The New York herald., 1922-01-15
British View of .Japan's History

on rice and the expedition was hardly
the vast undertaking which the de-
scription of the English Admiral would
lead the reader, IN the mental as
sociations of to-day to suppose.
Moreover. critical students usually
cut off one or more ciphers from the
round numbers of the uncritical writ
ings of early native historians.
Taken all in all, however. the au-
thor's three introductory chapters
are most admirable and in a senss
uniquely complete. He knows how 70
make history dramatic. Their disas-
trous experience of sea power in the
sixteenth became for the japanese the
basis of warning and scientific prepa-
ration for the astonishing sue ,sses
turies. This point is fully stressed by
the author
Seven chapters tell of the clash of
long secluded nation with Occidental
civilization and those "annexing Pow
ers" that laid their hands so freely
on Asia without much regard for
ethical principles or the rule of meum
and tuum. The heather world was
once divided between Portugal and
Spain and the northern nations of
Europe soon began clamoring for
slices. The British Admiral neglects
10 state that the United States was
honored policy, by returning indemni-
ties unfairly exacted, by paying 70;
what territory they occupied and by
sending helpers and healers instead
of conquerors into Asia.
There are other omissions charac-
teristic of British writer's on Japan
Among these we may mention the
education in Holland during the early
'60s. of the very first officers in the
modern Japanese navy. Admiral
Epomoto and Akamatsu: the delivery
10 the Mikados Government Of the
ex.Confederate ram Stonewall tAd-
yuma Kan). Japan's first ironclad. and
later the training at Annapolis of Ad-
miral Matsumura and of the man who
sunk the first Russian ship at Che
mulpo-Uriu.
Nor does the author tell of or even
mention Count Katsu. "the father OF
the japanese navy" who in 1859 navi-
gated the first Japanese steamship
across the Pacific to San Francisco.
But apart from these omissions here
is brilliant narrator with a superb
grasp Of details and of strategy and
practice, having had full professional
acquaintance with the situation gained
by forty-five years In the British
navy. Admiral Ballard has penned a
narrative of dramatic power and
thrilling interest. How Japan rose
from a hermit nation to be a world
Power mainly by her triumphs on the
sea is an epic In itself. and here Is a
master who knows how to tell II. We
promise for all readers of Capt.
Mahan. to whom the author gener-
ously acknowledges his Indebtedness.
further treat. for no other book
covers the story of the reversal by
Japan OF European traditions which
had become orthodoxy. The island
empires sons stayed the flood of con-
quest.
After his mastery picturing OF
Togo's triumph. Admiral Ballard pens
two important conclusions:
"The Japanese need fear compari-
son with no race in the world as a
nation Of virile. courageous and high
minded men exercising a greater in
huence on human progress in their
own quarter Of the world than any
one else. In their patience industry
and indifference to enervating mate
rial comfort their standards are above
those Of most other lands"
Again. after justifying the policy OF
exclusion Of japanese immigrants by
the white nations. he thinks II Is not
likely that the north Pacific will
carry the rumble of heavy gun fire In
orr time II seif-control and reasoned
sense prevail among the leading Pow
ers of tho world"
Welcome words from man COM
petent 70 Judge and as brave ms he Ia
wise No author Is likely TO arise 10
eclipse this thrilling narrative. In the
library Of hooks or naval achievement
n stands uriuue.
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