A NATION UNDER ARMS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 233, 30 March 1912, Page 10

A NATION UNDER ARMS.

MILITARISM IN JAPAN. Sydney, March 8. Japan, says Mr. McLeod, managing director of the Bulletin, just back from an Eastern trip, is certainly a nation under arms. He had been asked whether his trip gave any justification to the idea of a real "Yellow Peril.'' "There is 110 more patriotic people on earth than the Japanese," Mr. McLeod went on. "Thev have a population of 50 millions, which is confined within very narrow limits. And it is a religious matter with a Japanese to have as large a family as possible. An outlet for them lias to be found. Moreover, the Japanese are a very poor nation." "Everywhere in Japan," Mrs. MoLood joined in, "you see men drilling and maneoeuvring." "They're perfecting their army and navy," said Mr. McLeod, "and the people are heavily taxed in consequence. You can see that in the extra 50 per cent, which the shopkeepers charge tourists. All Japan is under arms. You can see the naval men marching and hardening themselves, and the boys being drilled in the high schools." "Some years ago," said Mrs. McLeod, "an edict went out that the Japanese people were to eat more meat, and now they do, as far as they can afford it, and they are growing bigger physically." The boys play football. Mr. and Mrs. McLeod added, and take every kind of physical exercise, even schoolgirls go in for jiu-jitsu, "f. saw a number of girls," said Sir. McLeod, "fighting at Japanese singlesticks with the utmost ferocity." What is all this military preparation for? "You can get very little information out of them," Mr. McLeod answered. "You grow friendly with an educated Japanese, but as soon as you ask some question as to their army or the whereabouts of some garrison town—he knows nothing."