"ملخص للأحداث الرئيسية. ١٩٠٨" [و‎‎٣‎٣] (١٥٦/٧٠)

In Formosa bastions have been erected at various exposed points of the Fo ^ t o i J« ation of Pot *
coast, and Krupp cannon mounted. A torpedo station has been set up at
Makung,
Military.
According to the Militar WochenbUtt oi August 1st 1908, the Japanese tha
Government have decided to increase the infantry by 8 regiments which are
to be numbered from 65 to 72 inclusive.
The independent cavalry are also to he increased by two brigades. This
augmentation is to he effected by the withdrawal of the third squad ions from
the divisional cavalry, which experience during the war proved to he too strong
for mere protective purposes. On the other hand it was found that the inde
pendent cavalry were always too weak when opposed to the Russian horse.
Six horse artillery batteries are to be formed, and groups of two batteries
attached to each of the now existing cavalry brigades.
A balloon section was formed during the course of the year in Tokyo.
The personnel were drawn from 1 st (Tokyo) and 14th (Utsonimiya) Divisions.
Among other things, the men were instructed in photography.
The whole of the artillery were armed with a new field gun (model 39 nen) Ee £Xy nt ° f ^
by the end of August. Captain Woodroffe, who attended the practice with the
new field gun of the Guards Artillery Regiment in October last, reports that the
ammunition is the same as that used with the old field gun, the cartridge and
shell being separate. The range of the new gun is 7,350 metres and the fuze
will burn up to 6,000 metres.
The existing rifle is being altered. The holt has been improved and also A1 Ktry Rifle. tho
the shape of the'hullet, the latter change increasing the effective range to 2,400
metres (2,620 yards.) The sights have been altered and it is said that the
number and twist of the grooves is changed. The rifle has been tried by the
division in Manchuria, and the whole of the infantry are to be armed with it by
the end of December 1908.
A new steel pontoon equipment of heavier make than the old has been New Pontoon Equip-
approved of, and will shortly be issued to the army. As it is only transportable
in carts, a proportion of the old equipment will be kept for use in mountainous
countries.
It has been decided to establish a hospital of dentistry for the Japanese a hospital of den-
Army next year. tistr7 ‘
A military stud farm is to be established at Nohecki, in the Aomori A new 8tud farm -
district.
There is a considerable lack of experienced non-commissioned
the J apanese Army, as many men took their discharge at the end of
tese war.
It has been decided that officers and sergeants of the reserve
called out for training every second year, while those of the landwehr will he
called out in the first place within 2 years and then after the lapse of 3
years.
There have been many signs that a spirit of insubordination exists among Spread of inanbordi-
the men, and a lack of patriotism among the officers, of the Japanese Army. patSS?. la ° k ° £
In the case of the former it is said to be due to the spread of socialistic doc
trines, and in that of the latter to the lack of moral education in the schools
and a dying out of the spirit of bushido.
The study of foreign languages is to be greatly encouraged among the study of foreign laa-
younger officers. Examinations in German, French, English, and Russian may g ua ^ es -
be passed, and those who do well will have the opportunity of being sent to
those countries for further study.
officers in Shortage of non
commissioned offi
cers.
are to he Training of reserves.