The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-05
BY FREDERIC j. HAsKIN.

lOkyO.
war is the business Of the Japanese
celled; it.is BY war that 1t has come
to Its present diplomatic rank among
the powers; and 1t is toward war that
bent. Those who rule the government
are themselves veterans of successful
wars and they are. to-day preparing
for others warsmwith whom an and IL. TOR
stricken people OF Japan Is being turn
ed into engines OF war. No matter
ture may suffer the military and naval
establishments must be extended. ex-
allied, perfected.
Notwithstanding this warlike spirit.
It is seriously to be doubted u japan ban
mantle ideal which many Occldentals
have created in their own. minds. 1t
cannot be disputed that japan has
fought two wars within fourteen years.
that 1t was victor In both; that these
wars were fought with the two most
populous nations on earth. and that In
the last one al records :, 81 mode sn
engaged, were excelled. Yet it Is
equally true that this first war was
fought with country absolutely with
out military prowess. and that when
the end OF the second war came, Japan
was almost exhausted and quite VIII
Ing to accept peace propositions which
were a diplomatic victory for Its van
pushed enemy.
But the alarmist who sees an all
conQuering Yellow Peril Will exclaim
that Japan can put into the field at a
moments notice an army OF a million
fire-tested soldiers. 1t can do nothing
of the kind. AS matter OF fact, In
It's army of 10000 men to-day. there
are not more than 10000 who saw SER
SLAMS The same aiarmist will say that
the Japanese soldier is possessed OF a
bravery that is more than human: that
he holds to the ancient code OF Bushi-
to live in peace, and that. therefore,
the japanese soldier is more than a
match for any man who has natural
ideas about self.pres s ration, Even ven
notion. II 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 arc not more
Japanese officers who forced their own
men to fight at the point OF re-
volver know that the Japanese sol
dcr is brave, but that, like all other
human beings. he is fallible, and some
times is afraid.
ar rse So oaPa"f IS mas havn ns fought
the greatest sea battle of modern
therefore, is ahead OF all other navics
in actual experience. The fact that
Japan's present navy has fought
great sea battle rs s. not SO great ran an
big guns arc soon worn out. Many OF
the guns on Admiral Togo's ships were
already useless when he won his great
victory. After that battle was over,
more than half the armament of the
Japanese navy WAS worthless. 1t is to
refine or to replace these guns, and to
repair these ships. and to restore the
captured Russian ships that the Japan
ese government is taxing Its people to
the extent Of one.fourth Of their total
is not as strong as Its paper present.
ment indicates.
The same condition is true e,,s OF til. the
n5my tie w wae M{h Rassa ay called 1d
copy Of now obsolete Mauser rifle.
with the barrel cut off two inches and
OF the diminutive Japanese soldier.
This rifle was an admitted failure in
many ways and before the wSr was
over, many Japanese troops We're using
rifles captured from the russians. not y. u,
by using a different ammunition. The
higll-power, modern, powder burns out
a rifle in very short time, and the
Japanese military men know that the
practically useless.
Preparations are being made to com
w R!eiels view to this end that the Japan
ese arsenals are. now working. night
and day, employing over $4,000 men.
It is said that the Japanese have adopt
ed a new rifle. and that arrangements
large scale at home. The present.
standing army is provided with the
rifles OF the type used IN the war- II
best of the lot that was left. The
army reserves. corresponding to the
- an1wohr euuinDe1 with
and thousands; Of the rifle, which end
ed their usefulness In the Russian war
have been sold at auction.
Since firearms We're invented. there
has not been a time that revolution,
airy or insurrectlonary body. could not
find way to get guns. The Larger ;eI
sold sold at auction have been finding their
way into China to equip revolutionary
forces: the Chinese being satisfied With VI, :
anything that, looks like gun. THIS
tured by the Japanese government
used in the Japanese army and shipped
from Japanese arsenals. is one or the
reasons for China's intense distrust OF
Its neighbor. The recent Tatsu Mar,
! affair was only one instance, 1t Is said
of this thriving trade.
The purpose OF the. Japanese govern
ment IN rushing with s. such tev e
age to its armament resulting from
tic war with Russia, does not appear
on the surface The Jap,nnese business
to to- go slowly and not plunge the coun
try into bankruptcy, but the military
| oligarchy is supreme and pays no heed
japan could not finance. war nov
with even the weakest Of q nations am am
the military party says IT, must b
"prepared."
The conservation brings every Japan
TIT or,1 fnA tNlyn atc
but there are many exceptions for va
rlous excuses, which are accented, be
cause the government cannot atror!
ITO support an army as large as the full
CONSUMPTION would raise. An inclden
Of the petty economy, to which III,
| Japanese government Is forced, Is TIL
! "one-year volunteer service" An,
young man Of means M |, y, who desires t
tighten the burden OF his enforced con
| scription may do SO by volunteering
4 for one year, This cuts his time i
4 half, but in return he must pay hi
/ own barrack expenses.
j While the. Japanese navy has thir