The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-18
RAPID GROWTH OF JAPAN's NAVY

Perhaps few persons know that the Jap
anese navy, which is now surprising the
world by its efficiency. had it's beginning
under American instructions. That som of
its best officers, including one admiral, were
educated at the United States Naval Acad-
envy, is well known, but its obligation to
American instructors began further back
than that. In fact, the main credit for
the japanese navy belongs to American Of
fcers.
The navy began with the purchase from
the United States of the armor-clad Stone
wall in 1866. This vessel had a curious his
tory and was owned at different times by
four governments. She was built in France
under a contract with the Danish govern
ment and was to be known as the Sphynx,
but as the Schleswig-Holstei war, in which
Denmark wished to use the vessel. ended
speedily, Denmark withdrew from the con-
tract and the vessel passed into the pos
session of the Confederates. who named her
the Stonewall. When she was finished and
manned she put to sea and made for the
port of Ferrol, in Spain, where she was
b~lockaded by the United States warships
Niagara and Sacramento. She managed to
escape. however. and made her way across
the Atlantic to Havana, where she lay I'M
til the close of the civil war and was then
given up by Spain to the United States.
Later she was sold to Japan and was sent
over there by the United States and de-
livered to the japanese government, under
rOpovoan1 % Con4a;, Vou- Daor Admiral
George Brown. now a resident of this city.
She was delivered to the Japanese authori-
ties in the spring of 1868. This was the
first armor-clad vessel owned by Japan, and
was the beginning of her navy.
AT that time Japan had no educated naval
officers. but a lieutenant on an American
ship in the Asiatic squadron undertook to
instruct a class of young Japanese in ma
rine engineering and gave demonstration
on the Stonewall, explaining the mechanism
of the engineers department and the OPP
Grafton of boilers, engines, etc. Another
officer in the sdme squadron, a lieutenant,
resigned his position to accept the position
of admiral in the Japanese navy at a sal
airy of $4,000 a year, and remained with
them three years. From this small be-
ginning. in which Americans had so impOr-
tant a part, Japan has progressed until she
is now seventh in the list of naval powers.
Her newest battleship. the Mikasa, COM
commission in the world. having a displace-
ment of 1920 tons and a speed of eighteen
and a half knots.
There are American naval officers still
living who participated in the expedition OF
1853 which resulted in opening japanese
ports to foreigners and in her first treaty
of friendship with the United States, and
there are other officers who can verify the
statements here made as to the important
part borne by American naval officers in
laying the foundation of her navy. The
nav which she has built UP so rapidly
has not yet reached the zenith of it's power
for a shipbuilding programme was agreed
on only a few months ago to begin this
year the construction of four battleships OF
1900 tons each, two arrnored cruisers OF
$500 tons each, four second-class Scooter
cruisers, fifteen torpedo boat destroyers anC
fifty torpedo boats. These vessels will no
be completed in time to take part in tbs
present wa but they will be in time t
replace its losses. Japan's ~dockyards, which
had no existence until within a few years
are said to have equipment equal to any il
the world for construction and repairs. AL
island country with so great a seaboarC
was destined to be a naval power, anC
Japan is fast becoming a formidable one.