JAPAN'S FIGHTING MEN.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 724, 25 November 1914, Page 2

JAPAN'S FIGHTING MEN.

Japan haß seen more fighting than any other power during the last twenty years. Since 1894 Japan has taken part in two tremendous wars and come successfully through each. In 1894 she made war with China, and by 1895 had, to the amazement of the world won a complete victory over her gigantic neighbour; while her success against Russia in the war of 1904-5 was doubly wonderful and unexpected. Against the Russians the fighting of both the Japanese army and navy was magnificent. Mukden was the great land battle, and the siege of Port Arthur the supreme naval test. The Japanese emerged victorious in each case. The original religion of Japan, "Shinto," is full of patriotism, and this is one reason why the Japanese are such difficult foes to meet. To die in battle for his country is such a glorious death to a Japanese that eeery man is imbued with a kind of irrepressible fanaticism in time of war which renders him almost superhuman. Owing to their religion no forces in the world are quite so likely "to achieve the impossible" in war as the Japanese are. Once they sst out, either by themselves or in support of an ally, the Japanese will never give in and run. Added to this religious force is the fact that the Japanese have employed tha best brains of Europe to teach them the strategy and art of modern warfare. For their army—conscription is the rule in Japan--they have engaged both German and French military experts, while British officers have taught them huw to handle ships and fight at sea. The Japanese navy was, in fact, organised by British seamen, and how able tne tutors were and how apt the pupils, was strikingly Bhuwn by the skilful seamanship of the Japanese in the China war and their audacity and ingenuity in the Russian war. The torpedo work of the Japanese at Port Arthur was really marvellous.

The present strength of Japan's forces is as follows:-

Army: Peace strength, 230,000; war strength, 750,000. Navy: Battleships, 17; cruisers, 36; torpedo boats and destroyers, 109; submarines, 13.