The New York herald., 1921-09-29

is generally composed of two divisions
of infantry and one regiment each OF
cavalry and artillery. one battalion OF
engineers and one of service OF sup
plies. A regiment Of infantry consists
of four battalions OF 600 men each and
regiment Of cavalry OF three or four
squadrons OF 100 sabres each. A regi-
ment OF field artillery consists of six
batteries, each OF four guns. while a
battalion OF engineers consists of three
companies. each with 500 men. and a
battalion of service of supplies of 800
men.
Expansion of Arsenais.
| Under the present plan OF reorgani-
cation provision is made for expand
ing the military arsenals. in accord
ance with the German scheme OF dis
tributing these bases pretty generally
throughout the empire. II is worthy
of note that the arsenal plan contem-
plates the establishment OF one at
Souel. in Corea, over which Japan. In
theory, maintains only q civil form
of government. 1t is also significant
that the new army scheme contem-
plates the expansion of. national arma-
ments ito guard our interests In Man
churia and China" it is explained.
| Education in the army begins as
early in Japan as 1T did in Russia and
Germany before the war. Local mill
| tary preparatory schools are main
tanned In the leading centres, and pro-
vide the lowest grades in the school
! - s>fffn
military preparatory school at Toxic
receives the graduates from the local.
schools they are then passed on TO the
cadet school also at 9okio. and finally
to the Staf College for the finishins
touchss
The viiitary education of the Japa-
nese really begins ut the root, be-
cause the currlculunis in the kinder
gartens embrace physical training and
The achievements OF military heroes
are kept constantly before the minds
of the pupils. Graduates from the
public schools are permitted to volun-
teer for one years service. after which
they are enrolled in the reserve SER
vice, with the rank of non-commis-
stoned officers. The volunteers are re-
|
penses and must serve three months
each for two years before they are en-
rolled in the territorial army.
Compulsory military service was
| first established In Japan in 1873, only
twenty years after Commodore Perry
had revealed to the Japanese the won
ders Of civilization. The original plan
Is still adhered to. 1t requires that
all able bodied Japanese males be-
tween 20 and 40 years must respond
| TO the first call to arms. Actual SER
vice is divided into active service, re-
serve service and depot service, be-
ginning at 90 years and extending foi
| II years and months.
The only exemption allowed in the
| service is to sons of parent more
than 90 years old, who is judged In
competent to support himself. POST
ponement Of the period of service is
also made In favor of lads studying
at schools, the curriculums of which
embrace military. training. All boys
| above 20 years are subject to con-
scription, but the period of service
may be postponed until they have
reached the age Of 25, If they are
studying at school Of quasi-military
character. Men who have passed the
age Of 80 are enrolled in the terri
torial army list.
Lads liable to- 'conscription roughly
number 100000 n year. to which there
are annually added 100000 students
whose service has been postponed for
| educational reasons. Some idea OF the
completeness of military education in
Japan is provided by the fact that In
1908 the ratio of illiteracy among re-
cruits and volunteers was 5.S per cent.
and only per cent. in 1919.
The Japanese Government treats its
soldiers pretty well, though 1t does not
overpay them. Officers and men are
permitted to assist the business OF
their families when military conditions
are favorable. With the steady IT..
crease in the cost of living the Gov.
! crnment recently has made MONTH,
allowances to on-commissioned Of
ficers and privates, the privates re,
| ceiving yen 34 sen (about $1.06)
more than his pay. which Is littl,
enough in view of the fact that hi.
pay Is less than Sc a month in Ameri
can money.
Provision for the maintenance o
troops includes one quart of rice ant