The Washington times., 1904-03-12

fered the appointment Of chief engineer.
For specific reasons L declined the Office.
but did OFFER 10 accept service temporar-
lily. and for two or three months / gave
a group of young japanese engineer as
pirants such instruction as my time
would permit in marine engineering. and
gave demonstration on the Stonewall.
explaining to them the mechanism OF
the engineers department and the oper-
alton OF boilers. engines. etc. on war
ship. and the use Of tools. cannot
claim to have done very much in this
small way toward creating the navy OF
Japan. but Grinnell and the Hiogo ex-
consul gave most valuable services.
They deserve the most credit for their
work in Japan. and in other countries.
taking with them number OF bright
young japanese to study construction.
armament. and navigation and the gen
eraI operation Of a warship.
IT NAV be said. therefore. that the
.Japanese navy-had its beginning IN 1856.
and under American instructors, and they
have gone on steadily increasing their
s~n,ored feet. in addition TO building
nm an unarmored feet. all armed with
the hest rihed guns The first armored
shin constructed for Japan was built
ON the Thames. and was launched IN
1871 about six years before our new
navy was begun. she was the Foo-So'
and had displacement OF BIS tons.
About the same time contracts were
made i'm England for the two composite
armcr-belted corvettes. the Ron-Go ana
the Hi-Yei Then in 1880 tue NaniWa
and the Takachiho. built by the Arna-
strongs. in England. were launched
Thev were protected cruisers Of 500
tons displacement and eighteen knots
speed. and were conspicuous in the
Japan China war.
To-day Japan Is seventh In the list OF
naval powers. with six battleships, three
coast defense vessels. eight armoreo
cruisers. fifteen protected cruisers ana
eleven small cruisers and gunooats'
with a total tonnage of 237.SS9 tons. IN
addition there are uinety-three torpeuo
beat destroyers and torpedo boats ] ne
hattie shin Mikasa. completed in 1877, IS
The largest battIeship in commission IN
the world. having "a displacement OF
! i. 200 tons and a speed of 49, knots.
"Japan's dockyards are credited with
equipments equal 20 any IN the worm
for construction and repairs In l%l-
Japan's diet passed bill prCviding tor
tbs establishment Of steel foundry AT
tho <ura Arsenal for the manufacture
of armor plate
I'VE are inclined often e speak Of the
rap!d advance Of modern Japan, but the
DEVELOPMENT Of the military and naval
forces of ,he empire has hardly been
appreciated ~ foreigners. Aspiring TO
play an important part ia The politics
OF Eastern Asia, she has spared no
cffort and shrunk from no sacrifice 70
place herself in the matter of armed
equipment on a level with her possible
1 comp etitor-. The japanese are born
sailors, and country with so extensive
and vulnerable q scabo0rd could i'm No
/ case afford TO neglect its maritime COM
merce The administration Of her naval
department has been the subject of &C
/ rimOniOuS party conflict at times. but
! there has been no disagreement on the
/ broad imperial policy of a largely in
/ creased naval outlay. 4 shipouldiag
I pI Cgram was agreed On a few months
aGO TO Legin this year the construction
Of four batt,eships OF 1900 tons each,
two aTmCTed cruisers OF 9, 600 tons each.
! four second class 5.0n ton cruisers.
fifteen torpedo boat destroyers and nifty
torpedo boats.