MILITARY JAPAN.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 191, 12 August 1911, Page 9

MILITARY JAPAN.

THE POSITION TO-DAY. SEVEN MILLION MEN AVAILABLE Only yesterday Japan was to the world at largo known merely as a small group oi islands inhabited by a semi-barbarous peopje. Here and there a traveller had given us a glimpse of this race oi small brown men, of the snow-capped moua tains, their paper houses and tjfejr blossoming gardens. * Others ba'd told ta)e« of romance, of ancestors who built broad and deep the foundations of the empire. To-day the nation stands revealed as one of the five great powers of the w.orjdJapan is no longer a mysterious country, for the fame of the victories ot Togo and Nogi are world wide. It is the army and navy that has placed the nation in •that position. Mr J. C. Balet, who was a resident iin Japan for over twenty years, and who went through the recent RussoJapanese war, has given us a vivid picture of the army, its strength, its morale and ■ its" composition in his hook '-Military Japan," \yhjch has just been translated from the French, and which is reviewed in the "Melbourne Age." Strangely enough the writer says: "The first year troop 3 equipped and linstructed in the European manner had to fight, not for the independence of th* country, but for its unity." The seeoni exhibition of the, modern army took place about twenty years later in 1904 against China. Its success was startling. The indemnity provided by China provided the funds to establish the foundations of the land and sen force. It was then, as at later periods, friiat the nation showed the value of the organisation that had been huilt up. The success which followed the China war had shown the need for reorganisation of the whole of the forces and th« increase of the navy. This plan almost amounted to a creation, for at the present moment the Japanese could bring into aetaon nearly twice as many troops as she had at her disposal in 1904, and very much better armed. To-day the post bellum programme of army expansion has been completed, so the writer has been able to give really the actual strength of the forces. Some very interesting pictures he draws of the life of the soldier on the barracks, which is regarded a3 almost a temple or monastery, in which the daily task takes the aspect of an initiation. The men rise at 5 o'clock, and the hoar for retiring is from 8 in the winter to 9 in summer. Only ten minutes is allowed for lunch, which is eaten at noon, and all ranks are compelled to take this meal at the barrack mess, thus setting a good example. A great point is made of the moral attitude of the men. Recreations are numerous, of which tennis and chess, music, gardening and reading are the most popular. The sobriety of the men is most marked, the regimental canteen being in charge of picked men, and the daily average sold has been set down at only 4 to 4J gallons of "sake" for 1800 men. The food is always served hot, and consists mainly of soup, rice, raw vegetables pickled in brine, brad and fish, with beef three times a week. The only drink that is allowed is hot water, opt even tea being permitted, which altogether makes the average daily cost of the food of the soldier about 2d. The men bathe regularly in hot baths which are taken »t any time. There 13 a strict method of compulsory saving adopted in each regiment. A curious custom mentioned is that in many cases the men are required to keep a diary. Corporal punishment has been abolished, and the tone of arrogance that; used to be adopted by the officers has disappeared; while the non-commissioned officers have no longer the. right to inflict punishment directly. The kfit of the soldier consists of three shirts, three- uniforms, two great coats, two field uniforms in cloth and one in ■linen or khaki, two helmets and two or three pairs of shoes. While on duty, as long as the exorcise lasts the Japanese soldier is quick, alert, vigorous, but they have a slack, indolent appearance outside of -the ranks.

Of the physical qualities of the Japanese Mr Balet has given a dear opinion. The soldier is observant, and consequently, is prone to imitation, but if left to himself in new surroundings or placed iu unforeseen situations he is easily disconcerted, if not discouraged. It is prejudice to suppose that they are patient and tenacious, for in everything they are eager to get to the end as quickly as possible, caring little foe the quality of the work or the result. If exceptional difficulties arise they abandon their purpose altogether. The "lack of individuality and self-confidence leads them to employ cunning; they rarely go straight to their purpose; they lack franknee* Placed alone, Japanese soldiers are at a loss to decide, but they are quick of understanding and industrious. They have a profound sense of justice and a love of reason.

So mireh has been written on the courage of the race that the conclusion arrived at by Mr Balet is particularly interesting. He had, he declares, often seen displays of violent rage, but seldom genuine courage. <'Self-»bnegation is the sole secret of that courage so justly admired in the soldiers of the Mikado. In times of emergency the Japanese is actuated like the fanatic zealots of all reffgiona, almost like an hypnotic subject. Hence his blind force. The leadere are always striving to keep self-consciousness from the individual lest ho exaggerate his own importance too much, but it is question able if one. day there will not be a clashing of tendencies." Even in the war there were instances when panic seized the men and in some cases passivity and obedience were replaced by mutiny. "Is there not among the majority of Japanese heroes a secret adoration of self? Is there not something of the actor who likes to hear himself speak, and see himself attitudinise? The chief fetors of military bravery are the profound faith in an ideal, and, in the second place, the lave of glory. .The only difference in their bravery lis that these motives still in full force among the Japanese have perhaps lost some of their force in other nations."

Every Japanese has to serve under the flag, and in this serving of the Bnperor he'develops a national pride. It has been the object of the controllers of the nation to develop a fierce spirit of national emulation by comparison with foreigners, but figures show that the number of inBubordinates out of a t°tal conscription, in 1908 of 437,000 was 12,000. One man in 35 seeks to escape by fraudulent means, and a proof 'of the fact that service is beginning to be looked upon with disfavour is the small number of volunteers that come forward aitd also the few recruits who present themselves. In June of last yea* there was an outburst Of disorder and relaxations of all kinds, especially drinking, gambling, vice, riot*, and robberies, and 3600 men were courtm&rtialled. The nation from -the first resjfised"'the importance of placing national defence above party polities, and for this reason the Ministers of \yar;and the Navy enjoy almost an absolute fixity of itenure. The growth of the military budget is rwarksAl*. la 1967 the estfc

mate was £106,000, and in 1871 it had expanded to £956,930. From that date it gradually increased until in the ■budget for 1900-1910 the army expenditure was *7 i 229,000 and the navy %3JJ&jW, or a total of £10,761,300. Oaring the same year the national debt had reached £225,600,000. But besides these figures there has to foe added the extraordinary budget for the defence, which for last year amounted t9 £§i?3li7op. The eyer increasing military expenditure is becoming a frightfuj garden,: for Japan lis one qf the poorest countries in the world, and the popular discontent is 'beginning to show itself.

Universal cpnapifiption was established in 1072, and now every male is liable to serve from the age of 17 until the completion of his 40th year. Thus Japanese capable of bearing arms in the time of war are divided into (a) those who have received complete military instruction (long term soldiers), of which there arr 22 per cent.; (b) fragmentary instruction (short terra soldiers), 6 per cent.; (c) those who hv the time of peace received no instruction, and who, even in the time of war, could, if called, render but J ijttie service, and these number about 72 per .cent. Therefore, on a war footing the infantry of the nation consists of an active army (including the active service and the first reserves) of 205,300 men; with a reserve of 205,400, and a depot army, 69,000, which makes a total of 470,600 men and 12,540 officers. But these figures do not represent the whole of the men disposable for the infantry. i The cavalry on the war footing is estimated at 11,640 men in active army, and 8700 in the reserve and the auxiliary, making a total of 20,340 men. On a war footing the field, artillery comprises 1650 guns, 42,350 men and 29,800 horses; while the mounted artOlery has 108 guns, 2628 men and 1728 horses. Of heavy artillery there are 404 guns, and 21,000 men. The engineers muster 30.630 all ranks, which includes special battalions: The pay of the J«ipanc9e officer and soldier is remarkably small. Lately the salaries have been increased so that now a general receives per annum, £750; major-general, £390; colonel, £294; lieutenantrcolonel, £219; captains, from £9O to £126; sergeant-majors, £39 to £6B. The monthly pay of the private soldier ranges from 3/1 to 6/, according to the class he is 6n, and sergeants, 5/8 to 13/10. Pensions are granted to those soldiers who have attained the limit with the colours, or to any who have been wounded before that date and have had to quit bhe service. Grants are also made to the families of soldiers killed jn action. Taking count of all branches of tibe service, Japan can put' into the field 1,450,000 trained comhatants; and in addition there are 5,500,000 men available only wanting some weeks of continuous training to make them capable to go to the front. The crushing burden of the prolonged military service has not yet made itself felt throughout the nation, for the army is still full of enthusiasm and drunk With its great victories. Our author on this point declares that "at the present time we have no difficulty in avowing that the Japanese soldiers are among th« best in the -world;, their officere, without having a very wide education, know their profession thoroughly and love if passionately; and that, in a word, the Japanese army, young, enthniriatic and never having known defeat, Is certainly preparing itself *?r new Victories." ~,. .