Japanese Navy’s Origins

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 35, 12 February 1936, Page 4

Japanese Navy’s Origins

That the Japanese Navy would ever claim parity with that of Great Britain (as it is now doing) would have seemed incredible to the Japanese and Britons who helped to found it three-quarters of a century ago, remarks a writer in the Manchester Guardian. Its origin was in 1867, when, through the instrumentality of the British Ambassador, Sir Harry Parkes, the Japanese Government was lent the services of Commander Tracey, K.N., to advise on naval defence, but little had been done before a revolution led to the commander being withdrawn. Shortly after, however, the Prince cf Hizen engaged Lieutenant Hawes, of the Boyal Marines, to help to form a semi-private navy, and in 1873 the British Government again consented to send a Naval Mission cf 30 officers and men under Commander Douglas, which founded an instructional centre at Tokio. After that time development was fairly rapid, always with a sprinkling of British officers in key positions, but the world at large does not seem to have taken Japan’s ambitions in sea power very seriously until her ships annihilated the Chinese squadrons in 1894.