Young Japan no longer aspires to a naval or a military career, and the authorities of both the Army and the Navy are racking their brains for methods to render the services more attractive and secure suitable cadets. Even the frequent presence of members of the Royal Family in uniform at publio functions does not seen: to making much of an impression. on the young -meoi of the country. Some time ago, the Navy Department used to laugh at the circulars and posters the Army had recourse to in order to secure the needed number of conscripts. To-day, the Navy has had to take a leaf from the Army and gaudy posters with such typical American appeals like "Join the Navy and see the world" fail to tempt Young Japan from the shady corridors of a commercial life to One oni the bounding main. The difficulty in securing the rank and file is even greater. Of course, there is universal conscription, but the number who seek to avoid joining up increases steadily. One reason is the provoking inelasticity of military and naval pay envelopes, for there is considerable discontent amonget soldiers with regard to the payment' they are receiving. The are no longer willing to tread the "path of glory" for a pittance compared to which the wages of a live wire coolie are affluence. The knowledge that soldiers and sailors of foreign lands are paid well hag caused acute dissatisfaction. It is rumoured that when the Kanazawa Division was ordered to go to Siberia recently—during the time Japan was in military occupation of a portion of the Russian main. land—the parents and relatives of the soldiers appealed to the authorities not to send them. This is certainly a great come-down from the dayg when it was boastingly asserted that if the average Japanese lad failed to enlist in the Army or the Navy he was so mortified that he sought death suicide to hide his chagrin and disappointment. Military and naval satraps are realizing that increasing the number of Admirals and Generals, or building more submarines and buying more aeroplanes. ig not the really urgent need for their departments.
Seeing that their efforts: to induce Young Japan to seek glory in a fighting career is not only unsuccessful, but is ever openly spurned. pressure has been brought to bear indirectly on parents. teachers, governors of provinces and employers to stil "more courage and patrio-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.