Tokyo, Aug. 11 "she reorganization of the Japan-'eéé army, whereby it can be made a more efficient fighting instrument, While at the same time economies can be effected by cutting down ite numerical strength, is now being considered by a special Investigation Commission instituted - by Gen. Wgnki, the War Minister. The plan in a nutshell maybe suntmed up "Fewer men, but better Gen, Ugaki is firmly of opinion that this can be worked out to such a conclusion that the efficiency of the army will be enhanced, while at the same time Keeping step with the Government policy of retrenchment. When Mr. Hamaguchi formed his Cabinet, he chose men wedded to the belief that Japan must retrench rigidly now or regret not taking this step later, and Gen. Ugaki, who had been War Minister before, was selected for the same portfolio largely Because it was he who reduced the army to four divisions some years ago, supplementing numerical inferiority with superior weapons.
Japan to-day maintains a standing army of 17 divisions, totalling ome 200,000 men. Lessons learnt through the world war have not been lost and the military equipment and. system have been altered ac~ cordingly, thereby increasing the capabilities of the country's fighting machine, Compared with the armies of the bigger European Powers, say, with these of Great Britain' or France, that of Japan does not compare, especially in mechanical appliances and efficiency, and this has been a stock argument of the War Office authorities agai refusing to accept any reduced appropriations. Gen. Uj however, that it is not necessary. for the Japanese army to be up to the standard of efficiency of crack European armies, as the raison d'étro of the Japanese army totally different and there is no petual justification for Japan to maintain a large standing force to-day.
The real reason why the army hag demanded year after year larger estimates than are strictly necessary fs to be found in clan jealousy. The Army is the special preserve of the Choshu clan, while the Satsuma lan controls the Navy, and the reluctance to reduce surplus men and suppress institutions not really necessary simply sprang out of a desire to maintain a "balance of power" with the Navy. The press urges Gen. Ugaki to pay no heed to clan interests, "which have caused the Army to attain a deformed development," but to go ahead with reorganization on the basis of retrenchment, "because there is no real justification in maintaining a Targe standing army and because waste of national wealth in useless military projects will tend to make the patriotism of responsible statesmen suspected."—One paper even contends that it is suflcient for the national safety to Keep only six divisions, provided they axe well trained and highly efficient. 3
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.