Page:Japan by the Japanese (1904).djvu/141
supreme, and has direct authority over everything in his empire theoretically, although in practice the various viceroys represent him largely. The currency is also centralized to a greater or less degree; the military system lends itself to conscription, and is centralized, as are also the taxes. Thus, theoretically, everything is rather along the line of the described changes, and a strong Emperor could take advantage of the state of things and lead China upwards. I think that under such circumstances the Chinese could be trained to become excellent soldiers, and with China’s almost infinite resources of men and treasure, a strong Emperor could have at his command a most powerful army. If this were to be accomplished China might become a very serious menace to all the neighbouring nations; but there seems little danger of these ideas being realized in the immediate future. A strong Emperor is essential for their fulfilment, and there is no sign that such a one is to be expected to arise.
II.—The Army To-day.
By Field-Marshal Marquis Oyama,
The Chief of the General Staff.
The Emperor, being the Generalissimo of the Army and Navy, has the supreme command of the whole force. The Emperor appoints the Minister for War, the Chief of the General Staff, and the Director-General of Military Education, as the members of the Military Council, to be consulted upon special military affairs.
The Minister for War administers all military transactions, has authority over the officers and men and military employés, and controls the undermentioned offices:
The Ordnance Council; the Military Engineers Council; the Military Sanitary Council; the Military Sanitary Council for Horses; the Army Horse Depot; the Armament Department; the Arsenal; the Ordnance Depot; the Fortification Department; the Formosa Supply Park; the Central Granary Depot; the Military Clothing Department; the ‘Senju’ Woollen Cloth Factory; the Army Medical Materials Depot; the Army Medical School; the Military Commissariat School; the Military Veterinary School.
The Chief of the General Staff prepares the scheme for the defence of the country and the commands for the movements of the army, and after receiving the Emperor’s approval, sanctions the same, and transfers them to the Minister for War. The Chief of the General Staff commands all the Staff