The Washington herald., 1908-05-05
oorssDondsnos Of The w..hin. ION Herald.
By FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

Correspondence Of The Washing ION Herald.
Tokyo March 22.-War is the business
of the japanese nation. It is in war that
it has exceIled; it is by war that 1t has
come 20 its present diplomatic rank
aiming the powers. and it is toward war
that every energy Of its greatest men is
bent Those who rule the government
are themselves veterans Of successful
wars, and they are to-day preparing for
other wars-wlth whom and for what no
man knows Every cent that can be
squeezed from the poverty stricken peO-
pie of Japan is being turned into engines
Of war. No matter how industry, educa-
ton, and agriculture may suffer the mili-
tary and naval establishments must be
extended. exalted. perfected.
Notwithstanding this warlike spirit. 1t
is seriously to be doubted if Japan can
measure up 10 the somewhat romantic
ideal which many Occidentals have ere
ated in their own minds. It cannot be
disputed that Japan has fought two wars
within fourteen years. that Ii was victor
In both, that these wars were fought with
the two most populous nations on earth,
and that in the last one all records Of
modern warfare. in point of number of
men engaged. were excelled. Yet It is
equally true that this first war was
fought with country absolutely without
military prowess. and that when the end
Of the second war came Japan was al
most exhausted and quite willing to ac-
cept peace propositions which were a dip
lomatie victory for its vanquished enemy.
But the alarnist who sees an all-con-
quering yellow peril will exclaim that
Japan can put into the field at a mo
ments notice an army Of a million fire
tested soldiers. It can do nothing OF the
kind As a matter Of fact, In its army Of
10000 men to-day there are not more
than 10000 who saw service in the cam
paign against the Russians The same
alarmist viii say that the japanese SOL
dier Is possessed Of a bravery that Is
more than human; that he holds TO the
ancient code Of Bushi-do and would rath-
er die in battle than to live in peace, and
that, therefore, the japanese soldier is
more than match for any man who has
natural ideas about self-preservatfon.
Even the japanese themselves laugh at
this notion. 1t is true that all japanese
are patriotic and that most Of those of
the lower classes believe IN the divinity
OF the Emperor. but they are not anv
more anxious to die than other people.
The japanese officers who forced their
own men TO night at the point OF q re-
yolver know that the japanese soldier Is
brave, but that like all other human be
lngs, he IS fallibie and sometimes is
afraid.
The japanese navy has the advantage.
so It is said. Of having fought the great
est sea battle Of modern times. Of hay
Ing won that battle and therefore Is
ahead Of all other navies in actual expe-
rience. The fact that Japan's present
navy has fought great sea battle is not
so great an advantage when it is remem-
bered that big guns are soon worn out
Many Of the guns on Admiral Togo's
ships We're already useless when he won
his great victory. After that battle was
over more than half the armament Of the
japanese navy W6s worthless. Il is 10
fellne or 70 replace these guns. and 20 re-
pair these ships, and to restore the can
tured Russian ships that the Japanese
government IS taxing its people to the
ings. japan knows that its navy il not
as strong as its paper presentment indi-
Gates
The same condition is true OF the army
The japanese army rife used in the war
with Russia, called the Arisaka rife. was
almost an exact copy Of a now obsolete
Mauser rife. with the barrel cut off two
inches and the stock shortened to fit the
shoulder OF the diminutive japanese SOL
der. This rife was an admitted failure
in many ways and before the war was
over many japanese troops were usfng
Tlfies captured from the Russians. not
withstanding the difficulty occasioned bv
using different ammunition The high
power modern powder burns out a rlTe
In very short time, and the japanese
military men know that the present equip
ment of their army is practically useless
Preparations are being made TO com
pletely re-equip the army, and IL is with
a view 10 this end that the japanese ar
senals are now working night and day
employing overy $1,000 men. It is said
that the japanese have adopted a new
Tlile and that arrangements are being
made 70 manufacture it on a large scale
az home. The present standing army is
provided with the rifles OF the type used
IN the war the best Of the lot that was
left The army reserves, corresponding
10 the German LandWehr. are eguipped
with those slightly worse. and thousands
and thousands of the rifles which ended
their usefulness IN the Russian war have
been sold at auction.
Since firearms were Invented there has
not been a time that a revolutionary or
insurrectionary body could not find way
TO get guns. The larger portion of the
japanese army rifles sold at auction have
been finding their way into China TO
equip revolutionary forces, the Chinese
being satisfied with anything that looks
Ike a gun. This trade in contraband
arms manufactured by the japanese gov
ernment, used in the japanese army, and
shipped from japanese arsenals, is one
or the reasons for China's intense distrust
OF its netghbor. The recent Tatsu Maru
AFFAIR was only one instance, 1t is said
Of this thriving trade.
The purpose Of the japanese govern
ment IN rushing with such feverish haste
thls work of repairing the damage TO its
armament resulting from the war with
Russia does not appear on the surface
ice japanese business men have pleaded
with the government TO go slowly and
not plunge the country into bankruptcv.
nut the military oligarehy Is supreme and
pays no heed. Japan could not finance a
war now with even the weakest of ma
tions, and the japanese peopIe want
peace. But the military party saws if
must be prepared"
The conscrfDffoU brf~.-~ -...