The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-12
The Sea Power Of Japan.

1t is obvious that, should the long
expected conflict between Japan and
Russia occur, the outcome will be largely
determined by the comparative strength
OF the combatants at sea. Unless he
can secure and retain maritime pre-
ponderance, the Mikado cannot safeguard
his insular dominions from invasion;
much less can he place large army in
Corea or Manchuria. maintain commune
cations with it and provide it with
adequate requirements and supplies
What are his naval resources? In order
to answer the question. we have availed
ourselves Of data published in the japan
Weekly Mail, and Of articles contributed
to the September number Of the Nine
teenth Century and to the October num-
Der Of the North American Review.
The Japanese Navy is new, but the fact
should not be lost sight Of that it has
already been tested and found efficient.
The Russian Navy is not new, but it
has not been tested since the Crimean
War, when it proved inefficient. In
early days the Japanese were known
and dreaded by their neighbors as bold,
adventurous seamen, but for more
than two centuries previously to the
revolution of 1858 the national seclusion
enforced by the Shoguns Of the Toku-
gawa dynasty stifled all maritime enter
prise. 1t was not until ls77-though a
small war vessel, the Stonewall Jack
son. had been previously purchased from
the United states-that the Japanese
seriously entered upon the acquisition
of modern fighting ships.
In that year the first ship especially
built for them in England. the Fuse, a
broadside central battery ironclad Of
300 tons, designed by Sir EDWARD
REED was launched at Poplar, and was
soon followed by several small but power
fully armed ironclads. Even before that
date the Japanese had comprehended
that an adequate organization and a
thorough system Of training for officers
and men were Indispensable. Thirty
years ago, with the consent Of the British
Admiralty, Japanese officers were under
going instruction at the gunnery and
torpedo schools at Portsmouth, and
gaining sea experience with British
squadrons. Moreover, when naval
college was organized on large scale
at Toxic, it was placed under the
charge of Commander DOUGLAS, now
commanding the British feet on the
North American station, and a large
number OF the best officers and men
in the British Navy were permitted by
the Admiralty to serve as instructors.
The officers trained by them are the
Admirals and senior Captains in the
Japanese Navy at tho present day.
In 1895 when the war with China broke
out, and the sea power OF Japan was
tested, the latter country did not possess
a single battleship, and the aggregate
displacement OF her whole fleet was only
about 10000 tons. She had some fast
and heavily AIMED cruisers, however,
and it was with these that she won the
great naval battle of the mouth OF the
Yalu River, though fighting against
armored battleships.
The expansion of her naval resources
since 1905 has been such as to give Japan
O. feet that is now in offensive and de-
fensive armament, in steaming capacity,
both as regards speed and distance, and
in homogeneousness, equal to any in
the world Of the same size. II COM
prises seven battleships and two coast
defence vessels, seven tirst-class armored
cruisers, ten protected cruisers Of the
second class with two building), eight
protected cruisers Of the third class
with one building). nine unprotected
cruisers, seventeen torpedo boat de-
stroyers and sixty-seven torpedo boats.
Mr.. j. II. LONGFoRD, lately British
Consul at Nagasaki, testifes that every
one Of these vessels is Of the most modern
type OF naval constructive science. He
even goes SO far as to aver that in 1900
Japan possessed at least foe battleships
OF the first class, all built in England.
that were protected by heavier armor.
over q greater extent OF their side areas,