NOTES FROM JAPAN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13640, 9 July 1906, Page 3

NOTES FROM JAPAN.

(Fkou Oca Own Cnßr.isroNDMT.) YOKOHAMA, May 22. Rvery now and then the Japanese people ore overtaken by a craze, and while the mania lasts most extraordinary things are done. Some years ago n certain section of society went mad over guinea-pigs; another year Belgian hares were the fashionable craze; at another time bantam chickens; then the horticulturists had a turn, and pansies were the rage for a whole summer, Such fads arc normal with all nations, and when they run on these lines they are harmless. But nccasionaly it is n craze for Ihe abnormal which breaks out, and then it is otherwise. Just before the outbreak of the war a mania for committing suicide broke out amid the- ranks of Tokio students, and nothing would do but to make an exit from the troubles of life in tho most, spectacular fashion. The epidemic was short-lived fortunately, but, whilo it lasted it was severe, no less than live promising youths precipitating themselves from the top of Kegon Toki, one of the loftiest waterfalls in Japan, and itself one of the chief glories of tho Nikko Mountains. These youths all found death before their bodies reached the river into which Kegon empties itself, and when Ihe fifth had accomplished the feat tho authorities Mopped in, and by pulling a guard of gens d'armes at the fall prevented others from following suit. The anxieties and the glories of the Russo-Japan war diverted people's thoughts into a healthier channel, and with the exception of those men who voluntarily killed themselves rather than fall prisoners into Ihe bauds of Ihe Russians, suicides were practically unknown throughout the empire. But we are moving in <|iiiel. times once more, and youthful minds for want, of outside distractions are turning lo introspection once again, which is bad for youth in any clime if overindulged. One shocking outcome of tho jieace which has fallen upon the land conies in the story of a suicide committed in the south-western part of the Empire. Yaniada Naokuma, grandchild of the adopted sou 1J Baron Yaniada Nobumichi, a distinguished provincial governor, has just ended his life by throwing himself into the crater of the Aso volcano. Naokuma had studied philosophy under Dr Tnoiiye Yenryo. Ihe famous materialist philosopher of' Tokio T'uiversity. and bad graduated with distinction. But during the course of the year before last bis mind seemed to become affected, and he was sent lo his family linnle in Kumaiiiolo lo rc4 and recuperate. At the beginning of April be disappeared, and nothing was heard of him until liis pocket-book, found near the edge of Ihe crater, revealed that he had deliberately made away with himself. It contained a farewell letter from which Ihe following extracts: are taken:—" How mistaken are they who say Ilia! suicide betrays weakness of mind! Whatever be their condition Ihey Would preserve life. But the strongest will is his who can go down lo a death that makes men shudder even to hoar. The cowards In be vehemently denounced are the imiliiiiule who dare not, die, be their circitiii.-,liini-e.s whal Ibev may. Alas, it is .sad! The world is full '„; iuiqiiily. Men are the slaves of lusl. Their span of life is but. 50 years, and with the (Inst of lllis fleeting world daily accumulating upon them Ihey hasten tri an inscrutable grave. Is society a stale of pain, misfortune, and sorrow, or is it a happy heaven? How miserable is this world of human beings! Grief and care invade their bosoms, pain and affliction encompass their existence. Where is hope lo be found; vhero may • peace lie sought? What, is glory, what is rank? All round is emptiness and solitude. Wealth avails nothing, nothing is comprehensible or credible. Society is but a battlefield of sorrow and suffering, and throughout life men are as hungry demons fed on torturing scepticism. Alas, for the infinity of it all. The tall mountain peaks pierce the sky, the broad ocean spreads out its unending azure, but human life is as Ihe dew of tho morning, lis llio flash of the ligblning. It, waxes but to wane; increases but io decline. All me plunged in darkness, and know not what lo look for. Mercy and lienevolcnce are as tho fleeting sentiments of a, dream, Why should man torment, himself with liniitIcssly painful thoughts? Why should fie winder in the paths of contaminating sin? Is it not. the mast blessed ending of human life lo be received into the bosom of pure nature, and for ever to quit the dust of existence? Thinking these things 1 pass into the smoke of Aso's crater,"

This cruel incident, bears., eloquent testimony to Japan's need of.feme satisfying religion* creed, for Yamada's despondency is shared by hundreds upon .hundreds of bis _ fellow-studonlti. Asci-san, where his .suicide took place, is a volcano that has been active throughout tho era of history, though there aro evidences that the dimensions of the crater have undergone large diminution. ]ts latest, eruption was in lbM. Colonel J._ A. L, Haldane, who was one of tho British military attaches with the Japanese forces during the late war, has been lecturing on "Some Lessons from the Russo-Japanese War" in Piiuco Consort's Library at Aldorshot, In I he courso of his remarks Colonel Haldane said that. Japan owed her armed forces to a system quite different from the British, and somo of the lessons of the campaign wero difficult lo apply to the British army in their entirety. The first great lesson to be learned from the study of tho campaign was that tho best trained army, imbued with the highest "moral," was the most sure to win, and that it was better to trust in the. highlytrained lighting capacity o f tho indivicunl soldier than to the momentum of a mass of armed men moulded by constant and monotonous drills into an absolutely obedient fighting machine. The sceroi of the Japanese success was comprised in the word "duty," which embraced patriotism und discipline. Jealousy, self-seeking, and eriticusm of orders wore entirely absent. The. endurance of the Japanese was the result of severe tests in peace. The Japanese officers wore thorough soldiers, and took every care to add to their military knowledge by study. Study In these days was as necessary for the regimental officer as for the staff ollieer. Books were not to lie despised, and an hour or two a day devoted to reading and reflection would make a vast difference in the intellectual level of the British army, would remove from it. the reproaches sometimes hurled at it, and gain for if greater respect. The national characteristic of secrecy helped the Japanese considerably, and the Russians were novel able to glean any reliable information of what their intentions or movements wore. This characteristic was much in cvidenco in tho field, when great masses of troops were moved and concealed with astonishing effectiveness. The men never spoke to a stranger about the war, ami were forbidden even to say to what unit thoy belonged 10. They had in all ranks intrepid conduct, in gaining information,

and clever communication, chiefly bv field telephones. The Japanese- did not. believe in "holding" attack— they made every attack- decisive. They now recognised the necessity for larger mounted forces. The last, topic touched on by Colonel Haldane is being apprenched ii) a most, practical way by the Japanese. They fully realise Ihe importance of improving the cavalry arm of the service and their'artillery teams, for they know that their weakest, poinl is in the matter of mounts. The native .horse of .lapan. though a sturdy and witling animal, is undersized, and inclined to be weedy. Sires have been imported from abroad from time to time, but the progress in producing a finer race of horse has been very slow, practically nothing being achieved outside the pale of the Government stud farms. Xow an attempt, is to 1m made to interest the farming classes in breeding n. better animal, and some race clubs have been started to offer an incentive in the way of prizes and competition. In addition, the Government will promulgate a new official system for a proposed horse administration bureau, under direct, control of the Cabinet, in the middle of next month. On the establishment of Tfiis now system the Stud Farm Bureau of the Agricultural and Commercial Department will be abolished. Huron Sono will be appointed Governor, and Lieutenantgeneral Okura administrator of the new bureau, while four new stud fa-nis, in addition lo the nine existing farms, will he established in the Hokkaido anil other districts under the new system. That there are some good cattle in 'Japan was seen at the last great military review jn "fokio, when the majority of the officers wore splendidly mounted; but officers' mounts arc nor everything, and this the Japanese fully realise.

The following list of ships soon to bo added lo the Japanese navv is published:— battleship Aki. 18,000 tons, building at Kure. and to be launched next year; battleship Satsuma, 18,000 tons, building at Yokosuka. and to ho launched' in October; first-class armoured erulscr Tsukuba, 14.000 tons, built at Kure, and already launched: first-class armoured cruiser Ikoma, 11.000 tons, built at Kure, and already launched; first-class armoured cruiser KiiJama. 14,000 tons, building at Yokosuka.. and to be launched in August; first-class armoured cruiser Ibuki. 14.000 tons, building at Kure. and to be launched in the summer of 1907; cruiser Nogami, 2300 tons, building at the Milsu Bishi Docks, and to lie launched in July; cruiser Yodo, 2500 tons, building at tho Kawasaki Docks, and to ho launched iii July.; cruiser Tone, 2300 tons, building at Saseho, and to Ik- launched this autumn. To this list have to be added llio battleships Ivatnri and Kashima. built in England, which have already been handed over lo llio Japanese. The' result h that Ihe addition of about, 140,000 tons will he made to tho Japanese navy, which will then represent 430.000 lons in round numbers.

-Marquis Suionji, the Japanese Premier, together will) a small suite of leading official?, has just made a I rip of inspection through Manchuria and Korea, and in order thai, ihoy shrnuld see things entirely unhampered, their tlojiartitro from Tohio was entirely unannounced, Thus their presence was not known at the various places visited milil I hey wore actually on Iho spot, and thoy thus worn able to sen things" exactly in ( hoy were, and not as they might have been liail fho "men at, the front." had timely warning to ''set. the scone." A grcn! rleal is expected from this visit, for Marqnis Ka-ionji is not, a man to have dust blown in his eyes. He, devoted keen attention to the Fii.slnui coal mino and witnessed tin: working. Throe days were snout at Mukden, and il, goes wiihout saying that there wore cordial exchanges of courtesies between the Governor and the Prime Minister. .Mr Nomura, un engineer of the Department of Agriculture and Commerce, who was one of the party, says thai, nearly all the buildings at Talion have boon restored, and that several now ones have been constructed. The place has now all the appearance of prosperity, but a majority of the Japanese doing business thoro established themselves with the idea of catering for tho needs of the army, and now that the troops have departed Ihcse people will probably close their shops. The moans of communication and the various appliances are execiienr. lint if 'fallen is to become a commercial port warehouses will ha.vo to be built. As In tho general arrangements, the place is in no sense inferior to Yingkow. Port Arthur has no future except as a naval port. The old Chinese town has recovered ltmcli of iis activity, but the great buildings in the new Russian town remain unrepaired and tho forts are just as they were when Stoossol surrendered. There is a. general air of destruction and desolation. Yingkow is still the great emporium of trade in southern Manchuria, ft, has not, perhaps, recovered quite tho degree of prosperity it enjoyed prior to the war, but tho difference is scarcely perceptible. Concerning the apprehension that Talien may absorb tho commerce of Yingkow, Mr Nomura's opinion is that tho latter will always remain tho depot for Maneliur'a westward of the Liao, while the former will attract the cast Liao trade. Talien has certainly a marked advantage iii respect, of sea communications and the railway, but Yinkow, too, is not without recommendations. Japanese subjects are now rapidly spreading throughout Manchuria. There are 6000 in Talien and WOO in Mukden, whilo many are said to be repairing to Tienling. The length of the military line from Atrt.iuig to Mukden is 180 miles, but as it makes many detours to avoid tunnelling, the permanent road will probably be 20 miles less. As to tho East-China line, the enlargement of the gage would cost little, as the present sleepers could be used, but new rolling stock would have to he supplied. That would involve considerable outlay, as would also the restoration and construction of stations and dwellings for the statf. Mr Nomura thinks that there is a great future before the road, and that it has little to fear from the competition of tho Liao River. He speaks in the highest terms of tho Fushun mines. The coal is of the best quality, »»" the vein, being 1000 ft wide, 130 ft deep, and 20 miles long, is practically inexhaustible. Afc present the mineral excavated is only 400 tons daily, a market not bavins .vet been opened, but the quantity can be raised to 3000 or 4000 tons.

Just at present flic CJovernmcnt is incurring a good deal of criticism by reason of its advice, delivered through the local Governors, that whatever foreign capita!—the very urgently-needed foreign'capital—is imported into Japan must bo introduced through the medium of the Kogvo Ginko (tho Industrial Bank), a pet offspring of officialdom. The proposal meets with condemnation on every band, and a leading article which appears in the Tokyo Asah'i will give my New Zealand readers a peep behind (lie scenes which I think will prove illuminating. "The omnipotency of the Government is becoming more manifest as time rolls on. It has not only monopolised the tobacco and camphor business for the purpose of deriving revenue therefrom, but has gone so far as to monopolise salt for the purpose of protecting the industry, and has also attempted to include the habulae refining and match-manufacturing businesses. It has revised the Bank Law, to interfere with the business of private banks, and is to purchase the private railways to accelerate the development of traffic and communications. It. bus also taken up the compilation of school text-hooks to promote education. All these are simply manifestations of the omnipotent power of iho Government, >\rt satisfied with the above, the Government want; to make a further demonstration of its power in exercising useless interference in the introduction of foreign capital. After the recent Kusso.lapaneso war there were many foreign capitalists desiring to invest, their capital in Japanese enterprises, and they scut to this country representatives for that purpose. Japanese business men welcome foreign capital, but the Government interference'in this matter is tco obvious. The Hokkaido Colliery Railway Company is a conspicuous example of this. In this case the negotiations were concluded and a provisional contract signed between the parties. A 'geiiro' statesman, however, took exception to the terms and forced the company to propose an alteration. The instruction recently issued by the Government to the local authorities clearlv reveals the Government's idea in the introduction of foreign capital. It cannot be denied that the Government proposes to mete out the same policy with regard to its introduction by private companies—that is to say. to compel them to a.ppeal to the Kogyo Ginko to act as a medium. The tardy progress of the Jokio Ivlcctrio Light Company's negotiations for a foreign loan is presumably attributable to inlorforonee on the part of the- Government. The bureaucratic Government intends to monopolise the introduction of foreign capital through the medium of the Kogyo Ginko, net so much for the profit of the bank, as simply to maiii'csl jmore forcibly its' omnipotent [wwer. The Government regards business men as mere children who are unable to understand figures, and is, therefore, anxious lo interfere with their loans. This idea pervades all actions of the Government. For instance, it makes use of iho Specie Bank in the matter of foreign bills of exchange, and exercises undue interference through the Nippon Ginko. Eangyo Ginko, Xoko Ginko. Hokkaido Tokushoku Ginko, and other bans having specific jinrlii£C3,.jn the-matter of the, supplj- at domes-

tie capital. To facilitate the execution of this purpose, the Government appoints Government officials, or those whose confidence they possess, to the management, of this monetary machinery. Mr fMalstio. of th.; Nippon Ginko. Mr Sliimura. of the Kangyo Ginko; Mr- Soypda. of l.he Kogyo Ginko; Mr Minolie, of the Hokkaido Toknshoku Ginko; and Mr Takahasbi. of the Specie Bank, are all personages of this description. All these banks appear as if they were part and parcel of the Financial Department, the presidents being found lo act in strict consonance with the principles laid <low» by the Central Government. Mr Tomita and Mr Yamamoto, formerly presidents of the Nippon Ginko, were dismissed on account- of their disagreement, with the Government authorities. Mr Soma, ,of the Specie Bank, was also dismissed, as Tie did not find favour with the authorities. The Government is apparently auxjous to enable private corporations to introduce foreign capital on more advantageous terms than they could possibly obtain if left, to conclude independent negotiations. The result of the Government's fosip loans, however clearly nrovo they were not very successful. The 500,000.000 yen foreign loan which llio Government floated in London last. November showed an actual interest, of 5.1-2 per cent., as against 5.3 .per cent, for the loan suhsenucntly concluded independently by the Kwansai Railway Company. The Kyushu and Sanyo Bailwav Companies were about to conclude foreign loans on still more advantageous terms when the negotiations were frustrated by the Railway Nationalisation Biil. At anyrxte. when the Government only succeeds in obtaining its loans on nearly the same terms as private companies it has no right lo claim a superior aptitude in the matter of foreign loans. Instances are too numerous to cite. The Government is labouring under a misapprehension when it thinks it can boast of its omnipotence, and endeavour to interfere with or swallow up private enterprises." . Even the Government's warmest supporters arc aghast at its latest proposal. Granted that the Government should support its own offspring, it is not fair lo the at large that in the matter of obtaining money from abroad only one channel should be open. It is: a good thing for the Kogyo Ginko. a good tiling for its London agents, Messrs Paiumirc Gordon and Co., but a bad thing for the nation. Japanese progress is hampered in every direction by Ihe multitudinous formalities which attend all public transactions. The present Cabinet has set its face acsiiiat this unfortunate state of affairs in some departments of Slate. and >-cems sincerely hen!- upon mpinlinp it- Knt. apparently the s?mo enlightened purpose doenot, extend to all branches of the administration, nor does if seem to be cleaWy undcrstocd that official meddling in financial matters is fatal io wholesome development. A. Bkt.lamt Enow.v.