetry from the divine age. "Fuso'
of the age old unshakable rock with the moss
Of ages uncomputed." Others tell in their
names of heroes and heroines and Of all things
ancient and venerable. As Dibdin's songs once
made the British sailors the lords of the
main" so these very names thrill the Japanese
and are omens of victory
With such a navy and such sailors, with
sucb an army and such soldiers Japan will not
hesitate to challenge the claims even OF Russia.
The recent victory Of the forces of union.
patriotism a:,d true craftsmanship in the I'm
neriaI Diet over those of timidity and party
rancor is tremendous one and is fraught
with every suggestion of renewed national
strength and unity. Five years ago, with
Nonchuria in her grasp Russia calling France
and Germany to her aid, forced Japan to drop
her prey 1t is not likely that Japan VIII now
submit tamely to see Manchuria seized by Rus
sia and Corea thus endangered. Corea Is IN
every Japanese home a land of rich associa-
tions never TO he allowed TO any other con-
oueror. as vitality necessary to Japan "as lips
tho teeth