New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-29
WHY JAPAN IS AT WAR
Marquis Ito Writes to Henry Cle1cs
Of the Necessity of the Conflict. =
To The Editor of The Tribune.

| To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: The success Of the japanese in the present
war with Russia is due to their great zeal What
they undertake 10 do they generally do with great
earnestness of purpose. which calls forth sacrifice
! energy, courage and determination The concen-
tration of all these qualities is the basis of
| cess in all undertakings. whether large small
/ The success Of the Japanese is easily accounted
| for also by the fact that they love their Emperor
J as a people-they willing to fight for him and
| TO die for him. added to which they are fatalists
and are not afraid TO face death on the battlefield
because they firmly believe that the world is
| better than this, and therefore to die in good
cause. especially in fighting for the salvation of
| their country, secures high and honorable po-
sition there. Against these characteristics which
back the Japanese In the present their antago-
nists. the Russians fear their Emperor, and under
the autocrac rule of the nation soldiers often
put into the army and kept there by force. There
is vast difference. therefore. the battlefield in
the fighting qualities of soldiers who backed
by love of their Emperor and soldiers who
backed by fear of their Emperor.
Then. again, the discipline of the Japanese SOL
diers is OF more intelligent and up to date order
than that OF the Russians. Each regiment in Japan
is comprised OF four hundred men, with captain
in command who carries sword. Their training
provides that If anything should happen to the
tain and his sword should fall to the ground. it
must be taken up the instant by the next in
rank, and II anything should happen to him the
next in rotation takes his place. and so all the
way through to the last man: and each man to the
end Of tho four hundred is capable of picking
the sword and commanding with 1t, which also
means to continue the fight until the last in
each regiment is disabled killed-n other words,
the fight is to be given up except by total
tinction. AS evidence Of the interest and ear
nestness Of the japanese people. It is customary,
among the trades people. whenever family that
they have been supplying with the necessaries of
life IS deprived of the father OF the family in
sequence Of his going to the war, to continue to
supply all their needs the before and with
sending any bill therefor. 1t is pretty difficult,
therefore, for the Russians. notwithstanding that
they so largely outnumber the Japanese. to whip
such determined. forceful people either land
or sea.
There is scarcely an important college anywhere
in the world in which Japanese students are not
TO be found studying for all vocations and they are
bent upon acquiring the best and most up to date
methods in ali walks Of life. Admiral Togo was
educated at Annapolis and the American. English
and Continental colleges have educated many OF
Jspan's best army and navy officers now engaged
IN the
The japanese are not given much 10 invention.
but they possess great discernment and discrmina-
tion they know q good thing when they see It. and
very skilfuI in imitation. Fifty years ago. when
Commodore Perry successfully negotiated for the
opening OF the Japanese ports that nations inter
course with the outside world began. a few years
thereafter a commission was appointed TO frame
constitution. This commission visited all the great
nations in pursuit Of Information. They FAMILIAR
tied themselves with the American Constitution
and the basis Of the government OF other nations:
they cullod the best from all and put II into their
constitution. II took them seven years 10 accom-
pllsh II. When they made their report to the En-
peror re accepted It without any notifications
whatsoever and. notwithstanding the great changes
that have taken place In that country IN couse-
Quence OF its growth and development, there has
been no occasion up this date in any way TO
change that document.
They also appointed thlrty-fve years ago, a
commission. with the present great statesman Mar
quis Ito. rs head. TO visit the various nations
with n view OF obtaining the best information pos
sible in order TO establish a financial system. on
their trip around the world they first 70 this
country and brought letter OF introduction 10 mes
I posted them thoroughly IN connection with
financial system. They then went 10 England.
France and Germany and returned 20 Japan on
their return. their report favored the adoption
of the American method II was accepted by the
government and they sent order 70 get up
their currency and bonds. engraved In various de-
nominations. similar TO those OF the United States
government. / sent the phraseoogy and denomi-
nations OF all our different demand notes and vari-
Gus bonds to them. and they transferred the
into their own heroglyphics. l had tho same beau
t!fully steel engraved through the Continental Bank
Note Company. who the lowest bidders IN
competition for the work Since that time 1 have
kept up a most interesting and exceedingly friendly
acquaintance and correspondence with Marquis Ito.
and his recent letter 10 contained much OF in
terest II gave most excellent reasons for Japan
being involved in the present war, which. he said.
was not from his country's desire. but through
necessity 8 a matter OF defence
New-York. May o. 1884, HENRY CLEWs