The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-08-07

The efficiency and notable mobility
Of the japanese armies in the field
have been partly due to the organiza-
ton of the forces, says the Springfield
Republican. Before the outbreak of
hostiities little was known of the
power. methods and organization of
the Japanese forces, except that. they
were modelled along the lines of the
German army. and had opened the
eyes of the military world with their
dash and bravery on the march TO
Pekin. During the past few months
military critics and student have been
compiling what information they were
able to get at, and now know much
about the force in the field. how it was
modified and how it is divided for
service. The army has just passed its
22nd birthday, but its greatest strides
have been made since the war with
China in 1894. That campaign devel-
oped a weakness i'm the transportation
service, and showed that IL must be re-
organized before the struggle with
Russia began. The present state Of
the field forces shows that the reor-
ganization was effective.
Japan has universal military service,
every man between 20 and 40 being liza
Bile to be called to the colors for three
years of active service. Each year 49,
900 men are called, which gives peace
footing of about 145,000 men, and each
year as 900 are released from the regu-
lars to the reserve, where they re-
min ready for instant service for -four
years. After serving in the reserve
four years the men are enrolled in the
territorial army for another four years,
and so bring the war strength of the
nation up TO nearly 500, 900. The high
est unit in our army is Corps, but
in that of Japan IL is a division. On
a peace footing each division has H.
900 men. but this number was in
creased to 10000 at the outbreak Of
hostilties by the calling Of the re-
serves to the colors. Each division
has two brigades of infantry, each bril-
gade two regiments, each regiment
three battalions, and each battalion
four companies of 100 men each on a
peace footing. but of 30 In war This
| make the full quota of a regiment $500
which is far greater than that Of our
army, our largest companies having
only $50. To each regiment of the hne
is attached six surgeons, hospital at
! tendants, gunsmiths, tailors, carpen
tiers and other Mechanics thing that
1
extent, and a point that is favorably
| commented on by military authorities
| The foot soldiers are armed with the
! Midgi repeating rife a japanese gun
! holding FIVE cartridges In its magazine,
! only a few Of the regiments still using
| the old Murata rife of the Chinese
| war.
Before the outbreak OF the present
war japanese cavalry was not held in
very high repute. The horses are small
ana nasty In temper, and II was claim
| ed that the little ISLANDERS were not
| good horsemen. One regiment OF this
! cavalry is attached TO each division,
| and each regiment Is sub-divided into
| three squadrons, there bein no troop
unit as in our service. A squadron has
| four officers and $50 troopers and the
entire cavalry enrolment is 10000 or
| only about per cent. Of the fighting
| force which Is very small Napoleon
claimed that fully Is per cent. Of an
army should be mounted. The division
! formation calls for all but four Of the
mounted regiments, so this leaves but
a small force 10 act Independently. The
troopers are armed with carblne and
IA Der. only the officers and non-coms
being given revolvers. Each division
has a regiment Of artillery, which ls
made up Of two battalions with three
companies 10 a battalion. 1870 men and
| eight field guns 10 a company This
| gives thlrty-six guns 10 a division,
l which Is a much larger percentage than
/ in our army. The guns which have
/ been winning the japanese victories
are Of the most modern pattern and