The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-23
JAPAN'S ARMY.
Ii Is i'm Fine Fighting Trim and Ready
for Immediate Action.


New York World.
The Japanese have surprised the world
by their progress in the arts Of peace and
by their prowess in war as shown In
China on two occasions. Senator Bever-
idge, Of Indiana, in a recent number of the
Saturday Evening Post. speaks of the COM
ing war between Russia and Japan as a
conflict not only OF opposing interests but OF
singularly acute antpathies. The Russians
deny the use of the word civilization as
applied to the Japanese, and call IL imita-
ton only. They are nation of monkeys.
The hatred is reciprocal and the fight
Will be 10 q finish Russia has vast re-
sources, unorganized. chaotic. On the
other hand, Japan has as highly system
atlzed an industrial organization as any
nation. The senator writes:
The impartial observer will conclude
that, though the Russian soldier has points
or superiority over the japanese, never
theless the Japanese soldier, man for man,
is more nearly a match for his Russian
antagonist than any lighting man of any
other nation.
1--WE can mobilize our entire army of
10000 men in thirty-six hours declared
one OF the very highest military authori-
ties OF japan. And there is no doubt OF
the truth of the statement. The japanese
believe that they can land an army corps
In Korea in less than three days. 1 do not
think so.
1T is thought by the most conservative
In Japan that force Of 100000 men can be
transported to the peninsula or to Man
churia in two weeks, and line OF provision
transports established and defended. Per-
haps this is not so far from the truth.
Very moderate opinion is that in three
weeks Japan could have every man in her
active military establishment landed at
any point she pleased in Manchuria or Ko-
rea, and line Of commissaTy transports
established and defended
In the coming therefore. IT is be-
lieved that Japan can get into position
throughout the country she desires TO alb
sorb, and that It would be up to Russia
TO Gust her. When the conflict comes the
Russian force and the japanese force Of
available, active fighting men will not be
far from the same. Every day that ia
pan delays, Russias numbers of course
increase.
I'm this conflict the chlef-perhaps the
determining-element will be the reSpec-
tive Russian and japanese fleets. The
japanese navy, practically all of which
is at home and instantly available for
this war, is one Of the best fighting
naval organizations In the world. Indeed.
for its size. perhaps-no. not perhaps. but
undoubtedly - is the very best-equipped
navy in the world.
But neither is the Russian navy TO be
sneered at. Steadily, slowly, almost stealth
lily. she is increasing her maritime arma-
ment in the Orient. The stories told about
the mismanagement and neglect of the
Russian warships are believed to be erron-
observation"
Senator Beveridge says the Japanese
army is built like watch" and each
Japanese soldier is a part Of this ma
with this exception: Every soldier is ca
pable Of being transformed into another
part Of this complex, yet simple, mechan-
ism.
"They are hardy fellows. too; not OF
a high intelligence as revealed I'm phys-
oynomy cranial development, but with
suggestions OF the bull terrier. OF one COM
pany, for example, over two-thirds had the
heavy jaw, broad at the Jowls and protrud-
ing that you associate with the pugilist or
the bulldog. You can we'll believe the tales
thought that they have the endurance of
their blonde Russian antagonists"
The senator describes a Japanese regl-
ment in action as follows:
ment is to charge an enemy. They will
kneel on one knee, and a general and con-
tinuous fire all along the lie will be kept
up, each man firing as fast he can care
fully aim and quite at will. Between shots
one man and then another. but not all at
once. quickly draw their knifelike bayonets
and fix them TO the guns and continue
firing;
ficers spring to position (the captains in
'front.' so quickly that you hardly OBJ
and the whole line springs forward, first
on a slow run. but quickening as they
near the enemy, and bursting into a wild,
high yell as they close with their foe
"Tt Is reasoned that by this method no
time is wasted. the enemy. does not know
that a charge is to be made, firing is con-
tinuous TO the very moment of the onset
and principally and far above all. that by
this continuous firing, mingled with the
fixing Of bayonets the soldier Is gradu-
ally worked UP to a point of terrible eager
ness and that at the psychic moment the
human engine Of death is released upon its