THE NELSON Of JAPAN.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 12014, 15 October 1904, Page 4

THE NELSON Of JAPAN.

A VISIT TO ADMIRAL TOGO. | THE JAPANESE FLEETS RENDEZVOUS. The parly of war correspondents, foreign naval attaches, and Japanese officials who were taken on a cruise in Japanese and Korean ■waters, on a Japanese transport, in July, had the unexpected pleasure of meeting Admiral Togo on hie flagship. Before this they visited the secret rendezvous of the Japanese fleet among the Elliot Islands, not far from Port Arthur. Tho special correspondent of tho London "Standard," who/was one of the party, sends his paper a graphic description of this portion of the trip, from which we take the following extracts:— After waiting for two days at the Yalu, the welcome news came that we were to proceed immediately to an unknown destination, which wae variously conjectured to bo Dalny, Yontao Bay, or the eecret base of the Japanoso fleet, which for »h2 last five weeks has been our promise! land. In this hope we have cheerily rt- ,- msained at anchor in mid-ocean for five long, weary days; wo have stayed at still more- dreary Chinampo for ten more, nnO have suffered tho disappointment of seeing, without sailing upon, the historical watera of tlie Yalu. 'Early on the morning of July 14th wo steamed away from the river in a south-westerly direction. . . . At a quarter to cix in the evening we rounded the corner of one of the numerous islands amid which the ship was being steered, and there, right before our eyes, as if it had been created by the wand of some magician, lay a mighty fleet afc anchor. Tho rendezvous is situated in the Elliot Islands, in the bay on the west isido (if the Island of Dachan Shan Tao, about fifty miles from iPort Arthur, facing the Yontao Bay on tho mainland, and almost entirely invisible until you approach to within some two miles. A more admirable position or finer natural harbour it would be hard to find anywhere along the coast. The Japanese fleet presented a majestic spectacle on that somewhat nu*ty afternoon. From a forest of funnels the blackest smoke was slowly forming a canopy over the watera of the bay. Every vessel had Bteam up, while several were preparing to move out that fsime evening. Clad in a dull slate colour, thero wae nothing showy about any of tho ships, but something very grim and determined about them all. The bow of each vessel pointed towards Port Arthur; it only needed a few words borno along tho electric waves connecting tho flauship, tho Miknea, to tho vessels patrolling outside the port, to launch tho whole fleet upon tho Rtwsian squadron should it venture to put to eea. That is what the fleet was waiting for; tho humblest Bhicjackct on the emallrat vessel longed for that moment. ANCHORED Ai»iONG THE FLEET. After passing the fleet, the Manshu Maru made for her anchorage in Yentao Bay. The pen was liberally ajive with vessels of all descriptions—cruisers nn outpost duty, destroyers acting as «n----tinois to the fleet at anchor, transports making for Dalny, the base of the force investing Port Arthur. Whilst at dinner, a denpatch-boat, coming up from behind, signalled to tho Manshu Maru an invitation from Admiral Togo to return and take shelter for the night amidst the ship* of the fleet 5 our helm was, therefore, put about, and we returned over the same ground, reaching our anchorage after dark. By the time our anchor was down the fleet wae no longer visible. Night had closed in, and the bay was shrouded m complete darkness, unbroken by the glimmer of a single light or a wund of any sort, except the occasional swish of oars, as a boat hurried from one vessel to another. It seemed impossible to imagine that you were in the neighbourhood of a large fleet, cleared and ready for action; yet the outlines of the hills on thrc;e sWes of the bay enclosed withm their friendly shelter a fleet of over thirty iittn-of-war and transports. The Ruwian navy has favlel conspicuously m the pr3eent war to- properly utilise her torpedo craft. They possess in Port Arthur, even after the losses they have sustained, a vory respectable torpedo-boat and destroyer flotilla,; yet night after night, for the last six months, the Japanese fleet has been allowed to repose peacefully at anchor, absolutely free -from attack, within fifty miles of their 'opponent's base. How unfavourably this inactivity compares with what the Japaneee torpedo flotilla has accomplished! A FRUITLESS VOYAGE. Next morning we moved farther routh, in the direction of the Blonde Islands. It was then announced that Admiral Togo would meet the Manshu Maru off one of this latter group, and hold a reception on board hie flagship, provided, of oourae. the Russians did not interfere with the arrangement. The prospect of seeing Admiral Togo aroused everyone's spirits. We were labouring, indeed, utider a nwfc unnatural disappointment. It had been already given out that the crake was over, and that, its Port Arthur had not fallen on the pre-supposed date, it wae no longer possible to .keep the Manshu Maru at sea. Thus the object of the voyage has come to naught; not through the fault of the authorities, but through adverse circumstances, and, above all, the excellent defence works erected by General Stoessel. I hear on good authority that it is not the permanont dofencee which are causing the Japanese military authorities worry and anxiety, but the hastily improvised fortification's thrown up since the commencement of the siege. THE MIKABA AND ASAHI. At 1 p.m. the look-out reported two vessels ahead, .which «>on proved to be the Mifoisa, Admiral Togo's flagship, and the Asalii, keeping her company, two of the finest ships in the world, 15,000 tons each, and second to none in armament and power of resistance. Our ship took up a. position about 200 yards from the Mikasa, and dropped anchor. At this short distance I was able carefully to examine both

vessels. Neither bore the slightest sign of having been for seven months at sea and on active service—in fact they might have just come out of dry dock. The war paint of the Japanese navy is a dull elate colour, which is probably the best possible, under the circumstances. It might, perhaps, be a little bluer to harmonise with the ocean, but it is undoubtedly hard to see at any great distance. Tho decks bf'botfi vessels were cleared for action, and quite bare, with the exception of a temporary rope rail in place of the usual rail round the outer edges of the deck. The Mikaea and tho Asahi are almost identical with any first-class British battleship, amdeitber would bo a match, single-handed, for any warship afloat, mounting, as they do, four twelve-inch and fourteen six-inch guns, in addition to numerous email quick-firers. ON BOARD THE FLAGSHIP. The Mikasa sent steam launches to convey the naval attaches and correspondente to* the flagship, the band meanwhile playing a series of lively aim The captain and officers of tlie ship received us on the quarter-deck, and invited all present to accompany them to the ward-room to> wait for Admiral Togo, who would be pleased himself to receive us a little later. The ward-room was devoid of any arnainenEation; two plain deal tables and ordinary wicker chairs being the sole luxuries the, Jii panose naval officer allows himself on active service. Round these tables the officers, attaches, and correspondents gathered and discussed the events ef the war .vhile awaiting the arrival of the great "man himself. On a sideboard the only decoration, a single exception to the sombro bareness; was displayed, and this was ono that had como on board since the commenoenvent of the war. During tihe action of February 9th a shell struck the fcaetop of the Mikasa, and burst, without injuring tlto mast, but it cut out a large piece of the thigh of a lieutenant standing on the bridge. It is the remains of uiis sh*U which are displayed in the officers' mess. SAVING THE BATTLESHIPS. . It was curious to note what effect seven months of strenuous active service had made 011 the officers and crew of the flagship. Naturally the battleships and cruisers have not felt the strain in the same manner as the torpedo . boats and destroyers, but still it must have been a hard and rough time for them. Not a single officer or man, however, among those. whom I caw showed the slightest sign of fatigue or sickness. All appeared to bo in perfect condition and in tine best spirits, looking forward with the greatest anxiety to the exit of the Russian squadron and the prospect of a general engagement l >etween the two fleets. The lieutenant who showed mc round the Mikaga declared that it bad only been necessary for her to use her turret guns on two occasions, so these- are still practically new and ready for more hard fighting. It has been the policy of Admiral Togo all through to save his battleships as far as possible, and to destroy the enemy by his torpedo flotilla. In this he baa been eminently successful, to the disappointment, perhaps, of the officers and crews of the larger *oiips; but there can bo no doubt of the wisdom of the course he has adopted, for it is still within the range of possibility that the Bnltio squadron Ynay yet be sent out, and then tho fighting will, undoubtedly, be decided by the side which is the stronger in battknhips. It is not expected tliafc tho torpedo attacks in the open sea will meet with the same success a* during Ihe attacks on Port Arthur. THE JAPANESE SPIRIT. Vice- Admiral Shimamura, Admiral Togos Chief of Staff, who is uuiversaJly regarded as the future Admiral in Chief of the Japanese Navy, told mc that when any expedition of particular danger or importance was on hand, and it was neceesary to leave some ships behind, this was considered a great hardship by the crews of the ships passed over, and always gave rise to grumbling. You cannot satisfy the liking of the Japanese sailor and soldier for hard work and a chance of meeting face to face the enemies of his country. When asked about tho action of June 23rd, and the torpedo attack on the Russian Fleet, in which the Peresviet was reported to have been sunk, Admiral Shimamura replied, with a grim smile, "Well, we shall count them the next time they come out)" ADMIRAL TOGO. After we had been in the ward-room some time, Captain Tugarabe, the Commander of the Maiuihu Maru, entered and announced* "Gentlemen, Admiral Togo." Everyone sprang to his feet and fixed his eyes on a little officer, small evon for a Japanese, standing in the doorway. There stood the Admiral of the Fleet, a calm, determined-looking man, with coal black hair, expressionless eyes, prominent cheekbones, and a powerful jaw, relieved by an imperial. Calmness is a great characteristic of Admiral Togo. He gazed on the scene before him without any sign of interest or emotion. It wae not "By any means an unkindly lookj but simply the look of a man whose body was present, but whose mind was elsewhere. Just that same look Nelson/might have had during one of those lonely vigils before Brest or Toulon a century ago. Togo is. a man of few words, but of iron determination. I never saw anyone who impressed, mc so much with a senso' of real power and greatnefs; it was something quite above the ordinary ruck of men. I shall never forget the picture he made as he stood in the ward-room of, the Mikasa, surrounded by his staff and thp representatives of the Powers. ' Shorter in stature than all present, he nevertheless, like the mighty Corsican, stood out befwo all, and was tho cynosure of all oy<v». Tlw representatives of every nationality, *ome of them actually hostile to, the Japanese cause, directly they came into the presence of the fighting Admiral seemed to feel the spell of his fascination, and, sinking all differences, crowded round this little man in a mad endeavour to shake him by the hand. At the same moment you could hear words of adulation and congratulation uttered in English, French, German, Italian, Austrian, and Japanese. Aβ for Togo, he gazed on the scene before him unchanged, as he had gazed ten years before on the winking of tho Kowshing, and the sending of 2000 human beings to a watery grave—an event which awoke the world to the rising of a now star in the Far East. We drank the Admiral's health in champagne, and he so far

unbended as "to just touch the glass in return to tba compliment. Thia ma no sign of / ungraciousness. It eimply meant the mind of the man was centred elsewhere —on the fortress forty miles away, and the message which might come at any moment that the enemy had put to sea. After remaining for a short time in the ward-room the Admiral arose, bowed to all present, and departed as suddenly ac he had come. We gave him three mighty diouts of "Banzai" as he left the room, which caused him to turn and bow once again, without moving a muscle of his face. Then, he quietly disappeared into his own cabin. One of the Admiral'e most remarkable characteristics is his capacity for remaining perfectly still for hours without moving a muscle or saying a word. It is said that hra habit of musing, with nothing but hie pipe as a companion, has stuck to him all through his career, and that it is during these moments that he makes his plans for the destruction of an enemy or the improvement of his own fleet.