It is a sad commentary on the present standards of civilization that a consideration of Japan as a world power requires special attention to military and naval affairs. It is rather a strange coincidence that it was not until little Japan in 1894 showed that she could easily overcome immense China that the “Great Powers” were willing to revise their treaties with her on terms of equality and admit her to the comity of nations. And it is another strange coincidence that it was the Boxer troubles which gave Japan another opportunity to display the efficiency of her military and naval organizations, and win such laurels side by side with troops of the other “Powers,” that Great Britain, the mightiest of them all, abandoned her time-honored policy of “splendid isolation” and sought Japan’s assistance by means of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. It is not, however, to be imagined that Great Britain overlooked or ignored Japan’s other elements of power; but it is quite evident that the latter’s military and naval efficiency made a great impression on the former. Therefore it is our duty, having considered Japan’s geographical, industrial, commercial, social, historical, and political features, to take up now her polemic ability. [Illustration: DISTINGUISHED LAND COMMANDERS GENERAL BARON KUROKI GENERAL BARON OKU GENERAL BARON NODZU ] The Japanese army and navy are created and sustained, as to personnel, by a conscription system, quite like that of Germany. Theoretically, “all males between the full ages of 17 and 40 years, who are Japanese subjects, shall be liable to conscription.”[106] This period is, moreover, divided up as follows: (1) Active service with the colors, for 3 years in the army and 4 years in the navy, by those who have “attained the full age of 20 years”; so that those who are between 17 and 20 are apparently exempt except “in time of war or other emergency”; (2) First Reserve term, of 4 years in the army and 3 years in the navy, “by such as have completed their service with the colors”; (3) Second Reserve term of 5 years, “by those who have completed their service in the First Reserves”; and (4) Service in the Territorial Army for the remaining years by those who have completed the preceding term. But the last three services are merely nominal, as the First and Second Reserves and the Territorial Army are ordinarily called out only for drill once a year and are mobilized, in order, “in time of war or of emergency.” And, by a special arrangement, the actual service in barracks may be only 2 years.