COMPARATIVE STANDING OF THE TWO ARMIES AT THIS

DATE, 1914.

UNITED STATES.

Regular establishment, 84,869.

Annual cost not including fortifications or military academy, $94,266,145 or $1,110.72 per annum per man. Total organized militia, 122,674. Cost defrayed by individual States; unknown.

System voluntary.

Unorganized militia reserve, all able bodied men between 18 and 40. Cost, no record.

JAPAN.

War strength first and second line forces only, active army 980,000.

Annual cost $48,800,000 or $49.79 per man per annum. Reserves

Second Reserve, 2,000,000.

Third Reserve, all able to bear arms.

System, 2 to 3 years. Conscription, no substitution. Had 1,500,000 men engaged in war against Russia1904.

June, 1914. "The Japanese cruiser Idzuma, cleared for action, sir, is bearing this way.”

It was the night after the battle of Vera Cruz.

The lookout on the bridge of the flagship California, at anchor in the harbor of Mazatlan, on the west coast of Mexico, made the report to the officer of the deck.

Admiral Howard, commander-in-chief of the Pacific squadron, was notified.

"War with Mexico" was pending.

But why should a cruiser of Japan, a neutral power, come into a Mexican port ready to give battle?

This was the question that Admiral Howard asked at once of Captain Muriama of the Idzuma.

Captain Muriama's answer was evasive.

But his little brown men, stripped to the waist, were on the battle deck.

The situation developed to a crisis three hours later when the lights of the Japanese cruiser, which had been burning brightly, were suddenly put out.

From forecastle to quarterdeck the ship was in complete darkness.

The act in itself, in a neutral harbor, was a hostile one. Admiral Howard got his men to their gun stations. Throughout the long night, the crew of the California stood by, waiting.

The next day five of Uncle Sam's torpedo flotilla steamed into the harbor of Mazatlan.

They took station, by order of Admiral Howard, in the form of an arc, well in toward the Idzuma.

Warlike preparations on the Japanese cruiser ceased. There was nothing more to be said.

War with Mexico was not declared. The occupation of Vera Cruz did not lead to an invasion of Mexico, as was at first feared.

But 10,000 bluejackets and marines of the Pacific squadron are still wondering what part would have been played by the Mikado's empire if there had been a war.

Admiral Howard reported the Idzuma incident to the navy department just as it occurred. If any diplomatic correspondence on this delicate subject was ever exchanged between the United States and Japan, it has never come to light.

Captain Muriama, schooled in Japanese diplomacy, has been silent on the subject.

He has taken every opportunity to assure "His Excellency, Admiral Howard, of the distinguished consideration of His Majesty the Mikado of Japan."-Suppressed news telegraphed by the United Press.