The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-12-31

New York. Dec. N-An English engi-
reer at present stopping In New York en-
route from Toxic TO London, who for the
last three years has enjoyed peculiar OPP
portunities for observation. by virtue OF
his business relations with the Japanese
war office. yesterday gave some facts
concerning Japan's reserve war strength
in terms OF arsenal and shipyard produc-
ton, and declared that Japan IL making
preparations for war on scale OF which
the world at large has little conception.
Since the war, he said the war office In
Toxic has been as chary OF admitting for
elgners 10 knowledge OF what was being
done In the manufacture OF war mate
rials as IL was during the struggle. out
side OF possible Information gathered by
the secret agents OF the European war
offices, the world at large has no ade-
quate idea OF the high pressure work that
Is going on in all the war factories Of Ja-
pan, nor Is anything known OF the facili-
ties those factories possess for scientific
production OF instruments Of war
Japan has two military arsenals. EN-
ploying approximately 10000 workmen.
These arsenais have extra night shifts
and ut times they are run week In and
week out continuously. The empire oper-
ates four shipyards and naval arsenals.
In two OF them battleshps have been
built and are now building,
Aside from these there IL a government
rtcel WORKS Tor L0e VI
plate and material for big guns. gov
ernment powder factory and two auxil-
iary private shipyards and drydocks ca
pable OF being used for war purposes
within "a hours.
This, in tho mass. Is the potential war
equipment OF Japan. Throughout all Of
the works there II AT present not one
foreigner neither teacher nor workman
The gates are closed 20 every Japanese
who is not In the employ OF the govern
ment.
The navy yards at Kure. on the Inland
Sea. are the largest and best equipped in
Japan. There are between $1,000 and 90
o0o machinists. artisans and laborers liv-
ing there Admiral Yamnsuchi Is COM
mander OF the Kure naval station.
At Kure there arc four drydocks capn-
bic OF receiving n bsttieship OF the first
class. a complete shipbuilding plant and
naval arsenal for the manufacture Of
big guns.
" ia here that several OF the captured
Russian ships which were raised at Port
Arthur have been completely reconstruct
ed and placed In commission.
The Kure shipbulldng plant Is fitted al
most entirely with English machinery
The keel OF n battloship can he laid down
at Kure and the whole vessel built with
no importation either OF machinery or OF
armament.
Up 20 a recent time the Kure Yards had
been supplied with nrTnor plate from Eng
lish and American mills. Recently. with
the erection OF the Imperial Steel works
ten miles outside OF Moti on the west
coast OF the island OF Kiushiu. and OF
mn armor plate plant at Kure. the Japan
ese shipbuilders have not had 10 rely on
foreign n-made armor plate but import
only the unfinished steel and make their
own foreings. Since the signing OF the
treaty with Great Britain the steel for
Japanese bnttleships has been bought al
ost entirely in English markets.
At the present time n sister ship OF the
battleshtp Satsuma, recently launched at
the Yokosuku naval yards which is
larger than the Dreadnought, is Under
course OF construction in the Kure ship
yards. While the vessel Is under way
her armament is being forged in the gun