THE JAPANESE INFANTRY.

Evening Star, Issue 12396, 9 January 1905, Page 6

THE JAPANESE INFANTRY.

Bveferring to the indomitable determination of the Japanese infantrv, tlie Bight Hon. Alfred Lytteltan said that they Lad all been asking themselves what this astonishing courage on the part of the Japanese was duo to. It was due to patriotism. iSir George White had recently told him an admirablo story about the Japanesa Sir George had wondered also how this astonishing courage was maintained, and he asked a Japanese friend of. his how this patriotism was engendered, fostered, and maintained. The Japanese answered: "It is quite simple. We teach it in the elementary schools." Ho believed that in the teaching of patriotism in the early period of life, reallv as a religion, they had the explanation "of the astonishing valor that the Japanese bad shown m this war.

, A. letter received by the editor of the Press from a gentleman in England who is recognised as a leading authority on Russian affairs says : "When the war'broke out the forecast I made was this: The war will last between three and five years, unless Japan breaks down financially in the meantime. At first the Russians will have a verybad time of it, because they are utterly tinprepared, and in all probability Port Arthur will fall before tie end of the year, compelling them either to destroy their own fleet or to send it out to be destroyed by the Japanese. They were firmly convinced that there would bo no war, because they were determined not to declare wax themselves, and they could not conceive the possfbility of the little Japs having the 'impertinence ' to attack the great Russian Empire. Therein li<>s the cans© of all their dis asters. But in the long run lam convinced they will get the \mt of it. because they cannot let themselves be beaten by a yellow race, smd I believe they have more staying power and more resources than their opponents. That is, roughly, my view still. I spare you the details."