JAPANESE NAVY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14235, 4 December 1909, Page 7

JAPANESE NAVY.

TOGO RETIRES FROM COMMAND.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.— . Tokio, December 2. Admiral Togo is retiring from the chief command of the • Japanese navy, and will be succeeded by Admiral Ijuin. ■ THE NELSON OF JAPAN. Admiral Togo, who is 62 years of age, is the Nelson of Japan. After Nogi's guns from the land had completed the destruction of the Port Arthur fleet. Togo hid his ships for three months, pending the arrival of tho Baltic fleet. Numerically the Russians were his superior, notably in battleshins, but in speed, manoeuvring, gun-fire, and discipline the advantage was all with the Japanese. In the battle of the Sea of Japan 20 ships of the Baltic fleet were sunk, six captured, two demolished, and six disarmed and interned. Admirals Kojdestvensky and Nebogatoff wero captured with some 8000 men, while 4000, Russians were killed. The Japanese losses wore three tor-pedo-boats sunk, 116 men killed, and 538 wounded. Admiral Ijuin is the inventor of a fuse for use with explosive shells. He went to England in 1878, and was on the Triumph till 1882, when ho went to the Greenwich Academy for the torw>do course. Ho fought as captain in the China war, was through the Boxer trouble, and was in command of the second standing squadron during the Russian war.