Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-18
THE NELSON OF JAPAN
logo Fired the First Shot in
the War With China.
SHOWED INITIATIVE
PUT HIM IN COMMAND IN THE
PRESENT wAR.
A Man Of Perseverance and Indefati-
gability-Popular With His
Men-His Career.


niwa during the China-Japan war he fired
the first shot in the battle of the Yalu.
When the elder statesmen, that powerful
coterie of five men who are the emperor's
chief advisers in national crises, were map
ping out their plan of campaign for the inn
pending war with Russia, the question
came up as to who should command the
fleet that would be sent to reduce Port
Arthur.
Send Togo" the Marquis Ito Is repre-
scented to have said. He struck first at
the Yalu. He will strike first and hard at
Port Arthur
Initiative is one of Vice Admiral Togo 8
predominating traits. The nations heads
know so well that Togo never lets 1.-The
grass grow under his feet" that when
they received the news Of his daring at.
tack on Port Arthur they were not over.
whelmingiy surprised. They expected IT,"
said a Japanese naval officer on duty in
Toyko. 1--WE all expected it. Wasn't Togo
In commando
Never Gives Up.
Another of the admiraPs distinctive char
acteristics if perseverance. The nation
knows it. too, and that is why you hear,
on every side the little brown men saying
of their popular hero: wait! He'll block
the Russians yet! He never gives upr'
Add to these two marks that of indefa-
tigabiity. and you have a clear outline of
the manner of man Togo is. Even in time
of peace it is no uncommon thing for him
to forget his meals when confronted with
some intricate situation. and he has been
known to sit up all night in his room
wrestling enthusiastically with a puzzlng
mathematical problem relating to naval
matters. And men who have served under
him. when telling of these incidents, do not
forget to add that their beloved admiral
keeps on until he has secured the answer
finished the task at hand before think
ing of physical comfort.
While Togo thus drives himself hard, and
responsibility sits heavily upon him, he Is
by no means a martinez. He is strict
disciplnarian. and expects every man to do
his tasks, land little more" as lieuten-
ant who served under him in the China
Japan war added: but the glimpses of his
human side that his men catch every once
in while make them understand him thor
oughly-in plain Anglo-Saxon, swear by
him.
His Softer Side.
This softer side of Togo is shown when
ever a mishap befalls sailor aboard his
ship Let the accident be serious. and Togo
will not only visit the man in the bay, but
contribute to the patients comfort from his
own private rations.
He keeps a close watch on the crews
mess thereby gaining the mems regard
through their stomachs, for the Jap sailors.
like all Jack Tars. are great grumblers II
the rations fall below regulation standards
He also not infrequently engages in con-
versation with members of the crew con-
corning their duties, and he has been
known personally to assist some of the less
educated in writing letters to their fami-
lies. But in his dealings with his men he
is as precise as when he gives orders. They
say in the Jap navy that an order from
Togo could not possibly be misunderstood
he speaks so slowly, so fmpressfvely and
distinctly that every syllable he utters
burns its way into the hearers brain.
Civilians in Tokyo who have had occa-
sion to do business with Togo have found
him to be easy in manner, free OF off1clous-
ness, not inclined to talk. but when called
upon to do so man of few words
Much in Little.
"1 have never met another man who could
put so much meaning into so few words.
said leading Japanese banker who is
well acquainted with Togo. But at the
same time he is not what you could call
taciturn. His look of interest when you are
talking keeps the visitor from forming such
an oninion of him. And his few words OF
greeting, spoken with the utmost cordlailty,
make you instantly set him down what ne
is-democratic at heart
Outside of the science of war Toga him
self confesses that his knowledge Is hmiteo.
'I am not a great reader he told a Japa-
nese newspaper interviewer short time De-
fore his feet sailed away for Port arthur.
'Rut have become acquainted a little
with the literature of Yomei "a famous
Chinese scholar) and I think his writings
furnish a splendid guide for warriors. he
teaches how theory may be put into prac-
tice in the simplest way. He encourages
action In the present age. quick and sim
pie action is the only way to success, either
in military or civil life"
IT. B., tata
the fact that along with the occldent 8
guns he has thoroughly accepted the occi-
dents idea Of the humanities in battle
Things Have Changed.
s.When Rear Admiral Saigo led his expedi-
ton to Formosa twenty years ago, he had
power to do anything" he said. But now
we can't do the things of that time. We
have to adhere strictly to international
ways. We have to do our best to keep out
of disgracefui acknowledgements In battle l
had great difficulty in restraining my men
in the China-Japan war.
I'VE must not be barbaric and cruel In
war. as were the knights OF the middle
ages. We have to consider the friendship
of the world. Commanders must bear In
mind that they are just captains of mer-
chant vessels. They must forget that they
are warriors in order to be honest and De
just"
Togo Is a direct descendant of the bar
barrie knights of whom he speaks. He Is a
member of the Satsuma clan that has given
Japan the ma iority of her leading modern
warriors just as the Choshiu clan has fur,
nished the major portion of the statesmen,
such as Ito and 1nouye.
His Career.
At the time of the restoration, thirty
seven years ago, Togo a lad Of seventeen
years, was a retainer of the feudal lord in
| his native town of Kumamoto. an interior
| town of some $4,000 Inhabitants, about 100
miles south Of Nagasaki. When his lord
| and clan declared allegiance to the mikado
Togo, with the deeds Of his fighting samurai
| ancestors before him. was one of the first
| to offer his sword to the mikado. His serv-
| ices were accepted, and later on. when the
| emperor determined to have a modern navy,
Togo, who from his youth up had always
| had a hankering for the sea. grasped the
| opportunity and was sent to England to
receive the proper training. The lessons
| he learned there he afterward put into
practice aboard his own ships. and It Ii a
| fact frequently commented on that the
ships In the Japanese navy which are the
closest copies Of the English navy are those
on which Togo has served
Togo'S chief niece of work up To the nut