Arizona republican., 1907-07-09
JAPANESE CRITICISM OF OUR
 NAVY


 The Japanese Admiral Sakamoto's criticism of the American navy is un- believably offensive however nearly true it might turn out to be. and the offensiveness of it does not appear to be warranted by the state of the rela- tions between the two. countries.
 As to his belief that the crews of American vessels would not be found sufficiently patriotic to remain in the service in the event of a war with Ja- pan is undoubtedly based less on his knowledge of American seamen than on his idea of the terror with which the Japanese navy inspired the world during the war with Russia.
 It is probably true that there is a larger average patriotic pride in their navy among Japanese seamen than there is among the seamen of any oth- CT navy in the world. There is too great chasm between the officials and the seamen of American and Flu ropean navies. The sailors and the
 
 of master and menial and there is so little opportunity to bridge this chasm by proof of merit and bravery that young men of the better class do not care to enter the service unless they can do so as on-commissioned off cers. The navy department has ire quently complained of the difficulty of manning its warships with desira- ble and trustworthy sailors. We have frequently been shown by their brawls on land that many of them are not desirable and trustworthy or amena- ttc ;c discipline.
 In Japan it is different. There merit like death obliterates. so far as the army and navy are concerned. all so- Ciai distinctions. Pride of victory is equally shared by officers and pri- yates and any private may hope for the highest recognition if he earn it. There is nothing menial to a Japanese in The military service of Japan. What We regard as menial the Japanese. hiAh lph. ItEdtuS as all llltlNtHl D. his duty. something that comes in tho glorious days work. In the ser vice ef their country Japanese army and navy officers do not hesitate to enter the service of officers of foreign governments as cooks and hostlers |" see what they can see and listen to what they may hear. It is for Japan. Sakamoto's criticism that our naval officers are more brilliant at social functions than they wonld be amid the smoke and waves of battle is a rather brutal reiteration of a charge not long since made by Americans against na- val officialdom. This Japanese ad- l miral may have heard of it:
 It is not many years since a certain ] petty officer of the American navy had distinguished himself in the war with Spain. He was recommended i for promotion to the line. It was pro- ! posed to make an ensign of him and | so put him in the way of climbing per- haps toward the eminence of an ad- ! mlral The most vigorous opposition ! was developed and it was given ex- l precision by Admiral Sampson. He ad- | mitted the warrant officers prepara- | tion and fitness, but unfortunately i there was something lacking. This | man had enlisted. He was of the | lower classes and through no fault of his own he had been deprived of the | opportunity to acquire that degree of | polish which an American officer | should have to make a proper show 1 ing at social functions in foreign ports. | The warrant officer was not promoted | and at the end of his term of enlist ment the government was deprived of i his services.