Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-11

was educated in the regular army and is
said to be good soldier. but cannot
find out anything more about him. He
has never distinguished himself, has
never been promoted out of line and does
not seem to he very well known.
Narf-hisa, Prince of Kita-shirakawa, is
cadet In the military schools. seventeen
years old. His father, the late Prince
Yoshi-hisa, famous soldier. commanded
the Imperial Body Guards for many
years. took an active part in the war of
1898 with China, and died the following
December from the effects of fatigue and
exposure in the Chinese campaign. The
young man is said to be one of the most
promising cadets in the military acad-
envy.
Obtaining Commissions.
There are three ways of getting a COM
mission in the Japanese army:
l. BY favor of the emperor.
2. By securing an appointment to the
military academy as a cadet, just as in
the United States.
g. By application to the commanding Of
ficer of a regiment for the privilege of
enlisting as an Officer candidate"
The latter privilege is enjoyed by every
boy in Japan who. when he reaches the
age of twenty, and is in full possession
Of all his mental and physical faculties,
becomes a soldier for three years. II he
likes military life and shows proficiency
he can apply to the colonel of his regl-
IT,,
ton of the captain of his company. He
is required to show a diploma from a
public school or some private school
recognized by the government and must
quired of cadets entering the military
academy. Having been accepted as an
Officer candidate" he continues to serve
for twelve months as a private in his
company, SO that he may have complete
and practical knowledge of the needs
and duties of a common soldier, and ac-
cording to his proficiency. Is promoted
through the various non-commissioned
grades. At the end of three years he Is
sent to the military college at Tokyo for
a year of study in special branches Then,
after passing a final examination, he re-
cefves a commission as sublieutenant
and is assigned to a company. During all
of this training the candidate is under
the eye of the colonel and other officers
of the regiment, and their recommends
ton or Endorsement is required by the
war department before a commission is
issued
During the last two years of training
candidate officers are allowed private
quarters in order that they may study with
out interruption. They mess with the jul
nior officers in order to acquire social pol
ish and good manners, and are exempt
from certain duties which would interfere
with their studies. They are fed clothed
lodged and armed by the government but
| receive no pay or money allowance. About
one-half of the officers in the Japanese
| army obtained their commissions this way
There may be an indefinite number of sub
| lieutenants attached to regiment, and
they are assigned to duty by the colonel
being promoted to full lieutenant as va
cancieS occur.
The Imperial Military College, which
| stands In a beautiful grove on the top of a
hill in Tokyo, is very much like other mill
tary schools, and many of he features OF
West Point have been adopted by its fac
ulty The graduating exercises are always
| held In the presence of the emperor who
presents diplomas to the young officers.
Military Schools.
There are several other colleges for the
| technical instruction in the various branches
| Of military science. The course at the staff
| college, for example, requires three years
| that of engineering four years, that of the
| college of ordnance and artillery two years
| and the cavalry school one year At the
| staff college strategy, drawing and foreign
languages are given special attention, and
| the graduates are eligible for staff appoint
ments, for positions as instructors in the
| military schools and for other desirable bill
| lets. The other professional schools are
very much like those in our own country.
There are three colleges for non-combat-
| ants also, for paymasters. surgeons and
| veterinarians, which are said to he uncom-
| monty well managed. Before man can
| receive an appointment paymaSter he
must go through regular course of educa-
| ton similar to that given by CONNER cial
colleges of the United States and must
| serve two years as an accountant and book
keeper for some paymaster before receiv-
| ing a. commission himself. Surgeons are re-
quired to serve a similar practical appien-
| ticeship as apothecares and hospital at
| tendantS
Altogether the education Of the officers
of the Japanese army is extremely thor
| ough and severe and any natural cualii-
cations for military duty will he developed
| by the training l have described. very
| important feature of the organization is
| the close relation between the officers and
| the men, much closer than that in any
| other army. Lieutenants and sublieuten-
| ants live with the privates. The captain OF
a company often does so. but it is rot re-
| quired of him. He is permitted, if he pre-
| fers. to have detached quarters, but lieu
| tenants sleep under the same roof and
within speaking distance of the men OF
| their command. But they do not mess to-
gether The duties usually performed by
| the first sergeant of a military company in
| the United States and in the armies OF
| Europe are assigned to a subleutenant in
Japan. There is no distinction between the
| six sergeants of a company.