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Show SILENT SALUTE OF THE JAPS. They Are Never Noisy When They licet tha Mikado. At the recent grand review of tho Japanese Ja-panese fleet, when the Mikado's luunch went by. tho civilians removed their top hats and tho officers stood saluting Iri ab-soluto ab-soluto silence. In the samo profound silence si-lence ids Majesty was received on board tho Aaama. lined along tho sides with motionless mo-tionless men. There wns something much more Impressive about this than tho most enthusiastic cheering would have been. It Is considered more respectful by tho Japanese. Only once was hc greeted otherwise, which was considered qulto an ovation. That w.-ih on the occasion of his entry after af-ter the victorious war with China, when tho enthusiasm and loyalty of tho people burst forth into nn ovation such as few monarchs have ever received. As ho stepped on board the royal stand ard was lloatcd from tho mlzzen mast a great crimson Hag. with the chrysanthemum chrysanthe-mum In gold. Precisely at 9:30 o'clock the Asama began to move in tho direction of the fleet, and then all the assembled ships, Including those of foreign nationalities, fired a royal salute simultaneously. The Maynko and Chlaya took up their places behind the Asama, which slowly and deliberately steamed down between the lines She passed between tho Japanese Japa-nese Admiral's llagshlp at the head of the line and his Majesty's ship Glurv. the llagshlp of the British Admiral, which respectively, headed the lines of Jupanesfe and foreign vessels. The Emperor was greeted with three British cheers as ho passid, and, as the Japanese have taken ihe British navy as their model, each of the ships replied with threo cheers to the words "IIo hal!" (honorably salute). Including the foreign ships there were four lines; the tonnage of the Japaneso amounted to 220.0W tons. Tho Emperor passed down between the first and second and returned between the third nnd fourth lines. Tho Chen Yun. captured from tho Chinese, was at the end of the second line a fine war trophy for that young fleet. Passing through these lines of grim death machines one was struck with the thought of the wonderful things these people had accomplished In thirty years. What a retrospect might pass through the mind of that man on the bridge of the Asama! Marquis Ito stood behind him to whom more than any other that fleet owed Its existence. It, was n proud day for him and for those who had labored with him In tho great revolution for reformation. Sydney Town and Country Journal. |