589 
THE AETILLEHY OE JAPAN. 
BY 
LIEUTENANT A. W. PACK-BERESFORD, R.H.A. 
During May of this year I found myself in Tokio the capital of Japan. 
I had some time on my hands so I thought I would make a call on the 
officers of the Japanese Artillery. I proposed to my guide that we 
should go to the Artillery Barracks, and that he should introduce me, 
but he was horrified at the idea and said such a thing had never been 
done before. He tried to dissuade me, but at last, after a consultation 
with the hotel-keeper, he said if I insisted on going, I had better, first 
go and see Colonel Fukashima; the Colonel, he told me, had travelled 
all over the world, and could talk English, besides about six other 
languages. I gave in so far, but was rather startled when I was taken 
to the War Office of Japan. However it turned out to be the best thing 
I could have done. I was only kept waiting two or three minutes after 
I sent up my card, when Colonel Fukashima came to see me in person. 
He most courteously promised to send a war office interpreter to my 
hotel next day, who would take me to the barracks and show me every¬ 
thing I cared to see. He was as good as his word, and next morning 
Mr. H. Kakogi came to call for me and took me off to the barracks. 
I found that the bulk of the artillery were at a practice camp about 
forty miles away, which I subsequently got leave to visit. I will first 
note down what struck me as regards their personel and equipment, 
and then describe what I saw at the camp. 
The artillery is at present divided into seven regiments of which the 
“ Artillery of the Imperial Guard ” is one. 
It was this regiment to whose camp I went. 
The artillery is considered a corps d^lite in Japan and the best 
officers and men are selected for it. 
The Artillery of the Guard may be taken as a fair type of a Regiment 
of Artillery. In equipment and organization they are all on the same 
footing. 
The regiment is commanded by a colonel. It is divided into three 
squadrons, each with a commander, and each of these again is divided 
into two batteries. The battery contains three sections and six guns, 
the officers correspond to ours in their duties and posts; but there is no 
fifth wheel. 
The commander of the squadron is responsible for the tactics and 
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