River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-08-14
Japan A STRONG NATION.
The FIOyvery Kingdom Is 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 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, armored cruisers, second
class cruisers, 2 third-class cruisers,
torpedo gunboats, about 100 tor
pedo craft, and 1 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 6 inches. and
main draught of rs feet 6 inches; nor
NAL displacement, 1920 tons; arma-
ment, four 12-inch Aston 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-belt 226 feet long by feet
inches deep, the thickness of armor
being 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 roo tons. but the
bunkers are capable of holding 1,4O0
tons. The complement is TAI officers
and men. Among the battleships is
the Chen-Yuen. captured from China,
which has a displacement of 7,4O0
tons, indicated horsepower $500; ar
mament, four 12-inch (Krupp), four
6-inch quck-fring and eight light
guns. as we'll as eight other guns and
three torpedo tubes. Her speed is IA
knots
Of Che armored cruisers the largest
is the Asama, with displacement of
9,750 tons, an indicated horse power
of 10000; armament, 6-inch quick
fling, II 6-inch (Amstrong), 5 torpedo
tubes -four submerged), and speed
221 knots. Some of the cruisers.
have a 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-fring guns and
the destroyers are said to have
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
organization of her army. The mill
tarv budget of 1001-2 provides for Is
divisions of the army, including the di-
vision of the guard, 20 infantry bri-
cades, each of 2 3-battalion regiments,
II regiments of cavalry Isl squad
rons), 10 regiments of artillery Ola
field and muntain batteries), 13 bat
talons of pioneers, comprising % COM
panies Ito be increased to 80 COM
paniesl. 13 battalions of train of ?
companies each and the railway and
telegraph battalion, each of 3 com
panies. In addition to the 10 divisions
there are regiments of coast and ?
battalions of foot artillery, as well as
the Yesso brigade, comprising 4 bat
talions of infantry, besides cavalry or
tillery and pioneers. The army of the
second line (garrisons and reserve),
consists of SO battalions of infantry,
besides cavalry, pioneers and depot
troops The peace strength in 1902
was s, 166 officers and 1898 men, be-