The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1904-02-18

classed. In addition to those mentioned
there are seven torpedo-boat destroyers
and four torpedo boats on the way out.
But the journey for such vessels Is long
and arduous 1'h chances are very great
against an early arrival, if indeed they
can fetch at all. None are further than
tie Mediterranean, where also at the mo-
ment are the belated battleship Osliabia
(of the same class as the Pobieda0, the
armore cruiser COT old type Dimitri
Donskoi, the hattleship Emperor Nicoisi
talso Old, and d number of torpedo YES
sells. The new protected cruiser Aurora
(same as Pallada and DIANA left Bizerta
for the Piraeus January 8.
Though superiority in material strength
on the sea, in the theater of probable ac-
ton, is with the Japanese, the vital ques-
ton after all is one of efficiency in man
agement of ships and fleets. Judgment
as to this must be formed after the event.
Equal courage must be granted. Russian
staying power has passed almost into a
Proverb; japanese reclllessness of life and
patriotic devotion are undoubted. the two
nationalities, in these high qualities, may
be taken 10 be all that men should be.
The officers of both are Iisn of ability
and education. American naval officers
ave always had a liking and respect for
their Russian naval friends. who are re-
garded as essentially good fellows"
Many OF the japanese officers, including
some now of flag rank, have been educated
at our w naval academy and are looked
upon as men of marked ability. The Jap
anese ships and squadrons. SO far as OBJ
servation extends, have been we'll han
died; their drill is constant and there
is no questioning their spirit. They have
also Fad the test of 4 serious war not vet
50 distant but chat the feeling of conf
dence which comes from successful war
service must be reckoned with. f. j.
Norman, an English ex-army officer, who
served lang as an Instructor in both mil
itary and civil colleges, writing in the
Spectator December 5, things the homo
seneity OF good feeling in the Japanese
navy has been injured of late by the en-
trance into the office class of other than
men of the Satsuma clan, which in the
revolution of 1868 took over the navy as
the Chosu did the army: that the ieal-
onsies ergendered work for weakness.
Japanese Are Superior.
Nevertheless, he speaks in high terms
of both officers and men. The writer
would not presume to make a critical an
alysis OF the qualities of the personnel of
the two napies. even were he fitted hyper
sonal knowledge to do so; but some of
the views of the capable observer mem
toned are of timely interest. He says
of the enlisted men. T. japanese blue
Jackets and petty officers are very fine
men indeed far better so OH an average
than their eoinrades#o the army. TheN5
are better fed, clothed and looked after,
and = very great roTosfiaino oil them are III
fhesseryiee Voluntarily Taking them on
the whole, they are al fairly i~ateiligent
lot OF men, far more so than the Kus4s
SLAMS but il physique they eanilotin any
with them The Ftus4
slams alildpubtedly have officefs i'd Nmei
superior Il ans as Japanese eaaSHEing
hlSsT fJTrulys htsisg VH-and a ia 81