The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-05-09
The Hobsons Of Japan.

The most thrilling story of the war
Is the official report Of Vice-Admiral
Togo of the last and successful effort
to blockade the entrance to the har-
Dor of Port Arthur. Without any eff
fort to glorify the heroic conduct of
the men engaged in it, and simply re-
citing the facts, he tells story of
daring which has few equals in the
annals of war.
The blockading fotilla last Tues |
day morning, when approaching the
entrance to Port Arthur for the pur
pose Of sinking stone-laden ships in
the entrance, was scattered by ter
rife storm. The commander signaled
to abandon the attempt until the
storm subsidized, but his signals failed to
reach those, for whom they were in
tended, and the crews of the separated
blockading fotilla, proceeding each
on their own initiative, forced their
way in the face of the Russian fire,
more deadly than ever, into the mouth
of the harbor, over the field Of mines
and into the channel which they
mel the Russian forts poured a perfect
torrent of shells from the land bat
teries. To venture upon that desper-
ate errand was to invite certain
death, and yet the crews of these
blockading ships went eagerly to the
task. One after the other they
steamed boldly into the harbor, played
FIJI 10Th nd
illuminated by immense bonfires on
either side, located their ships in the
desired POSITIONS and then blew them
up.
The chances for escape were almost
none, and the admiral in making his
report says: "It is to be regretted
that nothing particular could be
learned concerning the brave dis
charge of their duties (referring to the
officers and crews of four of the
bloclzading f1otilla), but the memory
of their exemplary conduct will re-
main long in the imperial navy"
Not one of the crews of these four
ships escaped.
The Jap entertains less regard for
human life than the American, and
values his own existence more lightly.
At the same time the men who went
willingly and even eagerly to certain
death under the rain Of shells from
the Russian Notifications, and in face
of the dangers from submarine mines
and the explosion Of their own ships,
fired by themselves, afforded an ex-
ample of bravery and devotion, which,
as the admiral says, must give them
an 4imperishable name in the history
of their gallant country.
Six years ago, the people Of this
country gave generous praise to Hob
son and his men for their dauntless
courage in the attempt to sink the
Merrimac in the harbor of Santiago
1t was brave deed, and there Is nc
disposition to detract in the least from
the credit due the lieutenant and his
men. But here is an instance which
seems to surpass it in dramatic inten.
sity. The conditions are vastly more
threatening and terrible, heightened
as they were, by the fury Of the raging
storm, which made navigation Of the
yellow sea almost impossible. This
attempt was made, too, after repeated
failures, when it was known that thu
Russian defenses were on the aler
and would seek to repulse any attenp
of this character. And not only wa
signal bravery displayed by the mel
who took in these blockading ship
and wrecked them in the mouth of tn
harbor, but the destroyer and torped
fotillas besides, Drawing the fury O
the wind and waves, and daring tn
batteries of the Russian forts. rem
dered heroic service in rescuing NOR
than half the men who were engage
in the blockading action.