The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-08-16
THE JAPANESE SOLDIER.
Results Of Study During the Pc
kin Relief Expedition.
The Uniform, Equipment, and Pay of
the InfuUtrymcn and CnvaIrymen
In the MIl,HdO'S Army-PonieS Used
in the Latter Arm Of the Service.

the InfHEtrymcn and CnvaIrynlen
In the NII,HdO's Army-PonieS Used
in the Latter Arm Of the Service.
Major Charles IT, Muir. Thirty-oighth
/ Volunteer Infantry. who was with the
Paliu relief expedition. made some inter
estiug observations and enquiries into the
{ character condition, and equipments OF
/ the Japanese soldiers. which are contain
I ed in a report submitted by him to Cen
eraI Chafce. and which. together with
/ other reports upon similar subjects. has
/ just been published by the War Depart
mout Speaking Of the uniform Of the
1 japanese soldier. he says.
The summer uniform. Of the same cut
as that for winter service. is OF white
/ cotton material 1t is cool and easily
( Numbered, but has the serious defect Of
/ being extremely conspicuous. The winter
/ uniform, with the exception of the cav
] airy trousers. which are red is Of dark
I blue wooden material. warm. ard very
, neat in appearance.
The cap is slightly BeI-sEapgd. with
+ fat crown and small. dropping visor. 1t
. is oruamented with a narrow yellow band
at the junction of the crown and sides
about one and half inches wide. yellow
/ in all cases. but the commlssariat, in
.
+ star in the centre Of the front just above
/ the visor
/ The blouse is fairly cIose-ftting. ex-
4 tends about three inches below the belt,
and is fastened with five buttons. 1t has
/ a standing collar faced with the color OF
/ the arm. red for infantry. green for cav
/ airy, yellow for artillery. blue for commits
/ sari1t. and dark green for engineers a
strap about two inches wide extends from
. the neck to the point OF the shoulder, and
/ has on il the number Of the regiment. In
+ the cavalry this strap is replaced by a
/ braided shoulder knot. and the blouse has
/ the back seams Oruameuted with yellow
/ stripes and the front with five horizontal
! stripes Of yellow. the ends terminating
/ in falling loops. This oruamoutation to-
I gether with the red trousers. makes
I very picturesque and striking uniform,
/ with the attendant disadvantage Of being
/ very conspicuous. In the cavalry the
1 trousers below the knee are cut to fit
/ closely and facilitate the wearing Of the
boot I'm the infantry they NJ loosely but
/ are usually confined by a khaki-cOIored
/ Logging, which reaches near 20 the knee
+ and is fastened by buttons The security
/ Of the fastening IS increased at the top
/ by leather strap with buckle
The cavalry is furnished with boots
made and Iow-cut leather shoe The
/ foot-gear seems much inferior to our own
+ The greatcoat is Of dark blue hts loose
+ ", extends nearly to the ankles. is un-
/ lined, and furnished with hood. When
I not worn il is carried compactly rolled
/ and siuEg over one shoulder, the ends
I fastened together on the opposite side Of
/ the body. During warm weather, IL
/ seems 20 be carried and used in lieu Of a
} blanket. The fitting Of the uniform Is
/ simplifed by the great uniformity in size
I and build Of the japanese soldier It
| should require but few sizes TO furnish
. a good III for all men.
/ The japanese have pack Of leather
| tanned with the hair on. This pack is
/ not i'm favor and is usually replaced by
Z an elongated cloth bag about nine inches
/ in diameter. In this bag is carried a re-
| serve supply Of sixty rounds Of ammuui-
/ ton, some spare parts for the fife in
/ Guiding a firing pin and its spring: a first
4 aid package. "A small package OF thread.
7 needles, and buttons. and an emergency
/ ration for one day The pail in which IS
! carried the days ordinary ration Is also
: carried in this bag. except when the pack
I is worn. In the latter case the pail is
carried on top of the pack. The ends of
the bag are tied together and the bag Is
/ the blanket roll or EreatcoaL The sol
/ der also has a small bag similar 10 our
/ haversack and carried IN the same man
| ner. but much smaller, in which he car
I ries certain miscellaneous articles of his
/ own choice.
The infantry is nj present supplied
( with the Murata magazine rife, the mag
aziue being a cylinder under the barrel
capable of carrying eight shots. which
/ are forced downward % the carrier Dy a
| spiral spring When the magazine is fun
! there can also be one cartridge in the
chamber and another in the carrier The
| rife can be used as a single-Iuader Ct as
B ID ma EdZiuC gun The magazine - ma
I l.tullIy held ia reserve and used only al
/ thu final stage Of the fire
In the infantry tvO-thirds Of the men
I carry the small shovel. the blade being
about s-y.n inches broad and the same iu
depth. al the handle about one foot IN
length The blade is inserted IN a leather
guard which IS strapped To the belt The
other third OF the soldiers carry picks
The cavalry is armed with carbiue
and sabre The nou-coII.Tnisslouec ON
OF the soldiers also carry the pistol only
/ the cavalry Of the Imperial Guard carry
| tho lance. The c8rbiue Is hahitu8lly car
Tiod across the back. being sluug over one
| 81 the shoulders They have no Carbiue
/ boot The saddle IS padded and a blanket
is also used Judging by what / saw of
/ tho backs OF the horses. the saddle Is
much inferior to our own. In the rear
! pouches IS carried SGT Of shoes for the
[ horse; also a leather shield that can be-
! fastened 90 the hoof by thongs Tor use IN
! AN emergency.
In the front piUChes there is always
kept one days emery, uCy ratiouS of rice
| for both trooper and horse The horses
[ are eNtrs nelly small as compared 10 our
I own. being no more than ponies. and SO
[ the weight they carry live and dead is
l much less than with our cavalry.
I The soldiers are divided into three
/ classes. first. second. and third. the class
: being indicated by three. two, and one
[ stripes of yellow on the lower part OF the
[ sleeve. I'm time 81 war they receive every
[ ten days Third-cIIss private, - sen, sec
| ond-CIa9s private. 80 sen. hrst-class prl-
I waite. $50 sen. corporal. 1 ven ~ SEM ser
g'8ut. 2 ven SD sen
I In time of peace officers receive month
7 Iy- SUb-ligUtcuaut 3 ven. lieutenant. -
/ ven. captain, 50 ven major. 10 yen, lieu
/ tenant colonel. 100 ven, colonel 30 yen,
] ma j0r general. commander Of brigade. 80
ven, lieutenant general. 40 yen. general
/ 90 ven.
Tho officers salaries are Increased by
/ twO-ufths in time Of war. Tn yen is
| equal II about 5o cents gold and the sen
I To- OUr-h1lf cent gold