The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1876-02-16
me millndo,. MARINE.
A description OF the Japanese War steanaeu
TsuEuba Kan.

On Friday last, the 18th inst. His Imperia
Japanese Majesty's steamer Tsukuba wal
telegraphed little before o'clock A. n, and
/ about IL NJ she entered the harbor. The fac
that she is the second war vessel of Japan tha
has ever visited this port adds greatly to the
interest manifested in her In 1850, the
Kandinmarrah, the first naval vessel of japan
that had ever been permitted to cross the
ocean, and about the first craft of the modern
Japanese navy, anchored in this harbor. She
was not a formidable ship, and the old tars Of
European and American navies found much in
her appearance and the conduct of her officers
and crew to criticise and laughat. The second
visitor comes after an interval of fifteen years,
and affords an opportunity of studying the re-
markable progress that wonderful nation has
made during this short interval in adapting
herself to the requirements of western civiliza-
ton. The following description is from the
as F. CAToAicIe :"
The TsukubA is technically corvette, or moro pro-
perly steam slOoP-oi-War. She Is vessel Of l055
tons burden full ship rgged. with steam engine Of
zoe horsepower, prOpeng screw OF sufficient size
the twelve knots an nOuf. Nne
fourteen guns and full complement OF smHll arms,
with a crew Of 2S2 men, IS officers and sc cadets
Thus in the size aud appointments Of the ship, 10 her
armament and in the number Of Der crew, she ranks
fairly with the seeondeass cruiser Of the nAves Of
Europe and America. But Ahe more interesting
feature Of her visit is the fact that she
training ship for the practical education in seaman
ship OF the young men OF Japan who are seeking 70
prepare themselves to their country IN this hon
orAbe branch Of public service Thus in fifteen years
a1v ont. kuF
have established 4 school similar naval school
NJ Annapolis, which the young men Of the nation
are taught both the theoretical and practical duties
appertaininE 10 the position Of Ofcer OF the navy
This school .-the Imperial Naval Colleges located
At Toxic and is in a hourishing condition The
Sc cadets nov aboard the Tsakuba compose but one
class, and the extended cruise they givea
vessel Of this magnitude is indicative OF the thorough
training 70 which all the cadets are Subjected,
Through the pOliteness Of SUBURB TAkAki, the ia
pSnese consul At this port, representative Of the
Chronicle permitted visit and inspect the ship
yesterday, in advance OF the public Inspection to
which she viii be exposed in a few days, when the
necessary cleaning and putting rights after pro-
trActed and stormy voyage shall be completed The
vessel let SinAgzEa, YedO Bay, November 6, and sail
ed directly 70 this port She consequently thirty
eight days under way, the most Of which time the
weather exceedingly rough. Afording but little
opportunity for the nice shipeleaning that usually
prevails on naval vessels Der officers are naturally
anxious that she shall made good appearance. and
to that end ask that they be allowed two three
days Of seelusion before being besieged by visitors
The reporter eoarteously received on board, but
found the ship. from stem 10 stern and from topga
izuts to kelson, hive Of industry. Every available
nan was At work necessary cleaning process.
Some were painting ship; others cleaning brass some
were sending down and slowing away extra rigging
others scraping the mAsts and yards gOOdy com
pany were at work hOlystoniRg the decks others
sore furnishing armor. All were diligently employ
d, though without unnecessary confusion or noise
orders few in unpronoUneeable japanese, and were
..beyed as promptly as though spoken in English
Antiesl parlanee. The reporter was received as he
assed over the ships side by interpreter dressed
a the uniform Of a sabaltern, who informed him that
'aptAin Ito had gone ashore. The second officer 10
aommand Commander Funnmara, the interpreter
aid aboard. On the reporter expressing wish
see that officer the Interpreter touched his hat and
ed the way to the quarter-deek. Commander Eunn-
nAra. native japanese Of good stature and digni-
led appearance, was found surrounded by group Of
ieers to whom he seem to be giving orders IN the
japanese language. He was dressed almost exactly
Ike an officer Of the United States navy. The cut
nd color Of his uniform land that Of all the oeers)
the same in the navy Of this country. The
rimning Of gold lace is also the same and not any
Iore elaborate rank is determined, with US. by
ne number of gold stripes on the cuff. The brass
uttons instead Of being emblazoned with an anchor
ave peculiar device on them indicating the ia
anese service The cap is quite similar to the fatigue
ap worn BY American officers, only that instead of
he simple anchor in front by our officers, the
japanese wear a knot bearing anchor, surrounded i
i.y 4 cherry blossom.
Commander Funnmara, though able to speak /
tile English, preferred to talk through his nterpre
q. When he comprehended the reporters mission
welcomed him very cordially and invited him
own into the cabin. This apartment Is located on /
re berth deck in the stern Of the ship is spacious
,om well lighted and ventilated furnished in good
ste according to western ideas, and is occupied ex-
Iusivey by the captain, the commander, who is real
I; the executive officer, messing in the Ward-rOOm
it'll the other subordinate officers. In the captains
bsence, however, the commander felt privileged, it
supposed, to receive the ships visitors in the cab
l. After inviting the reporter to be seated, he ex-
ressed his regrets at the captains absence, apol-
gized for the appearance Of the ship, explained the
ing and tedious passage they had had, and then eX-
ressed his willingness TO answer any questions and
How the reporter to visit and inspect every part Of
ne ship. The difficulty of talking through in
,rpre.er, and the interpreter himself being Ja-
anese not thoroughly well bred up in English, led
reporter to defer much questioning until he should
ieet one of the English instructors, with whomlhe
,uld converse intelligbly. He, however, learn
from Commander Funnmara that the cruise Of the
hip would extend farther than this port. She will
e in this harbor probably month to allow the ca
cts full opportunity of seeing what to be seen here
I'D learning what is to be learned, and then return
} Sinagawa Bay, stopping short time at Honolulu
n the way. On the passage out, the commander
aid that the ship experienced very heavy weather,
ut behaved nicely. For two days they were in the
lidst of furious gale, which, for awhile, threaten
4 serious consequences. The commander furnished
ae reporter with the following complete list Of
tssioned officers of the ship Captain. 1. Y. Ito
im mander Tor executive oHieer), I. Y. Funnmara
rst lieutenant, F. Miure; second lieutenant, X.
lnGata; navigating lieutenant tsailing mastery, N.
(amadIumi; third lieutenant, A. Ami fourth lieu
.naut, K. HOri fifth lieutenant, i. Nakamizo; first
urgeou, - Shibahoka; first chief engineer, Y.
,aIne; second chief engineer, I. Zach first pay
laster, 7. Honda second paymaster, I. Enguchi;
avail instructor T. Mangi English naval instructors,
W. Austin, Z. Yeo, and w. Woodward. Besides
iese there are assistants in the several departments
nd other inferior officers, all native japanese SWELL
IL the list to 25 with formidable array Of warrant
I'D other petty officers, who included in the ag
regate Of 232 seameu.
he berth-deck amidships the cadets were found all
ard at work writing up their logs tracing charts,
Working out dead reckonngs, studying books, and
otherwise diligently applying themselves 10 the &C
lusitiou Of useful practical knowledge Mr. Austin,
me of the English instructors, here encountered,
md very eheerfully gave all the information desired
Ie Informed the reporter that he, with Messrs YeO
md Woodward belonged to the British navy, on ser
ice with the squadron stationed at Japan, and had
zen ordered to duty this ship by their superior
Ulcers In other words, they had been loaned TO the
Japanese government for the special duty they were
low performing. In regard to the education Of the
adets, he said they taught all theoretical and
ornamental branches and also the English language,
1 the imperial naval college at Toxic. The English
nstructors this voyage had merely to teach them
ractieal seamanship. They wrote up their logs in
9th Japanese and English. They all understand
,ugish and can most Of them talk and write II in
diligently. Some Of their logbooks were shown to
be reporter and very neatly and correctly kept