Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-06-30
JAPAN'S UNPAR-
ALLELEDV VICTORY.
tScientlnc Americ9n.

Scientific AmericanD
When Japan boldly threw down
the gauntlet to Russia, the world won
dered at her daring; Russia was the
COLOSSUS of the Nortb;" Japan.
the youngest of The nations to be
born into our modern civilization. had
not yet reached the dignity even of
comparison with the mighty Musco-
Vite empire. BY sea and by land Russia
overtcPped Japan on every point of
comparison. Hers was the third most
powerful navy of the world. with
half million tons of lighting ships
to command, and the unlimited r..
sources OF the empire 10 back il.
Japan's little navy, Oh the other
band, bad but Just graduated into
recognition. Although the foretaste
which she had gi,en of her u.ialIt,
IN The CHINESE war led us To rxmc,
Japan would make ii credilable effort.
the best that we Expected from her
was that she would ultimately 90
down to defeat, everything lost but
tue honor of having fought II brave
but hopeless campaign.
81 the world thought and spoke.
as the cdrtain was being rung up for
the opening scene of the naval war.
Today, after eighteen mouths of the
hercest and most bloody lighting of
modern times, the curtain has been
rung down upon the iinAl act. In that
brief interval, we have seen the third
greatest navy of the world literally
and absolutely swept out of existence,
and this by d modest little navy
that finds itself at the close of the
war as strong in material and
stronger in efficiency than at its be-
ginning If Japan had won out with
the loss of half her fleets, and the bat
tered remnants had limped home in
condition of absolute exhau,t =, it
would have been feat equs!ed but
not surpassed in naval history.
Butthat she should have absolutely
snnihilated, in pitched battles upon
the high seas, two successive Il .ets of
the enemy, aud have sunk, drigen
ashore, or otherwise put ont of action
fourteen battleships, twelve other
armored vessels, and dozen pro-
tected cruisers, without any dimin-
utIon of her own fighting strength
is feat for which naval history can
finG no parallel. That her navy is in.
tact cannot be disputed; for her cap
lures and new construction during
the war about offset her losses.
Wherein are we TO look for
an explanation? Certainly not to
any disparity in the materials
of war, for the ships, engines,
guns, and armor of the Russian
navy were the best that the lead
ing shipyards and gun factories
OF Europe and America could turn
out. Nor was the distance of the
seat or war from Russia's home ports
so serious handicap as might be
supposed; for at no time did Japan
make any serious effort to prevent
the sending of re.enforcements and
supplies. In the case of the Baltic
tieet, she evidently encouraged its
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
cowardice. The Russian is no COW.
ard. He gives place to none in his
ability to fight losing battle to the
bitter end. This was abundantly
proved in the battle of the Sea Of
Japan; for the stories of the eve wit
nesses on both sides agree that the
Russians fought with the grim en-
ergy of despair.
The explanation of the result is to
be found first and last in the jap.
anese people themselves in certain
excellent traits of their character.
many of which are due to a system
OF eth:cs that is older than our west
ern civilization. Among these NAV
be mentioned: Intense patriotism:
self denial; scrupulous honor in ali
matters affecting the welfare of the
State; keen sense of duty; strict dis
cipiine; unquestioning obedience to
authority; absolute unity of pur-
pose; firm belief in the des.
tiny of their race; patience and
endurance; an absence of self
consciousness and posing, that
may we'll put our white" civilization
to the blush; close attention to de-
tail; and lastly,a combination of great
prudence and forethought with
marked ability to adapt themselves
quickly to the circumstances of the
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