The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-03-19

Toxic, Japan, Feb. 18.-You need
not travel far in Japan at this mo-
ment to realize the advantage of her
insular compactness. Compared to
Russia, her present task is as easy as
that of a postman with a dozen let
tiers to deliver in one office building
and a postman with a dozen letters
to deliver in as many prairie counties.
In another way, the situation, on this
countrys part, is much the same as
If all the American army were in
New York and New England. and,
using the network of railroads of
these states, we were to mobilize our
troops in great divisions at Ports
mouth, Boston. Fall River, Provi-
dance, New Haven and New York; on
the enemy's part it Is much the same
as If land extended as far as the
Sandwich islands, and we had to send
the army in midwinter by a single
poor railroad line to the relief of
besieged Honolulu. 1t Is the empty
ing of a cask with a number of big
tunnels, on the one hand, and empty
ing it by siphoning thru a small tube,
on the other.
In Russia proper there Is stand
ing army of twice the size OF the
whole fighting strength Of Japan. The
best modern rifle will carry oriy<o,Ooo
yards said a., Japanese Officer; the
Russians need one that will carry
5000 miles," General Forrest once
said that he owed his success to get
ting there first with most men, Dis
lance accords this fortune to Japan.
Even when we read Of the mobiliza-
ton Of the Siberian reserves, and
think Of Siberiats vast eXpanse, we
find the Russian in the plight of an
Arizoniaps who starts on Tuesday to
catch Wednesdays steamer in New
York.
Literally, Nippon Denji means man
of Japan. Broadly, it means what
the boys in blue meant to the north,
or the little soldier of France means
to France. According to the Japa-
nese idea, Nippon Denji is the IA
vored youth of Japan, who has the
physique and the good fortune to get
into the army. He has little money
to spend but spends that like a king.
He Is generous, charitable, light
hearted in hardships and longing to
stdie for his emperor. In word, he
islands for the heart of the nation
for the patriotism which is the ma
TONS religion. OF all the warriors
I have seen, he has the least weak
ness for cafe boasting. You like him
better when he is in uniform than
hammered.
That fighting army is the flower OF
the lands physique and humble char
acter. 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 is discarded by lot The
chosen ones have the distinction of a
volunteer and far more; for not every
man who chooses can be a soldier
Ia height, Nippon Denji is not more
than five feet four or five inches. This
is to his advantage. But when l tel
my Japanese friends so, they are mo-
pleased. Rather, they say that the
race is growing taller, and the for
eigner overlOoks the fact that many
Japanese are good-sized. ~
It 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 to a sailing yacht
Nippon Denji has the power Of tow
ing tug. He Is not all boWspr1t anc
overhang He has some strength tt
put into the transport Of his rifle ant
kit as we'll as transporting himself
ANY one who has seen a Japanes
coolie with bare body at work, hi
muscle as firm under his brown skill
as if it were bronze, knows that, TO-
his weight, no race can give the Jap
anese odds in strength. Look owe
the ranks of the regiment and yo1
will never find a spindle-shano. A
20 the Japanese reach the solidity o
maturity which goes with 81 or 2
in other races. Best Of all, hippo
Denji is a small target. The bulle
that would go thru the throat Of a tai
man goes over his head. AS sailor
his size means more coal and gu
space. An occidental cannot stand u
in his engine-room and bumps hi
head between decks.
If there is any chivalry in you
heart, Nippon Denji will find 1t.
have been his neighbor now for tie
days. He owns the land, but doe
not seem to claim it. Hot water make
him near to goodness. He Is alway
washing, as he may to his hearts cor
tent in this land Of moisture. You
reservist's trousers may not fit; he ma
be able to tell which is seat an
which is front only by technical ir
spection; but they are speckless an
his face shines with soap. For re:
he plays in water. You may slice
elbow to elbow with him, feeling thu
he is as clean as you are. Rich an
poor alike welcome him as que