Directory_and_Chronicle_1894 — Page 401

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JAPAN

eight local Courts and the seven Supreme Courts at Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Miyagi, and Hakodate, over which the Daishin In presides at Tokyo.

Previous to the last change of Government, which restored the ancient Imperial régime, the administrative authority rested with the Shogun (Military Commander) whom foreigners were at first led to recognise as the temporal sovereign, and with whom they negotiated treaties of peace and commerce. The Shogunate was founded in 1184 by Yoritomo, a general of great valour and ability, and was continued through several dynasties until 1869, when the Tokugawa family were dispossessed of the usurped authority. Under the Shogun two hundred and fifty Daimios (feudal princes) shared the administrative power, being practically supreme in their respective domains ocnditionally upon their loyalty to the Shogun; but their rank and power disappeared with the Shogunate. On the 7th July, 1884, however, His Majesty issued an Imperial Notification and Rescript rehabilitating the nobility, and admitting to its ranks the most distinguished civil and military officials who took part in the work of the Restoration. The old titles were abolished, and have been replaced by those of Prince (Ko), Marquis (Ko), Count (Haku), Viscount (Shi), and Baron (Dan).

REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE.

The revenue and expenditure of Japan for the year 1892-93 is estimated at $86,068,080. The domestic debt of Japan in 1891-92 was $294,958,469. The Foreign debt amounted to $4,488,624. Against this debt, however, has to be set a reserve fund amounting in 1892 to $14,022,021.

ARMY AND NAVY.

The armed force of Japan is divided into the Standing Army, the Reserve, and the Militia, and the troops into five classes. When on a peace footing the Army numbers 69,090 men, and on a war footing 267,896 men. They are stationed in various parts of the Empire, which is divided into six military districts, having headquarters at Tokyo, Nagoya, Sendai, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Kumamoto. Each of these military districts contains in time of peace 4 battalions of Infantry, 1 regiment of Cavalry, 2 batteries Artillery, 1 regiment of Engineers, and I regiment of Transport Corps. Camps are estab- lished in 56 places. Not included in the above are the Imperial Guard composed of 5,338 picked troops, which bring up the strength of the regular army, in time of peace, to some 74,426. The army has been organised on the French system by officers specially selected by the French Government.

The navy of Japan consists of one ironclad frigate, three steel coastguard ships, six composite corvettes, six steel cruisers, five wooden corvettes, six sloops (five steel, one composite), and five wooden gunboats, besides one torpedo catcher, one seagoing torpedo boat, and twenty-nine torpedo boats. The largest of these ships, the steel coastguard ship Itsukushima, built in France, has a displacement of 4,278 tons with engines of 5,400 horse-power; her armament consists of one powerful gun (65 tons), and twelve smaller ones. The Matsushima and Hashidate are sister ships to the Itsukushima, and possess similar armament; the former was built in France and the latter in Japan. The next largest vessel, the ironclad frigate Fuso, has a displacement of 3,779 tons with engines of 3,932 horse-power. The armour is from 7 inches to 9 inches in thickness, while the armament consists of four 15-ton and two 5-ton steel breechloaders by Krupp, so arranged as to command every point of the horizon. The ironclad corvette called the Kongo has a displacement of 2,800 tons, with engines of 2,500 horse- power, and a belt of armour 44 inches thick. The armament consists of 12 Krupp guns, capable of throwing steel shells of 124 pounds. The Hiyei is a sister ship to the Kongo. The steel cruiser Tsukushi steams” 16 knots an hour, and carries two 25-ton breechloading guns, one in the bow and stern respectively. Two more fast and powerfully armed cruisers, the Naniwa and Takachiho, having each a displacement of 3,709 tons, built by Messrs. Armstrong & Co. in England, arrived in Japan in 1886 They steam 18 knots an hour and carry two 25-ton breechloading guns besides machine guns. Another steel cruiser, the Chiyoda, built on the Clyde, arrived in Japan in 1890. She is a vessel of 2,450 tons, and carries 25 guns and three torpedo tubes. The first class steel cruiser Yoshino, built in England, is of 4,200 tons displacement, with engines of 5,500 horse power, and is expected to steam 23 knots. Some other smaller vessels are also being built in Japan.

POPULATION, TRADE, AND INDUSTRY.

The total area of Japan is estimated at 156,604 square miles, and the population, according to census returns taken in December, 1891, was 40,718,677, namely, 20,563,416 males and 20,155,261 females. The increase during the last ten years has slightly ex- ceeded one per cent. per annum. The empire is geographically divided into the four