The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-09-09

navy upon the best possible system in
accordance with the spirit of the age.
/ We have therefore enacted a law for
enrolling soldiers from the whole pop
ulation founded Oh the system which
in old days existed in this country
/ This general cOnscription was akin
to the practice i'll feudal times, when
all owed military duty TO their feudal
lords. The mikado had now replaced
/ the feudal lord in the fullest authority
I over the people.
y general CONSUMPTION was not car
ried into effect until 1919, when gen
eral governing regulations were adopt
ed as follows: All males at the age Of
twenty were subject to CONSUMPTION;
service with the standing army from
twenty to twenty-five years; standing
army reserve from twenty-three To
+ twenty-six years; with the reserves
from twenty-seyen to thirty-one years.
The annual CONSUMPTION gives about
+ 25O,OOo. many more than are required
/ for the standing army The usual ex-
! ceptions are made for physical disa-
F bility, for those supporting INDECENT
parents, for teachers. students some
of the professions. etc. ana under the
+ liberal construction of the regulations
+ only $4,000 are called TO the colorS.
! Those selected are in the very best
I physical condition. In times OF emer-
gency not less than 10000 could thus
/ be called to the colUrs At such times,
I too, it may he confidently expected that
/ the conscripts will endeavor to con
/ ceal their physical defects rather than
endeavor To take advantage OF them
/ for the purpose of evadiug service to
/ their country. one year volunteers,
paying their own expenses. are relieved
/ from the longer terms OF service, sim
/ liar to the practice in Germany and
+ France
/ The conScripts are subject TO Il thor
ough physi,2l training and drill. their
military instruction. which is carried
on in a characteristic. painstaking man
ner. taking them through range OF
subjects which will make them efficient
soldiers. Great attention Is paid to
/ physical development Instruction IS
given in a peculiar Japanese scientif-
+ ic wrestling called ''juiutsu." in which
! fiDesse is depended upon in lieu of
strength. characteristic OF oriental
methods. This must not be conround-
/ ed with the ordinary wrestling of the
] Japanese. where strength is of more
/ Importance than fnesse 1t was taught
I particularly to the police. who are chief
/ ~ of the sdmurai clans. Many for
/ eign seamen in seaport towns when
they have committed some breach OF
/ the peace have at times been surprised
! to find themselves powerleSs in the
/ hands of these relatively small men.
/ who are enabled to conquer them by
! their skill in iujutsu.
/ The Japanese have considerable pow
! er of endurance. particularly in march
! ing. Although they average but five
/ feet three inches in height. the upper
part Of the body is proportionately
+ longer than would be expected hy these
measurements. The development of
! the upper part of the body is excellent.
1 while they are not lacking in muscular
/ development of the legs. These are.
+ however, somewhat shorter than the
/ limbs of the Caucasians.
! The general physical development IS
! such as to display considerable strength
and staying powers. They may be said
4 TO be ''stocky" As i'm modern war in
/ dividual combat rarely takes place. the
/ question Of relative inches or brute
strength of opponents does not enter
as a serious factor. although this was
frequently adverted To when consider
/ ing the chances of the Japanese in the
war with the Russians.