Of themselves Japanese officers speak little. But it is not difficult
to infer from their talk that they do not in any way feel dissatisfied
with themselves. Ship for ship, they are firmly convinced that they
are the finest navy in the world; and it cannot be said that up to the
moment of writing (June, 1904) they have done anything to cause them
to retract this opinion. No body of men could have displayed better
qualities than they have from all accounts. It may be added that, in my
opinion, every Japanese is also of conviction that Japan is going to be
the greatest naval power in the world in the future. With that feeling
they entered on the present war. It is a very useful feeling to have.