The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-07-06
THE JAPANESE SOLDIERS
At Eighteen Each Man Draws
His Lot For Service.
USE ONLY MOST ROBUST
Their Drills and Manual Of Arms are
Common to All Countries, but in
Regimental Life They Are Sub
jected to Rigorous Discipline
Equipments all Native.

,ins of the Orient is called, is a sol
ier by conscription, and at eighteen
raws his lot for service. Theoreti.
3ally, then, each Japanese is a soldier
since military service is obligatory;
but in practice it is otherwise limited
by circumstances. Tie birth rate in
japan is so large that while the pres
ent population is only 47,000,000, the
nation is likely to become the most
populous in time. AS a natural re-
suit, the selective system is carried to
an extreme which insures to the
Mkado's army men only of the most
robust constitution. To the examin-
ers of the council of revision is left
the troublesome puzzle of making
choice, for the largest part of the
conscripts are of splendidly muscu-
lar build. To large extent this is due
to the esteem in which gymnastic
feats are held among the young Jap
anese. In time of peace Japan's army
numbers an effective fighting force OF
250,000, and in eight hours this can
be sweled from the reserve to 1, 600,
600 fighters.
In regimental life Hetai-Sin is sub
jected to a rigorous discipline.
At the sound of the trumpet by
o'clock in Winter and at 4.30 in Sum
mer, Hetai-Sin is turned out from his
slumbers. Fifteen minutes later he
eats his first meal, composed of rice,
vegetables, cold meat and two cups
of tea. Then he is called to assem-
bly, and started off on his days work
and exercise. The drills and manual
of arms are those common to military
bodies in all modern armies. To these,
However, the Japanese have added
gymnastics, a great deal of fencing
with the bayonet, and a great deal OF
walking or marching. Particular pains
have been directed toward showing
him how to shoot, and to shoot
straight at that In target practice, in
field exercises and the like he fires
250 cartridges a year; and in four
years he must have to his credit be-
tween 700 and 500 placed shots.
From o'clock to IL o'clock a. M,
yith fiveminute rests every half hour.
e is drilled under the direction of
1l1cers-the non-commssioned Off
eers being present merely to insure
regularity of movement and precision
f evolution.
At noon Hetai-Shin eats again-the
second meal being substantially like
the early morning breakfast, with the
exception that on alternate days fresh
or dried fish replaces the meat.
After this midday meal the men
rest and work indoors about their
quarters until 2 O'Clock, when once
more they take up their outside exer-
cises, which are continued until c.
From to he feeds for the last time
Wheat bread for several years now,
has entered into the military diet,
and replaces rice. From s to o'clock
Hetai-Sin is free-provided he is not
Of the days guard.
In field work during manoeuvres the
life of the japanese soldier is rough
one. No quarters. He sleeps upon
the ground in the open air, and eats
a handful Of rice with "cho-you" and
dried fish. The "choyou" is fer
mented sauce, which constitutes vio-
lert condiment of the first order.
The officers live just as the men do,
and, like them, sleep only under sNel-
ter tents.
Besides this military instruction,
the illiterate ones are made to attend
courses Of lectures in writing and in
calculation, presided over by officers
specially detailed for this service.
These lessons are followed by compe-
titive examinations, and in this way
the hopelessly ignorant are rapidly
weeded out.
The arms. clothing, and all parts OF
the soldiers equipment are of Japan
ese workmanship. The rifles, which
are said to be wonderfully efficient,
have been made by Arisaka, and are
manufactured at Toxic, as are also the
bayonets, lances, and sabres. The
steel used Is provided by the model
foundrles of Kioushiou, and are from
native ores. At Osaka a magnificent
arsenal orperated upon the plans OF
the noted French engineer Bertin are
made the field guns and other artillery
for the service.
The cavalry Is mounted on native
horses, of the breeds of Havana and
Kioushlou, the Nambou breed being
especially fitted for draught and artil-
lery purposes. These animals are
tough, wiry and small feeders.
All of the clothing Is of Japanese
manufacture. Each soldier has two
cloth uniforms for winter wear, two
white linen uniforms for summer, and
two complete suits of working clothes
for exercise and rough work. Besides
these, he Is allowed a stiff cap for full
dress, soft cap with visor to be worn
in town, and round, visorless cap for
ordinary working dress. OF military
accoutrement, besides his gun he has
sword belt, canteen, a knapsack,
two cartridge boxes, and bayonet
scabbard. The bayonet is like the
Mauser short sword in use in the Ger