Catoctin clarion., 1905-06-15

every point of comparison. Hers was
the third most powerful navy Of the
world, with half million tons Of fight.
ing ships to command, and the unlimit'
ed resources Of the empire to back it.
Japan's little navy. on the other hand,
had but just graduated into recognition.
Although the foretaste which she had
given Of her quality in the Chinese war
led us to expect that Japan would make
creditable effort, the best that we ex'
pected from her was that she would ul.
timately 60 down to defeat, everything
lost but the honor of having fought a
brave but hopeless campaign.
So the world thought and spoke, as
the curtain was being rung up for the
opening scene Of the naval war. To-
day, after eighteen mouths of the ferc'
est and most bloody fighting OF modern
times, the curtain has been run down
upon the final act. In that brief inter.
val, We have seen the third greatest
navy of the world literally and abso-
lutely swept out Of existence, and this
by modest little navy that finds itself
at the close of the war as strong in ma.
terial and stronger in efficiency than at
it's beginning.
If Japan had won out with the loss
of half her fleets, and the battered rem
nants had limped home in a condition
of absolute exhaustion, it would have
been feat equaled but not surpassed
in naval history.
Bat that she should have absolutely
annihilated, in pitched battles upon the
high seas, two successive fleets of the
enemy. and have sunk, driven ashore,
or otherwise put out Of action fourteen
battleships. twelve other armored yes
sells, and a dozen protected cruisers,
without any diminution of her own
fighting strength, is feat for which
naval history can find no parallel. That
her navy is intact cannot be disputed;
for her captures and new construction
during the war about Offset her losses.
Wherein are we to look for an ex-
planation? Certainly not to any dispar.
ity in the materials of war, for the ships,
engines, guns and armor Of the Russian
navy were the best that The leading
shipyards and gun factories Of Europe
and America could turn out. Nor was
the distance of the seat of war from
Russia's home ports 80 serious handi-
cap as might be supposed; for at no
time did Japan make any serious effort
to prevent the sending of the reenfoice.
ments and supplies. In the case of the
Baltic feet, she evidently encouraged
it's advance, feeling assured that every
ship that entered the immediate zone
OF war was one ship lost to Russia.
Nor can the result be set down to
cowardce. The Russian is no coward.
He gives place to none in his ability to
fight losing battle to the bitter end.
This was abundantly proved in the bat
tie of the Sea of Japan; for the stories
of the eye witnesses on both sides agree
that the Russians fought with the grim
energy of despair.
The explanation Of the result is to be
found first and last in the japanese peo.
pie themselv lves-in certain excellent
traits of their character, many of which
are due to system of ethics that is old
er than our western civilization. Among
these may be mentioned: Intense pat
riotism; self denial; scrudulous honor in
all matters affecting the welfare of the
State; keen sense of duty; strict dici-
pline. unquestioning obedience to au-
thority; absolute unity of purpose; a
firm belief in the destiny of their race;
patience and endurance; an absense OF
self consciousness and posing. that may
we'll put our white civilization to the
blush; close attention to detail; and
lastly, combination of great prudence
and forethought with a marked ability
to adapt themselves quickly to the cir
cumstances OF the hour.
1t was foregone conclusion that q
people such as this, being naturally
born to seafaring lite, would render a
splendid account of themselves in the
stress of naval war. The ships were
maintained in high state Of efficiency,
and they we're perfectly familiar to Of
fcers and men; the fleets were accus-
toned to maAeuyer in fighting forma-
tions; the Workmanship, judging from
this last fight, was excellent; and lastly
the whole series of operations was con-
trolled by an admiral who mast be ad-
mltted to possess the highest qualities
of his profession in the highest degree
-lScsntJfc american