Japan's Preparedness

Southland Times, Issue 19098, 14 July 1903, Page 3

Japan's P reparedness

A big map of the Japanese war Oifice which has just been issued has opened the eyes of many people as to Japan's preparedness for the expected war with Russia over Russian aggression in Manchuria and Korea. That map takes in not only the countries immediaitely in the line of disturbance, but includes Mongolia and a good part of Siberia as well, ivith Vladivostock and ""[the island of Shanghai.

The Japanese have gone about their map-making with their usual preparedness. Not only are the mountains and valleys, the rivers and defiles carefully platted, but the map contains information as to tho qualities of water, mineral formation, the crops grown— a world of Qetails. lilted for an army on the march c<r in retreat.

Down about I'ort Arthur and the Lio Tung peninsula, where the Russians recently ha\e done so much in the way of installing- fortifications and bringing in supplies, that Japanese war map is peculiarly fecund in detail. Beyond question the little brown men have watched and reported every move the Russians have made there, and have figured on methods of attacking the great new fort ideations, which are among the notable military works of recent years. These works, the importation of stores, the concentration of troops, the building of the docks, have been noticed, showing to the world that Russia was preparing for the gre.t't struggle for the control and mastery of China and Korea.

People who came from the Orient by recent steamers are full of the idea that tho conflict cannot now bo put off very; long, and they expect that the first ..clash will be between the Russian and the Japanese fleets. In that combat tho general English opinion is that the Japanese will blow the Russians out ol" the water on account of the financial crookedness in the Russian navy. Said an Englishman who has lived for twenty years in Shanghai : —

"1 really think that Russia will Gnd, as China ftund, that much oi her munitions of war is not munitions of war at all. There is a groat deal of fraud in the Russian Navy. The purchases nearly all have a great percentage of rake-off for the purchasing officer. l.kno%v of a< case in [joint. There was rivalry among docks for,, the repairing of a Russian battleship., A friend of mine put in a bid -that-" was right down to the bone. The- Russian captain sent for

" 1 can't accept your bid -of 50,000 yen," said he. " Then I can't get the contract," said my friend, " : " for I have put that bid -down to 'the very lowest notch."

. " Yon don't understand.' said the captain. " Your bid is for 50,000 yen. l'vit it. in for 75,000 yen, and J will accept it.'

"New, th?re were 25, 000 yen to go to that captain on one contract, and you can imagine what sort of nonexplosive shells those Russians will find they have on hand when onou their fleet tackles the fleet of the chesty little Japanese. On land, however, there will be a tremendous conflict if the Japs, take an army acrc.es as they did in -the war with China. For on land the Russians are very formidable, and their transport is one of the wonders of "science."— Exchange. "~ ■. ■