The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-03-25
START OF JAPAN'S NAVY
Organization Of Mikado's Marine
Forces Dates From 1866.
HOW AMERICANS AIDED THE WORK

HOW AMERICANS AIDED THE WORK
lieutenant Henry E.. RhOndes, U. 8.
n, Tells of His Share In Teaching
Young Japanese Marine Engineer
lng-valuable Work of a Brother
Omcer and mn American Consul
Probably no officer of the American
navy has followed the development of
that Of Japan with greater interest
than Lieutenant Henry e. Rhoades,
now on duty at the Brooklyn navy
yard, for he was officially identified
with the beginning of the navy Of ia
pan as far back as 1868. A reporter Of
the New York Tribune called on him
recently, and when asked if he was not
one Of the American navy officers who
received appointments in 1868 to aid in
the organization Of the Japanese navy
he replied:
81 believe that the credit for the Jap
anese navy may be placed to the Amer
lean navy officers. It really began with
the purchase of the armorclad Stone
wall jackson Cater named the Adzu-
, maj from the United States govern
ment in 1866, although the construc-
ton Of the naval dockyard at Yokoska
was commenced in 1865 under the SUI
pervision of a French engineer. This
was not completed till 1879. It cost
nearly $2,5OO,OOO. The Stonewall Jack
son was built in France under a con-
tract with the Danish government and
was to be known as the Sphinx, but
az this was about the time Of the clos
ing OF the Schleswig-H olstein war and
there was delay in the completion Of
the vessel Denmark became lukewarm
in carrying out the terms OF the pur-
chase, and the boat passed into the
possession of the Confederates.
"She put to sea 500 afterward, but
owing to some arrangement OF the
steering machinery she ran into Ferrol,
Spain, for repairs In February, 1865,
where were lying the American war
Z vessels Niagara and Sacramento. The
commander Of the American vessels
allowed the Stonewall to escape, and,
she went to Lisbon and thence acros
the Atlantic to Havana. Here she lay
until after the close of the civil war
and was then given up by Spain to the
United States. Later the StOnewall
was sold to Japan, and she was sent
over there by the United States under
command of Captain (now Rear Admit
raD George Brown and delivered at
Yokohama in the latter part of the
spring Of 1868.
"At this time l was an officer in the
Asiatic squadron, and my ship had
been for months at Hiogo and Osaka,
where had been the greatest activity
in connection with the revolution re-
sulting from the overthrow of the ty-
coonate, in which l and several other
officers in command OF armed squads
OF sailors took partsin defending the
Americanslegation and other American
interests at Hiogo following the as
sault by Prince, or Damio, Bozen's
forces upon an assembly of foreign
sailors who were quietly observing
him and his retinue pass through the
town.
"Another of our officers was II. Wal
ton Grinnell, a lieutenant in the volun-
teer navy and a nephew, l believe, OF
Moses Grinnell. In March, 1868, Grin
nell was commissioned an ensign IN
the regular service, but his commission
did not reach him till late in May. He
then declined to accept it and asked
for an honorable discharge that he
might accept an offer of the japanese
government Of a commission as admi.
raj at a salary of $4,000 itzaboos (about
$4,000 United States money! a year
His request was granted, and he &C
cepted the appointment Of Japan and
remained for about three years.
AT the same time the American con
sui at Hiogo, a German, whose name
has passed from me, was appointed
chief constructor, and to me was Of
fered the appointment Of chief engi
neer. For specific reasons l declined
the office, but did offer to accept serv
ice temporarily, and for two or three
months ! gave a group OF young Japa
nese engineer aspirants such instruc
lions as my time would permit in ma
r1ne engineering and gave demonstra
lions on the Stonewall, explaining tt
them the mechanism of the engineer
department and the operation of boil
ers, engines, ETC., on a warship and tn
use Of tools. l cannot claim to hav'
done very much in this small way to
ward creating the navy of Japan. bu
Grinnell and the Hiogo e%x-consul CAV
most valuable services. They deserv'
the most credit for their work in Japal
and in other countries, taking witt
them a number of bright young Japa
nese to study construction, armamen
and navigation and the general opera
ton Of a warship.
at may be said, therefore, that tn
Japanese navy had its beginning /
1866 and under American instructors