Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-02-24


it is to investigate and report on all
improvements in naval and military
equipment. If available each idea is
adopted. If not, it is cast aside.
Organization, carried to extremes,
is Japan's strong point. Her ap.
proximate military strength is 17O,.
600. The British army is estimated
at 25O,OOO, yet the Japanese general
and departmental STATS include 1876
officers and men. while the British
number but 1,16S. In this respect
the Jap has followed the German
plan.
Social etiquette differs from that
in the United States and English
army. A japanese officer would not
dream of slapping a brother officer
on the back in a hail.fellow-well-met
style Social intercourse is marked
by the most ceremonious code Even
the cadets, high spirited as they are,
always address one another with for.
NAL politeness
This is the surface. Underneath
the best of good fellowship exists.
1t is regarded as dishonorable to seek
promotion at the expense of another
officer even by methods deemed leg.
itimate in other services, such as
cultivating social relations with men
who dispose honors and rewards.
The Japanese officer prides him
self on despising money. He will
cheerfully beggar himself to help
friend. One instance demonstrates
their free-heartedness.
An officer wanted to 60 through
Manchuria on a spying expedition,
He obtained leave, but did not have
sufficient money. One of his friends
learned OF his perdicament and at
once drew every yen he had in the
bank. This was not sufficient and
he mentioned the fact to other Of.
ficers, who at once subscribed all
they had When the officer left there
was scarcely a yen left in the regi.
ment.
The luxury of an officers life in
other services is scorned by the Jap.
anese officers. They habitually sus.
tain life on dried fish and rice, like
the men in the ranks, and askfnoth-
ing more substantial on campaign.
II was enough for them when they
were stepping off 40 miles a day
across the frozen Manchuria during
the war with China.
The men are armed with a rife
invented by Japanese officer. Gen.
eral Arisaka, which is said to be a
superior weapon to the improved
Mauser. 1t is said by military au
thorities to have superior stopping
qualities" to any military rifle.
Under the reserve system every
able-bodied man In Japan stands
ready to enlist. Nearly all have
some knowledge of military work
and so will not be raw recruits.
Japan discharges her soldiers early
in time of peace and has thousands
Of tried veterans upon whom she can
depend In the present crisis.
Promotion from the ranks is rare.
The standards for non.commissloned
officers is higher than in any other
army in the world. The soldiers
are great readers. Japan turns out
more printed matter than any other
country in the world except Germany
The result is that with the great
range of reading on top Of his ordi
nary education, the Japanese soldier
is generally a well-read man.
Careful attention is paid to the
development Of the body as well as
the mental facilities. Gymnasiums
are attached to all garrisons and they
are Of the best type. The officers do
everything in their power to encourage
gymnastics. Football and other west.
ern games are played is some bar
racks, but the favorite exercise is the
practice Of jiu-iitsu, considered the
finest method known for developing
the body.
The feeling between officers and
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