New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-05
JAPANESE READINESS FOR WAR.

In q review Of the naval war in the East for
the readers of the latest Coasters Magazine
Archibald S. Hurd attributes large snare OF
Japan's success to the completeness of her prep
aration for the conflict. Her foresight and en-
terprise extended over a period OF six or seven
years. while up to the last moment Russia APP
parently relied mainly on bluff. Even the large
feet which had been concentrated by the latter
power at Port Arthur was. according to this au-
thority. something Of a sham The Cars ad
vsers had been led to think that the Asiatics
were more powerfully impressed by smoke
stacks than guns, and accordingly felt secure in
the consciousness that several Of the vessels in
the Pacific had from three to five tunnels! Thus
protected, the officers in command regarded gun
practice and man9uvres before the as
utterly unnecessary.
First of all. Japan obtained thoroughly mod
ern navy. All Of her larger vessels were built
abroad, but she had her own ideas about what
they should be-. Not only were six fine battle
ships ordered, but the programme was made to
include an equal number of heavily armored
cruisers. In her recognition of the Importance
of this second class of warshipS Japan antic-
pated several Of the other naval powers Of the
world. 1t is asserted, too, that never before had
any nation devoted so large share of its actual
expenditure for naval purposes to armored yes
sells. For the so-called protected" cruiser
Japan had no use.
Great execution has been done by torpedoes in
the pending conflict, and Japan has been par
ticularly alert TO their possibilities. Mr.. Hurd
insists, however, that "a mosquito feet does it's
best work when its officers and men know that
a few miles IN their is a group OF more
powerful ships. Though the latter may not be
called upon 10 fire gun in a particular engage
ment, their very proximity gives courage to
! those who are out on the skrmish line and puts
| q powerful restraint the movements of the
Zoe. FOR the first time in history an effective
blockade was maintained this year for weeks in
| succession by destToyers alone but that achieve
ment was possible only because Togos big YES
sells at the Elliott Islands sixty miles away from
/ Port Arthur, were within wireless telegraphic
I range.
In more ways than one the foresight dis
played by Japan has been an object lesson to
the world. Spies in hostile camps and ports
Kept her wonderfully well informed concerning
! the weak points in the enemy's equipment and
routine. Against every possible emergency which
! might arise the japanese had made elaborate
provision. They had hospital ships repair
ships store ships, golfers and ships carving the
necessary mechanism to raise and cut subma-
! rine cables. In this respect, as George KEENAN,
| pointed out months ago in The Outlook " Jsnan
was Infinitely better off than the United States
was when the war with Spain broke out Mora
over, she utilized a number of improvements
| made by her own people upon existing meth
| DDS or apparatus. Among them were a new ev
| plosiVe invented by DR.. Shtose and a modiflca
| ton of wireless telegraphic systems which was
| recommended by experts at the University q,
! Toxic. The type of torpedo that sank the Petro-
| pavlovsk had features suggested by Commander
| Oda, and there were novelties even I'm the yva+ar
tube boilers of the Mikado's warshlps. eve
| have learned TO admire the thorougbness of tha
Germans" says Mr.. Hurd, but nothing that
I'VE know Of their readiness and war training
equals the standard of preparedness for war
which the Japanese evolved"
incidentally, the writer for Casters Maea-
zine" gives little attention to the tactics of the
Japanese. He lays much stress on the discretion
shown by Togo in dealing with the two sena.
| rate Russian squadrons. He did not allow him
self to be distracted by the possible mischief
which the ships at Nadivostok might do along
! the coast OF Japan. He was not tempted into -
| division OF his own force. He felt confident thar
junction between the two hostile commands
could not he effected promptly. aud he pre
f"rfed 70 confne his attention 10 the Yellow Sc,
! Noi uilI after Ice lad destroyed MI Of the
enemy IS sll2s IN Corean ports that the Russian.
did not sank Themselves. and not unliI he h,d