THE PROGRESS OF JAPAN.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9753, 26 May 1903, Page 3

THE PROGRESS OF JAPAN.

ITS NAVAL AND MILITARY STRENGTH. •'PREPARED TO TACKLE ANY NATION." Bleotrio Telegraph Copyright United Press Association. TOKIO, May 25. The Japanese Government and Opposition have arranged an entente cordiale. Marquis lto induced the Opposition to support the naval programme, owing to the threatening outlook in the Fur East. Mr R. B. Fullarton, of Melbourne, who j went to Japan several months ago in company with Sir Malcolm M'Eachorn, on business connected with the firm of Messrs M'lllwraith, M'Eacharn, and Co., was among the passengers by the steamer Yawata Maru, which arrived at Syd- j ney last week. Interviewed by a representative of The, | Daily Telegraph, Mr Fullarton said tli.'it, ho was much impressed with the strides made by the Japanese in adapting themselves to Western customs. They were a wonderful nation. ■ "One tiling that particularly struck me," continued Mr Fullarton, "is the very thorough and efficient way in which life Japanese youth are being educated. At the primary and secondary schools of the University they are being taught all branches of learning, and English is, I believe, a compulsory subject. The schools are simply turning out the finished article wholesale* and one sees everywhere boys going through the exercises in physical drill also. "Tl'iey seem to have electricity everywhere, even in the villages. One cannot go a hundred yards in Tokio without seeing an automatic telephone, worked on the penny-in-the-slot principle. These telephones are at the street corners, at all the resorts, and in the parks and recreation grounds— everywhere. Even wo can get a few tips from Japan. They have a uum.ber.-tof long-distance telephone too. I spoke on several occasions from the hotel at which I was 'staying in Tokio to a friend at Osaka— over 350 miles away— and the conversation was as distinct as possible. Both telephonic and telegraphic communication is very cheap. ' It is a country well adapted for electricity, as there is such an amount of water power available. "At Kobe I saw a review of the fleet by the Emperor. It was a magnificent nnd enthusing sight — something more than a mere show. The ships are all up-to-date and of a very fine type. No -^nther power- m the East could make anylike the same display. "I saw the funeral of Prince Kumatso. at which there were 15,000 troops, and I was very (much struck with- them. They are nuggety, strong, active-looking ienows, and I have no doubt at all but that they would prove themselves very fine soldiers." Mr Fullarton was questioned concerning the news contained in the recent cablegram as to the trouble brewing in the East. "That has been anticipated in Japan for some time," he said. "There was an undercurrent of excitement there when I left, and I heard that the furlough of the troops had been suddenly stopped. The Japanese don't seem in the least alarmed. They have a great idea of their military and naval strength, and I have frequently heard them say in conversation that Jthey are prepared to tackle anyone." "Did you see the Osaka Exhibition?" "I did. It is a very fine show indeed. The foreign display is only trifling, but the Japanese part of the exhibition is really magnificent. Their courts of manufactures are a revelation, I can tell you, and include practically everything. Their show of fishery and forestry is a perfect object lesson, and their engineering and electrical exhibits would compare favorably with anything we could show here. The progress the Japanese are making is something wonderful." As to the restriction upon Japanese entering Australia, Mr Fullarton said that this was the subject of contemptnous remarks amongst them, but they did not seem to take' it badly.