The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-03-20
By Frederick Palmer.
Golfers Special War CorrssPondent)

Toxic. Japan. Feb. 10.
JOU need not travel far In Japan at
this moment TO realize the advant-
age Of her ineular compactness.
Compared to Russia, her present task
* as easy as that of postman with a
dozen letters to deliver In one office
building and poStman with a dozen
letters to deliver in as many prairie
counties. In another way, the situation.
ON this Couutry's part, is much the
same as IL all the American army we're
in New York and New England, using
the network Of railroads OF these states,
we were 20 mobilize our troops in great
divisions at Purtmouth. Boston, Fall
silver Providence. New Haven and
New York. on the enemv's part il is
much the same as If land extended as
far as the Sandwich islands, and we
had 20 send the army I'm mldwinter by
single poor railroad line to the relief
OF a besieged Honolulu. 1t Is the emp
tying of a cask with a number Of big
tunnels, on the one hand. and empty
ing 10 by siphoning through "A small
tube. on the other.
Against Awful Odds
In Russia proper there is a standing
army of twice the size of the whole
fighting strength Of Japan. The best
modern rifle will carry only 5000 yards"
said Japanese officer: "the Russians
need one that viii carry 5000 miles"
General Forrest once said that he owed
his success to getting there first with
most men" Distance accords this for
tune to Japan. Even when we read of
the mobilization of the Siberian re-
serves. and think of Siberia's vast ex-
panse. we find the Russian i'm the plight
Of an Arzonian who starts on Tues
day 10 catch a Wednesdays steamer ia
New York.
II YOU win look at a map OF Japan
and its railroads YOU viii see how the
system of four great islands. whose
length hugs the mainland of Asia Is
provided with tunnels that may flow
transports that have to cross only a
short stretch OF water. In a country
indented with harbors. where the popu-
latiou is 296 TO square mile. no soldier
need travel far TO reach his transport
unless the government wishes. For the
embarkation Of troops Japan is better
prepared and situated than Germany
Tor putting troops on the French from
tier. There are seven great military
divisions Toxic, Sendai. Nagoya. Osa-
ka and hiroshima. on the main island
Of Nippon. Kumamoto on the island Of
Kiusiu, and SappOrO on the island Of
NcZo.
japanese Boys in Blue
Each of these divisions draws from
the surrounding country. When the
frst reserves receive their pink tickets
they move into the headquarters. where
they an up the division TO its war
strength i is this that has been going
on according 10 the same automatic
system for the last ten days. Whether
at Sapporo, Toxic or Kumamoto. YOU
see the same soldiers in the same uni
forms Of blue. with drab leggins. ex-
Cept the few who have khaki: for khaki
is not yet the rule. Economy requires
slow change in the army. except where
arms and ammunition are concerned
The time tables of all the railroads
have been changed at one time TO meet
demands which were as clear to the
general staff six months ago as today.
y certain number of passenger and
freight trains were taken off. The pas
senEer trains carry the soldiers who
have ON their backs all the ratiOns they
need for the journey in a land where all
journeys must be short; the freight
trains carry the cavalry.
Literally. Nippon Denji means man Of
Japan. Broadly il means what the boys
I'm blue meant 20 the north or the little
soldier Of France means 10 France. Ac-
cordiug 10 the japanese idea. Nippon
Dcnji is the favored youth OF japan.
who has the physique and the good for
tie money to spend. but spends that like
q king He is generous. charitable.
light-hearted i'm hardships and longing
20 die FOR his emperor. In a word. he
stands for the heart of the nation. for
the patriotism which is the nations
pride. OF all the warriors I have seen.
he has the least weakness for cafe
Boosting. You like him better when he
is in uniform than when he is not, for
no is moro upufle-rnanuerad
Pick of the Nation.
That lighting army which Is now pre-
pared for invasion is the flower Of the
lands physique and humble character.
Not half of the available youths who
reach CONSUMPTION age each year are
used. The strong boys and the good
boys are picked out. and the surplus il
discarded by lot The chosen ones have
the distinction Of n volunteer and far
more; for not every man who chooses
can be q soldier. In height Nippon
Denji is not more than five feet four
inches or five inches. This is 10 his adj
vantage. But when I told my Japan
csc friends so. they are not pleased
Rather. they say that the race is grow
ing taller. and the foreigner overlOOks
the fact that many japanese are good
sized. q wonder if Napoleon ever
wished that he was six feet two. He
may nave, when the old generals looked
down TO the level Of their shoulders 10
find the head of the man who was 10
take command Of the army i'm Italy)
Like all. other peoples, the japanese
most want that which they have not.
With their doIl-like women and short
men. they admire the big wrestlers with
their vast paunches and big wads Of
flesh, who form pictorial triumphs for
the masses IN place Of the lean. agile
ff.rrtrf r4rae for n. toll
II is not the height OF a man. but
how he is built. that counts in a SOL
der To the slim. tall column of bone
and tissue. the heart is what auxiliary
steam power is 10 a sailing yacht. Nip
-@r, Denji has the power of a towing
tug. He is not all bowsorit and over