Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-28
PRAISE THE JAPANESE
MAJOR KUHN GIVES CREDIT TO
JAPANESE INFANTRY.

Major Joseph E. Kuhn. Corps of Eng:
neers. who was with the Japanese army
in the field as observer during the war
with Russia, gives 1t as his opinion. in an
official report just published. that the Jap
anese infantry is capable of holding its own
against the infantry Of any other nation.
Highly intelligent, brave to the point of
reckiessness. obedient. quiet and orderly
in his habits, he says, the Japanese in
fantryman possesses all the qualities sought
for in a soldier under modern conditions of
warfare finer set of soldiers physically
than the first-line troops of Japan he says.
would be hard to find. Although small OF
stature, they are unusually sturdy and
stocky and capable of great endurance.
According to Ma jor Kuhn, the recognized
rules and principles for conducting warfare
suffered no violence when applied in the
practical conditions of real fighting in the
Russo-Japanese war. There were, however,
he points out, a smashing of two pet theories
on which much was counted Japanese
mobility was not realized to the extent
ticipated by those who had imagined
record would be made for marching and in
the esta blishment of depOts and supply
lines.
Instead of the rush of the avalanche
says Major Kuhn. lit was the slow but
irresistible creeping of the glacier that
characterized the Japanese advance, while
the Russians, he said, distinguished them
selves by transporting and maintaining a
force of a million of men in Manchuria
with only a single track railroad available.
The other precOnceived idol ruthlessy de-
stroyed says Major Kuhn was the Russian
cavalry, which simply accomplished moth
ing
An Unelastic System.
Major Kuhn sums up the reasons for
Japanese success in two succnct observa-
tions-one in favor of the unremlttingy sys-
tematc Operations and the other supe-
riority of the individual soldier. Nothing
was left to opportunity or dependent upon
accident. No chances were taken. He says
the system was relentless, with no elastic
ity permitted for individual choice. The
rules were exacted and enforced as faith
fully as they were willingly obeyed,, Be
sides. everything appeared to work out as
planned, but in his admiration for the sys-
tenn, Major Kuhn cannot escape the con-
lecture to what would have happened
If any part of the machinery had gone
wrong.
Comparing the Russian and the japanese
soldiers, officers and men. Major Kuhn
gives the credit for individuality to the
japanese. MOT that he possesses more
animal courage" says he. but because he
is quicker-witted, more resourceful and in
telligent, and possesses greater nerve and
tenacity. In speaking of the soldier in
clude the officer, for, while unacquainted
personally with the character of the Rus
sian officer. can say that the Japanese
officer takes his profession most seriously
and that he Is highly trained well educated
in his calling and of correct habits. Be
sides being intelligent and brave. the Jap
anese are an essentially warlike people,
fond of fighting for fghting's sake. All
their history and traditions TEEN with
stories of the brave and chivalric deeds of
national heroes. stories which the coming
soldier imbibes at his mothers knee. Just
how soon the spirit Of commercialism will
destroy the military spirit of Japan time
alone can tell, but that the latter was a
living force during the Russo-Japanese war
was apparent to the most casual observer"