The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-02-03
By ROBERT ALLEY

conclusion that his country would in
vite q dire fate II 1t remained obliv-
ious Of the worlds military progress.
Accordingly, he obtained from the
Dutch-who still traded intermittent
ly-a few small arms and field guns.
He began training q company Of men
at Yedo. Officials threw him into
prison. When the American fleet
came In 1859. the officials decided the
imprisoned governor Of Nagasaki had
been right, and soon began the i'm
portation Of guns and rifles and cam
non from Europe.
Dates now tell the story
1862-The shoguns adopted q mil
itary system like that of the rest of
the world and organized three divi-
sions Of $4,000 men.
lS73-1mperial decree by the en-
peror substituted CONSUMPTION for
sysetem Of hereditary militarism.
l877-The new army stood its first
test-quelling q revolution.
18o3-Period Of compulsory active
and reserve service was extended to
IL years.
1883 Seven divisions now in the
field. with guns.
lee5-Victoriou in war with China,
Japan's German trained infantry be-
ing armed with single-loader Murata
rifles.
1904 japanese force goes to Pc
king to help quell the Boxer revolu-
ton and there sees at first hand
methods of European armies. Com
plete reorganization Of Japan's army
follows.
lS0A-victorious In war with Rus
III is,o-Annexation of Korea by
Japan.
lsl5-Kiaochow captured. from
Germans.
The rest needs no comment here.
In Japan now, all males of from II
to 40 are liable for military service.
About $1,000 attain military age each
year. After medical examination. they
are divided into five main classes, &C
cording to degree OF military fitness.
AS the annual quota is about 100, 900,
those in the highest slass usually are
more than sufficient.
The term of service is 1874
months, with 5 1-3 years In the first
reserve and 10 years In the second re-
serve.
The full figures are military secrets
but 1t Is believed that. in the event OF
a first class war, Japan would be
capable of putting into the field two
receive divisions for each peace-terms
division-or 81 divisions III all.
The emperor is the supreme COM
mander of the army, and likewise Of
the navy.
The naval history of these island
people goes back a long way, too.
They suffered by Tartar invasion in
the 18th century. For centuries, they
had their fishing fleets.
In the 18th century, a castaway
English pilot, named William Adams
supervised for them the building OF
two ships. But In 1885, the govern
ment's policy of isolation brought an
edict that forbade ship building.
For the next 200 years, nothing
happened. Then came Commodore
Perry.
The rest may also be told in dates:
1855-Seamen's training station op-
ened at Nagasaka, with Dutch in
structors. Dock. iron factory and
naval school follows.
l857-58-Two small vessels pur-
chased from the Dutch and one given
by Queen Victoria form nucleus OF
modern japanese navy.
l866-First steam vessel is built, 9
small gunboat.
1882-Naval construction program
begins with 80 cruisers and IL torpe-
do boats.
18e6-As result of better training
Japanese defeat superior Chinese nav
al force.
l904-Japan's growing fleet crush.
Is Russian fleet as Admiral Togo
captures Port Arthur.
19l4-Twelve battleships and siS
more building, plus Isl other fighting
ships, including is submarines.
l932-The worlds third greatest
naval power, topped only by England
and America.