The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1902-09-13
JAPAN A STRONG NATION.
The FlOwery Kingdom II Fast Be-
coming an Important Factor In
the Affairs of the World,

In view of the agreement entered
| into between Great Britain and
Japan, the fighting strength" of our
oriental ally becomes a factor of con-
siderable Importance, says the Lon
don Chronicle. A new naval pro-
gramme will probably be announced
some time this year, but at present the
Japanese navy consists of 8 battle
ships, Z armored cruisers, 3 second
class cruisers, 2 third-class cruisers,
torpedo gunboats, about 100 tor
pedo craft, and torpedo depot
ship. This list, according to the
latest returns, does not include some
small cruisers that are being built in
Japan. The japanese navy was or
gained entirely on the lines of the
British navy. The following are the
chief characteristics of the larger
class of vessels: Length, 400 feet,
with breadth of rs feet inches, and
main draught of rs feet inches; nor
NAL displacement, 1920 tons; arma-
ment, four 12-inch Acton guns placed
in pairs on two barbettes situated for
ward and aft; IA quick-firing 6-inch
guns carried on the broadside, and 20
12-pounder quick-firing guns. There
are in these vessels four submerged
torpedo discharges. The Harveyized
armor-beIt 226 feet long by feet
inches deep, the thickness of armor
being Q inches. On the barbettes the
armor is IA inches thick above the
main deck, and inches below in front.
The ships are propelled by twin
screws, the engines being of $4,000 in
dicated horsepower, supplied by
Bellevue boilers, the contract speed
is 1875 knots. The coal capacity at
normal draught is 700 tons, but the
bunkers are capable of holding 1,400
tons. The complement is TAI officers
and men, Among the battleships is
the Chen-Yuen, captured from China,
which has displacement of 7,400
tons, indicated horsepower $500; ar
mament, four Pinch (Krupp), four |
6-inch quick-firing and eight light |
guns, as well as eight other guns and !
three torpedo tubes. Her speed is IA J
knots.
OF the armored cruisers the largest |
is the Asama, with displacement of |
$3.50 tons, an indicated horse power !
of 10000; armament, s-inch quick
fling, IA 6-inch (Amstrong), torpedo |
tubes flour submerged), and speed
s2.1 knots. Some of the cruisers.
have greater speed, like the Tokiwa, !
with % knots, others less, like the |
Yakumo, with 20 knots. Other cruis-
ers and destroyers vary in displace-
ment between 1850 and 5,416 tons.
They all carry quick-firing guns and
the destroyers are said to have a
maximum trial speed of 80 knots or
more. Some were built on the Thames,
others on the Clyde and some at Bar
row and Elswick.
Although Japan took England for
model in the building and manning Of
her navy, she went to Germany for the
of her army. The mill
AIRY budget of 1902 provides for IL
divisions of the army, including the di-
Vision of the guard, &c Infantry bril-
yades, each of 3-battalion regiments,
II regiments of cavalry Isl squad
'ons), 10 regiments of artillery (114
ield and muntain batteries), Is bat
.alions of pioneers, comprising % COM
,anies Ito be increased to 80 COM
,anies), Is battalions of train Of Q II
each and the railway and
telegraph battalion, each of COM
'anies. In addition to the 10 divisions
here are regiments of coast and 2
'attalions of foot artillery, as wen as
he Yesso brigade, comprising bat
alions of infantry, besides cavalry ar
illery and pioneers. The army Of the ,
econd line (garrisons and reserve),
onsists of SO battalions of infantry,
esides cavalry, pioneers and depot
roops. The peace strength in 1902 ,
'as S,166 officers and 1876, 53S men, be-