exaggerated dimensions, has never been equalled in modern war. It was the culminating result of twenty years' work unostentatiously carried on without a single day's slackening of effort. The Japanese have no cause for silence in regard to their military organization, the efficiency of which has been twice and conclusively proved by the supreme test of war. There are larger armies among other nations of the world, but none more homogeneously organized or animated with a higher spirit of collective discipline. Verily are these wonderful people reaping as they have sown. The brilliant and faithful performances of a soldier on the battlefield are nothing but the blossoms and fruit of the work and training performed day by day in times of peace.'1

The writer was present in the Aoyama Park at Tokyo on April 30, 1906, when 50,000 officers and men—the chosen representatives of the army of Manchuria-were passed in review by the Emperor. It was impossible to watch the quiet, business-like way in which the troops were brought on to the parade-ground, and took up their positions, without being struck by the perfection of the organization and the excellence of the discipline. From start to finish the proceedings were marked by a clockwork regularity which the writer has never seen surpassed, and perhaps not equalled, on any similar occasion, either in England or elsewhere. Silently, ceaselessly, automatically, with

1 Extract from a letter of General Nogi, the conqueror of Port Arthur.

out any sign of effort, did the prescribed movements continue to the end of the programme, when the Emperor left the parade-ground at the exact minute ordered. Every man seemed to know his place, and take his part without the need for direction. No orders were given, and no words of command heard. The effect was as though a huge inanimate machine had suddenly come to life, and set itself voluntarily in motion. A deep impression was visibly created among those foreign visitors whose presence had been invited, and who learnt with their own eyes the strength of that tremendous weapon which the Japanese have forged for purposes of national defence. Success seems only to stimulate them to fresh efforts. You will exert your energies so as to promote improvements and expedite the progress of the Imperial army,' were the Mikado's words to the victorious Marshal Oyama as he stood on parade to receive his master's congratulations. And the Marshal's answer sounded the same note of progressive determination: I, Oyama Iwao, your Majesty's servant, on behalf of the triumphant army, swear that our energies shall be further exercised in making increased efforts in response to the Imperial wishes.' Here we must for the moment leave the Japanese soldiers to celebrate the triumphs of victory with the solemn rites and religious services peculiar to the nation, while they receive the congratulations of a grateful people for whom they have fought so hard and endured so well.

CHAPTER XIV

THE JAPANESE ARMY

WHAT is the material value of the Japanese alliance to Great Britain? This question was partly answered in the last chapter, when the organization of the Japanese Army was described in general terms, and an estimate given of its mobilized strength. Having, with such approximation to accuracy as is possible in the absence of published statistics, stated the numbers available on mobilization, it remains to ascertain the fighting quality of officers and men, and the belligerent capacity of the Japanese Government to maintain a prolonged struggle when allied with the naval and military forces of the British Empire.

While searching for information, an opportunity occurred for consulting a military expert, an old resident in Japan, who has followed the rising fortunes of the nation from the days when the revolution of 1868 enabled the Mikado to throw off the yoke of the Shogunate, abolish the feudal power of the Daimyo chiefs, and take the reins of civil and military government into his own hands. The following is the substance of the remarks with