The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-07-14

after having been fred 1000 times, and
often less.
Men InadequAtely Armed
There was, of course. a great yaria.
ton In the number OF times different
r1nes were fired during the war, but it
ls positively known that tens of thou.
sands OF Japanese rifles were totally
1ncapacitated, and that when the war
ended but small proportion of the
TiHes III use were In good condition.
During the later battles the self-inflict.
cd casualties in both armies due to de-
1ective rifles increased enormously, and
must have given serious concern to
commanders and governments. 1t ia
possible that by. this time the Japan
csc arsenals could have, by manufac.
tuTe and repair, replaced the worn-out
Tlhes with others Of the same pattern
but 1T is highly improbable that such
course was adopted, for with plans
under way to provide new weapon,
ana In the absence Of urgent necessity,
inns would seem useless expense. So
II is fair to assume (indeed, such in.
formation as can be obtained supports
the assumption that the Japanese army
is today armed with rifles which were
used in the war with Russia.
The light artillery weapon Of the
Japanese army is small and lighter
modification of a Krupp model, similar
to the gun used by the German army
up TO few years ago While very
good weapon Of its class, it proved to
be inferior TO the Russian field gun,
and with equal efficiency on both sides
the Japanese artillery must have been
at great disadvantage. Compared
with the guns with which modern En-
ropean and the United States armies
are now provided, it is very inferior.
The Japanese heavy artillery is more
up to date, much Of it having been
directly, purchased from KrupP and
other European makers Just prior to
the war. 1t is we'll known that the
Japanese army is to be provided with n
new field piece, and the artillery arm
reorganized; but when this will be ac-
complishcd depends upon the facilities
of japanese arsenals.
Change Will Take Years.
Since the war japanese officers have
visited Europe and the United States
for the purpose of inspecting the new
est military appliances and formulating
q report which may serve as guide
for improvement of their own equip
ment, but it is doubtful If rife or
field piece has yet been adopted, much
less issued to the army When the
models are adopted it will require years
for japanese arsenals, with their lin.
tied capacity. TO produce an equipment
sufficient to supply An army in time Of
war. Many reforms of minor equip
ment and impedimenta, the result of
experience during the war, are under
by the general staff, and
it will be some time before all the de-
.ails are worked out and the results
made apparent in the efficiency of the
army. \ considerable number of guns
we're captured from the Russians, which
night be used in pinch; but they are
hardly worth considering in any scheme
% establish the army on a more mod
'rn basis, owing to fundamental differ
.nces In construction and caliber, which |
,annot easily be made to harmonize |
With that uniformity Of armament |
which is considered indispensable TO
modern efficiency.
Military Appliances Pirated.
Much nonsense about supposed mar |
'elous appliances invented and used by |
he Japanese against the Russians,
wonderful explosives and devices aud !
o forth has been printed Tho plain
ruth is that in all the essentials of
modern military and naval art ia
an 8 relation 10 the West is still that
{ "copy- cat" During the war the
Western world heard good deal about
be wonderful success of the japanese
q keeping their military equipment and
pplances secret. The gist of this
latter was aDtly illustrated hy an an