Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-11
JAP ARM YsOfF|cERS
Character 8 and Efficiency
Much Above Average.
PEASANTS AND PRINCES
DESCENDANTS OF MEN WHO
WERE PROFESSIONAL SOLDIERS
Examinations Are Severe, but Many
Of the Working Glass Pass Sue
cessfully-Military Schools.
BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.
pecal Correspondence of The Evening Star ana
Chicago Record- Herald.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening star anu
Chicago Record Herald.
KYOTO, July IL, 1904.
The morale and discipline of the Japanese
army, which expert observers declare 10 pe
superior to those of any other mihtary
force In the world, are due, OF course, III
large measure, to the character anu en-
cheney of it's officers. While the ehts'eo
men are constantly changing, Tor at ieas'
one-third of the rank and file return W
their homes on the first of December each
year, to be replaced by new conscr1p's' 'he
officers are permanent for Twelve years a.
least, and they number about o,oVo repre-
sentatives of every class and rank tf So
ciety from princes of the imperial house u
the sons of farmers and coolies
Japan is a very democratic country. Inc
Japanese army is a democratic institution
A soldier is a soldier whose value Is meas
ured by his ability and his achievements
and not by the title he bears or the social
position of his parents While high COM
mands are held by princes and nobies, even
higher commands are held by sons OF the
soil who have attained their responsibility
and eminence by their ability ana euc.en ICY,
1t is impossible to abolish or dsny tne
prestige that always accompanies title
wherever you find it, in Japan or elsewhere;
All mankind except few SOCIALISTS ana
ence of a prince, out of the respect TO the
title If not to the man, and the representa-
tives of the imperial family in the japanese
army and navy enjoy special dlstinctioh
to which all of them may or may not De
professionally entitled. The same is true
in less measure of the mobiles ana the
descendants of the daimyos and samurai
of ancient Japan. 1t is not intended or re-
quired, but is entirely voluntary Ihelr
comrades have equal rights and privileges,
and some of them usually have higher
rank, but without doubt there Is less ds-
tinction made in the Japanese army be-
tween officers because of ancestry and so
cial position than in the army OF any Cther
monarchy in the world. This is not due,
however to any hatred for or contempt Of
titles. for titles are nowhere more hgniy
esteemed or sacred but the efficiency OF the
military force is the first consideration, and
If it would strengthen the war power of
the empire to promote the son of coolie
over the head of prince it would be done
without the slightest hesitation
From Peasant Glass.
Nearly one-half Of the officers of the Jap
anese army come from the heim;n or peas
ant class, who have been promoted from
the ranks after receiving the training and
education required. An even greater num-
per are descended from the samurai or
knights of old Japan, who were professional
soldiers attached to the households or cas-
ties of the daimyos, or dukes, of ancje mt
times Their ancestors for many genera
lions were trained to fight and did 1iothlng
else: hence it is. perfectly natural that their
sons should inherit taste for military at
fairs and acquire proficiency that secures
rapid promotion The representatives, Of
the nobility in the army are comparatively
few.
status of the commissioned officers CT the
JapaneSe army: