The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-08-19
HOW JAPS MAKE OFFICERS.
There Ways of Securing Commits
siOns in Military Force of the
MikRdO,

siOns in Military Force of the
MikRdO.
From Chicago Herald.
There are three ways of getting
commission in the Japanese army.
L. By favor of the Emperor.
2. By securing an appointment to the
Military Academy as a cadet, lust ae
in the United States.
B. By application to the commanding
| officer of regiment for the privilege
of enlisting as an officer candidate"
The latter privilege is enjoyed by ev
cry boy in Japan who, when he reaches
the age of 90 and is in full possession
| of all his mental and physical faculties
becomes a soldier for three years. If
he likes military life and shows pro-
ficiency, he can apply to the colonel
of his regiment, with the approval and
recommendation of the captain of his
company. He is required to snow A
diploma from a public school or some
| private school recognized by the gov
eminent, and must pass an examfala-
ton similar to that required of cadets
entering the Military Academy. Having
been accepted as an "officer candidate"
he continues to serve for twelve
months as private in his company
so that he may have a complete and
Practical hIlOWlSuS0 vi lHS neeQS and
duties of a common soldier, and, ac-
cording to his proficiency, is promoted
through the various noncommisSioned
grades. At the end of three years he IS
sent to the military college at Toxic
for a year of study in special branches.
Then, after passing a final examine
ton, he receives a commission as
sub-lieutenant and is assigned to a
company. During all of this training
iS 40 Of
colonel and other officers of the regi-
ment, and their recommendation or in
dorsement is required by the War De-
partment before commission is is
sued.
During the last two years of training
candidate officers are allowed pri-
waite quarters in order that they may
study without interruption. They mess
with the junior officers in order to ac-
quire social polish and good manners,
and are exempt from certain duties
which would interfere with their stud
les. They are fed. clothed, lodged and
armed by the government, but receive
no pay or money allowance. About one
half of the officers in. the japanese
army obtained their commissions this
wtaV There may he an indefinite
number of sub-liautenants attached
to a regiment and they are assigned
to duty by the colonel, being promoted
to full lieutenant as vacancies occur.
The Imperial Military College, which
stands in a beautiful grove on the
top of a hill in Toxic, is very much
like other military schools, and many
of the features of West Point have been
adopted by it's faculty. The graduating
exercises are always held in the pres
ence of the Emperor, who presents di-
plomas to the young officers.
There are several othe Nleges for
the technical instruction various
branches of military S e. The
course at the staff college, tor example,
requires three years, that of engineer
ing four years, that of the college Of
ordnance and artillery two years, and
the cavalry school one year. At the
staff college strategy, drawing and for
eign languages are given special at
tention and the graduates are eligible
for staff appointments, for positions as
instructors in the military schools, and
for other desirable billets. The other
professional schools are very much
like those in our own country.
There are three colleges for noncom-
batants also, for paymasters, surgeons
and veterinarians, which are said to
be uncommonly well managed. Before
man can receive an appointment as
paymaster he must go through a reg
ular course of education similar to that
United States and must serve two
years as an accountant and bookkeep-
er for some paymaster before receiv-
ing a commission himself. Surgeons
are required to serve similar practi-
cal apprenticeship as apothecaries and
hospital attendants.
Altogether the education of the Off
GERS of the Japanese army is extremely
thorough and severe, and any natural
qualifications for military duty will be
developed by the training 1 have de-
scribed. A very important feature of
the organization is the close relation
between the officers and the men, much
closer than that in any other army.
Lieutenants and sub-lieutenants live
with the privates. The captain of a
company often does So but it is not
required of him. He is permitted, if he
prefers, to have detached quarters,
but lieutenants sleep under the same
roof and within speaking distance of
the men of their command. But they do
not mess together. The duties usually
performed by the first sergeant of a
military company in the United States
and in the armies of Europe are as
signed to a sub-lieutenant in Japan.
There is no distinction between the
six sergeants of a company.
William p. Curtis.