Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1903-04-10
JAPAN'S WAR SCHOOL
Military staff College an Institution
Long Established.
Proaninsnt German Omcsrs nave
beca Instructors Imps.rtana
Features OF the sCurriculNa
aud Its succsss.

The United States stafY collere 4,
now an established part OF our mill
tary educational systein, and in The
opinion OF the army II is one OF the
greatest OF all the great improvements
effected by the present secretary OF
war, says u Washington report
In this connection II is interesting
TO note that Japan. in spite of the fact
that she entered the international
arena in competition with the worlds
great nations only within decade or
two. hns possessed a staff college
since 1852.
II was modelled originally after the
! Prussian stair college, and has had
some prominent German officers on
duty as inAtru, ~rs Three years after
it's organization the great German au-
thority ON tactics. Maj. (now Mai.
Gen) Meckel came In that capac-
ity aud remained for sour years, dur
ing which time he placed the institu-
tion on firm foundation and intro
duced kriegsspiol and general star
rides of instruction. besides reorgan-
ixing tho entire Japanese army. He
was followed by the two German ON
GERS who afterward rose TO the rank
OF major general.
Its directors have also been prom
inent men in the japanese army,
among them, the present minister Of
war and governor general Of Formoxa,
the late Chief OF the General StaR
kawakami the present commanders
OF the Eighth and Ninth divisions. and
the present assistant chief Of the gem
eral staff
The course 10 three years and orig
inally only Is lieutenants were admit
ted In class. but this number has
been gradually increased, until to-day
so are admitted annually.
One OF the important features ~ the
return OF sta N officers and students tn
line duty. The course each year begins
on December and ends early In June,
but from August till the end Of Octo-
Der the students are sent to the vn-
rious arms OF the service 10 learn the
duties Of branches other than their
own and to take part In the fall ma
neuvers, besides doing duty at forti-
fcations and artillery target practice
and on battlefhlps. At the end Of the
three years course all the students
take part In the general staff rides Of
instruction, and are then ordered back
to their own arm OF the service.
The graduates receive a medal worn,
like an order. on the uniform. and the
hrst five or six are presented by tho
with n sword Of honor.
Even the military instructors are or
Tered to serve for time with the va
'ious arms Of the service. \
After a years service with troops
he best of the graduates are ordered
% duty In the general staff and after
me or two years nre permanently as
igned TO the general staff corps.
The subjects Of study are tactics (in-
luding naval taetirs). military his
ory. general stefr duty (orga MIA tion.
naneuvers, mobilization. supply ~
Irmies. transportation Of troops, etc.),
military geography. artillery and
mall arms, Notifications, attack and
etense Of fortidcations ndminisirn-
ion, military hygiene law, riding,
'ngnages. general history general
geography, mathema tics and topog-
anhy and skctching
The general staff rides cover 40 or
. miles
The interest taken In this school In
by the fact that, although
My officers of AT least two cara sery-
. with their regiments are eligible,
nd then only upon the recommends
on Of their immediate superiors at
ast 100 come up annually for the en-
ance examinations, although only is
IN enter.