Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 May 1885 — Japanas a Fighting Power. [ARTICLE]

Japanas a Fighting Power.

M. Tasima, the Superintendent lot those Japanese officers who are. pursuing their military studies in Eurppe, has supplied a correspondent with some account of his country’s position as a lighting pdwer. The standing army of the empire chnsists of 40,000 men, the reserve 80,000, and the landwehr, or territorial reserve, of 150,000. All these troops are dressed and equipped in European fashion, ind they are at present partly armed with Remingtons and. partly with Jt new rifle, however, the invention of a Japanese colonel, will shortly be ready for issue. It combines the merits of the Gras, the Chassepot, and the Mauspr systems, and the English officers Jpld%ave tested it speak highly both of its principle and of its workmanship. In Japan ses» vice is obligatory, the conscripVafter remaining three years with the colors, passing into the reserves. Even after his discharge from the landwehr he forms one, provided that he be less than 45 years of age, of a kind of national guard that can be called oflt for purposes of home defense. Certain classes are by law exempted from active service abroad, but every Japanese, without exception, has to learn the use of aims as the price of his citizenship. —London Neics.