The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-03-04
STUDY OF ARMIES.
Russian and Japanese Soldiers Com
pared by American Officers.

Lieut.. Gen. Adna A. Chaffee, chief OF
staff, Maj. Gen. George L. Gillespie, as
sistant chief of staff and other officers
of the army on duty in the war depart
ment are daily studying the military
movements of Russia and Japan in the
far East. Large maps of Manchuria,
Corea, Japan, Siberia and China have
been prepared by the military informa-
ton division for their use.
Gen. Chaffee personally observed the
Russian and the japanese troops on the
expedition to Pekin. In his opinion Port
Arthur is certain to fall into the poses
sion of the japanese. The probable out
come of the war ON land he will not dis
cuss.
He attaches considerable Importance to
the ability of the Japanese to mobilize
large forces quickly, and one factor
which he thinks should not be overlook
ed is the probability that they may be
able to destroy the railroad behind the
Russians and sever the communication
with Russia.
The Russian cavalry is factor of
more than usual importance and army
officers say it will accomplish great
things before the war is over. The best
informed officers here do not look for
any big land battle for number of
DAYS. though there may be preliminary
engagements and skirmishes.
According to reports from the far east
Japan is mobilizing a large force OF
troops at Wonsan on the east coast OF
Corea. There is a road from Wonsan to
Seoul and a telegraph line connects the
two cities. The third column of the
Japanese army used this road in advanc-
ING upon the Chinese in the battle of
Ping Yang, and the landing of consid-
cradle force of japanese troops at Won
san would be sufficiently dangerous to
the Russians along the Yalu to require
the strengthening of their position
there.
The opinion expressed by officers of
the general staff here is that Japan,
having secured the freedom of the sea,
will send large body of troops to at
tack a railway behind Port Arthur. The
line is a single one, and even if in good
condition it would afford no special ad-
yantages to the Russians.
No matter how rapidly the mobiliza-
t1on of the troops of both countries goes
on there is little prospect, according to
our officers, that plans will be completed
for an organized advance before next
week. The actual advance in force by
Japan may be still further delayed, for
it is known here that Japan is working
out a secret movement that will take
the Russians as much by surprise as
their sudden attack upon the Russian
vessels in Port Arthur.
The officers of the United States army
have been accumulating large guam
tity of information as to the compare
tive strength of the opposing armies.
One report received at the bureau of mil
itary information from Great Britain,
says:
"The japanese army has undoubtedly
established its title to be regarded as a
highly trained and efficient organization.
The men are alert, keen, well disciplined
and well armed with the Medji rifle,
sighted up to 2,700 yards, and having
muzzle velocity of 1900 foot seconds.
"The officers, many of whom have had
war experience, are well trained and
have given evidence of great military
capacity. The system of mobilization is
believed to be most excellent, and the
same may be said of the transport, pro-
visioning and hospital arrangements.
German military methods have large
" been followed The army is consti-
tuted as follows: The regular army,
with reserves and recruiting reserves;
the territorial army, the national militia
and the militia of the islands.
military service is obligatory from
the age of seventeen to forty, three
years being spent in the regular army,
four wears and four months in the re-
serves. five years in the territorial army
and the remaining liability in the ma
tional militia. The permanent army,
with it's reserves, is especially organized
for foreign service, and the territorial
army and the militia are primarily for
home defence"
According to the reports received here
from Mai. o. E. Wood, military attache
at Toxic, the strength of the regular
army of Japan, not including the reserv-
es, when placed on wal, footing is
about 100000 men; the reserves would
add $4,000 more, and the territorial
army would supply 100000 more. max
ing a total of 435, 900 men.
It is estimated that Russia cannot put
into Manchuria, properly provisioned and
equipped for service more than three or
four hundred thousand men. Not that
Russia has not sufficient men to expand
her force almost without limit, but the
Two new rifle brigades have also been