The arsenal is also turning out ammunition at the ordinary rate of a million rounds a day.

According to the Constitution, the Emperor "has the supreme command of the army and the navy"; and under him come the Minister of War, the actual Commander-in-Chief, the Chief of Staff, the generals and other officers and officials in order. The Emperor is not expected to take command in person; but often one of the Imperial Princes will act as Commander-in-Chief in the field. There are now only two living Field-Marshals, Marquis Yamagata and Marquis Ōyama. There are various schools for educating and training the officers of the army and the navy.

As Japan is entirely an insular nation, the importance of her navy cannot be over-estimated. Even before the war with China, the Japanese navy had been rapidly growing; and it showed its marked efficiency in the battles of the Yalu and Wei-hai-wei (1894, 1895). The post-bellum plans for expansion have, moreover, emphasized the value to Japan of sea-power; and the programme of naval expansion, in spite of increased burdens of taxation, has met comparatively little opposition. For purposes of administration, the coast of Japan is divided into five naval districts, each with one fort which is a firstclass naval station. These stations are Yokosuka, Kure, Sasebo, Maizuru, and (to be established) Muroran. The navy at present includes battleships, cruisers, ships for coast defence, gunboats, torpedo boats,

torpedo catchers, and despatch ships. Of the first four kinds there are two or three classes in each; and of battleships there are four first-class ones of more than 15,000 tons each. The organization of the navy is similar to that of the army: below the Emperor, who is nominally in supreme command, come the Minister of the Navy, the actual Commanderin-Chief, the Chief of Staff, the admirals, etc.

Attention should be called to two or three points emphasized by Mr. Arthur Diosy.1 The first is that "Nelson's own plan, as valid to-day as it was in his time," has been carried out built for the Japanese fleet.

in the types of vessels “The main idea prevail

defence of the national

ing in their selection is the interests by offensive operations against the enemy's fleets," but "at no very great distance from the base of operations at home." The warships of Japan, therefore, are not required to devote so much space to the storage of coal and other supplies for long voyages, and can utilize more space for guns and reserve ammunition, or can be built smaller and “handier." It is in this way that "they are among the swiftest of all the fighting ships afloat."

The second point, which is related to the first, is that Japan "stands in the foremost rank as a naval power," not merely on account of the number and fighting strength of her ships, the efficiency of their officers and crews, and the perfection of the naval organization, but also on account of the well-equipped

1 "The New Far East," chap. vii.

dockyards and arsenals in convenient locations, and the abundant supply of excellent coal in easy reach.

The third point concerns what Diosy calls the "Blue-jacket Spirit," a "scarcely definable something” that is hard to describe in words, but that shines forth in every word and deed of the officer, the sailor, the marine, the esprit de corps of the personnel of the Japanese navy. This spirit he finds only in the British, Japanese, and United States navies.

And we cannot refrain from quoting the same writer's paragraph of summary as follows:

"Japan possesses all the elements of Sea-Power: swift, powerful ships, adapted to the work they are intended for, numerous good harbors, excellent coal in abundance, capital facilities for the repair of her vessels, and the necessary plant, constantly augmented and improved, for building new ones. Her naval organization is wise and efficient, her administrative services are thorough and honest; her naval officers are gallant, dashing, and scientifically trained, and the armament they control is of the latest and best pattern. Strong in ships, strong in guns, Japan is stronger still in the factor without which ships and guns are useless 'the Man behind the Gun.'" 1

Ten years ago it was improper to speak of Japan as a world power; it was then fitting to treat of her, as Norman did in one chapter of his "Real Japan," under the caption of "Japan as an Eastern Power." But, as already pointed out, it was her overwhelming

1 “Any foreign power that should venture to attack Japan in her own waters, would be strangely advised.” — CHAMBERLAIN.