Directory_and_Chronicle_1900 — Page 466

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JAPAN

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At the conclusion of the war with China, Japan found herself in possession of a fighting fleet of forty-three serviceable vessels-independent of twenty-six torpedo- boats their aggregate displacement being 78,774 tons. Of these, ten, with an aggregate displacement of 15,055 tons, had been captured from China namely, an armour-clad turret-ship of 7,335 tons, two steel cruisers, six steel gunboats, and one wooden gunboat. (Prior to the capture of the Chen-yuen, now called the Chin-yen, Japan did not possess a line-of-battle ship. Her fleet consisted entirely of compara tively small vessels). There were also on the stocks two steel cruisers and a steel despatch vessel. An expansion scheme, extending from 1st April, 1896, to 31st March, 1906, was then adopted and is now being carried out, vessels being in course of construction in Great Britain, the United States, France, and Germany, as well as in the home yards. The building programme is as follows:- 4 first-class battle-ships of 15,240 tons each, 6 first-class cruisers of 9,200 tons each, 3 second-class cruisers of 4,850 tons each, 2 third-class cruisers of 3,200 tons each, 3 torpedo-gunboats of 1,200 tons each, 1 torpedo depôt-ship, 11 torpedo-boat destroyers, 89 torpedo-boats. If these ships be added to the strength of the Navy at the date of the commencement of the expansion scheme it results that the total force in 1906 will be 6 first-class battle ships from 12,510 to 15,240 tons, 1 second-class battle ship of 7,335 tons, 6 first-class armoured cruisers of over 9,200 tons each, 7 second-class cruisers of over 4,000 tons each, 6 third- class cruisers of over 3,000 tons each, 12 fourth-class cruisers of over 1,500 tons each, 3 torpedo gunboats of 1,200 tons each, 1 torpedo depôt-ship of 6,750 tons, 11 torpedo- boat destroyers, 115 torpedo-boats, 25 gunboats, sloops, &c. The battle ships Fuji and Yashima, built in England, arrived in Japan in the latter part of 1897. The Fuji is somewhat after the Royal Sovereign type; she has a displacement of 12,450 tons and engines of 14,000 horse-power, and carries a powerful armament. Acting on the ex- perience gained at the engagement at Yalu, especially of the disastrous effects of shell fire from machine guns, metal has been substituted for wood wherever possible, even in the light cabin and seamen's quarters fittings; and there are armoured screens everywhere. There are two barbettes plated with 14 in. armour, a conning tower forward also 14 in, thick, and the director tower aft 3 in. thick. The deck is armoured all over, terminating in a formidable ram at the bows, the best Harveyed armour being used in construction. The Yashima is a sister ship to the Fuji. The Takusago, an Elswick-built cruiser of 4,300 tons, carrying a powerful armament and having a speed of twenty-four knots, arrived in 1898. The sister ships, Asama and the Takiwa, first- class cruisers of 9,855 tons, built in England, and five torpedo-boat destroyers, arrived in 1899. The Kasayi, 4978 tons, and the Chitose, 4836 tons, second-class cruisers, built in the United States, with English armament, also arrived in 1899.

POPULATION, TRADE, AND INDUSTRY.

The total area of Japan, exclusive of Formosa, is estimated at 156,604 square miles and the population, according to census returns taken in December, 1898, was 43,228,863, namely, 21,823,651 males and 21,105,212 females. The increase during the last ten years has slightly exceeded one per cent, per annum. The empire is geographically divided into the four islands: Honshiu, the central and most important territory; Kiushiu, "nine provinces," the south-western island; Shikoku, the four provinces," the southern island; and Yezo, the most northerly and least developed. The former three islands are sub-divided into eight large roads, containing sixty-six provinces, and the latter (Yezo or Hokkaido) is divided into eleven provinces. Administratively, as before mentioned, the Empire is divided into fu and ken, each ken containing more than one province.

1897

1898

The total value of the foreign trade for the last six years was :—

1893

1894

1895

1896 Exports, Yen 89,712,864 213,146,086 136,112,178 117,842,761 163,135,077 165,753,753 Imports, 88,257,172 117,481,955 129,260,578 171,674,474 219,300,772 277,502,156

Total

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177,970,036 230,728,041 265,372,756 289,517,235 382,435,849 443,255,909 The export of Raw Silk (not including waste) increased from 2,110,315 catties in 1890 to 5,810,046 in 1895, fell to 3,918,994 in 1896, rose again to 6,919,861 in 1897, but fell to 4,837,329 catties in 1898. The export of Tea has shown a slow but steady decline during late years; it amounted to 38,826,661 catties in 1895, 33,241,472 in 1896, 32,632,683 in 1897, and 30,826,632 in 1898. The export of Coal and Coal Dust in 1898 was 1,805,364 tons and 381,426 tons for ships' use, against 1,530,147 tons and 572,865 tons