JAPAN 



Shipping and Shipbuilding. Great attention has been given, to these industries and 

 the progress in construction is shown in the following figures: 



Under a new law Japanese subjects or companies engaging in transportation business receive 

 from the Government navigation subsidies according to mileage, tonnage, speed and age 

 in regard to steel steamships with a gross tonnage of not less than 3,000 tons, a speed of not 

 less than 12 knots per hour and not more than 15 years old, which are registered in the 

 Japanese shipping register. During 1912 the improvement of the Yokohama Harbour 

 pier was begun, and was to be completed in 1916 at a total estimated cost of 1,073,850. 



The total entrances of steamships of all nations, including Japanese, were for the years 

 1908 to 1911 inclusive as follows: In 1908, 10,330 vessels of 20,104,257 tons; in 1909, 9960 

 vessels of 19,670,790 tons; in 1910, 9442 vessels of 20,073,680 tons, and in 1911, 8576 vessels 

 of 19,993,397 tons. Sailing vessels entered Japanese ports in 1908, to the extent of 2,699 

 with a total tonnage of 111,320; in 1909, 2370 with a tonnage of 123,661; in 1910, the figures 

 were 1726 and 100,107 tons, and in 1911, 433 and 60,172 tons. Of the total number of steam- 

 ships Japan's proportion of the entrances of 1908 was 43 per cent, British vessels figuring 

 to the extent of 32^ percent; in 1911 the respective proportions were 47 per cent arid 30.8 

 per cent. The entrances into and clearances from all ports in 1910 amounted to 13,599, with 

 an aggregate tonnage of 39,815,225; in 1911 the figures were 18,026, and 40,103,283 tons. 



Army and Navy. The Japanese Army in 1912 consisted of 936 companies of infantry 

 95 squadrons of cavalry, 1152 batteries of field artillery, 53 batteries of heavy artillery, 10 

 batteries of mountain artillery, 58 companies of engineers, 38 companies of commissariat, 



12 companies of communication troops, 5 companies of telegraph corps, and an airship 

 corps. Under the new system the Fortress artillery was converted into Siege Artillery. 

 In order to strengthen the efficiency and the mobile power of this corps lighter guns have 

 been adopted and horses provided for their movement. The formation of this corps 

 has had the effect of introducing the unification of organisation of artillery corps in 

 strength, whereas under the old system the strength of a regiment or a battalion varied 

 in different fortresses. Mountain artillery has also been converted into Field artillery. 

 Formerly this brigade consisted of three regiments, but this has now been reduced to one 

 brigade of two regiments, the number of brigades being increased from two to three. 

 Under the system of conscription, able-bodied males of from 17 to 40 are liable for service 

 in the Army. Young men of the better classes who are termed one-year volunteers 

 must pass a scholarship equal to graduates in the Middle School. After a year's service 

 they are enrolled in the Reserve Service with the rank of non-commissioned officer. 

 Teachers in Primary schools undergo the six-weeks' service, having the regular 

 training of the ordinary soldier, after which they are enrolled for territorial service. 



The Japanese Navy consisted in 1912 of 15 battleships with a tonnage of 212,980; 



13 armoured cruisers of 151,303 tons; 47 other war-ships of 165,253 tons; 55 destroyers 

 of 20,508 tons; 77 torpedo boats of 7,258 tons; or a total of 207 vessels of 557,302 tons, 

 compared with 157 vessels with a tonnage of 283,743 tons at the time of the outbreak of 

 the Russo-Japanese War. The bulk of these vessels were constructed abroad, either in 

 England, France or Germany. Great efforts are being made to provide facilities for 

 the construction of battleships in Japanese yards; the present difficulty being the supply 

 and construction of materials. Published figures indicate that were it possible for Japan 

 to construct its own vessels a saving would be effected of about 18%. 



Education. The educational system which obtained up to 1911 provided for scholars 

 in the primary school entering at the age of six, where they stayed until they were twelve 

 years of age. At the conclusion of this period they were transferred to the Middle- 

 school for five years and then graduated to the High-school for three years, subsequently 

 entering the University for three or four years. These courses occupied some seventeen 



