The San Francisco call., 1904-02-21

The following article by Robert Mach
ray. published in the London Daily Mail
of February under the caption The
Nelson Of Japan-Admiral Togo" is Of
especial interest just at this time. Its
description Of the admirals connection
with the Chino-Japanese war, the first
shot in which he fired, amounts TO a
forecast Of Togo's action at the out
break Of the Russo japanese war,
when he began hOstilities by an attack
on the Russian feet at Port Arthur:
More perhaps is heard and known
in this country Of the army Of Japan
than Of her sister service, but without
her navy she would not and could not
be the center OF the worlds interest as
she is to-day.
Admiral Togo, the man in chief
command at sea Of her splendid fleet,
is likely 10 be one Of the foremost fig
ures OF our time for on him Will de-
volve in all probability as prodigious
responsibility as fell 10 the lot Of Mel
son in our own national history.
1t is his destiny 10 WELD one OF the
finest. one OF the most formidable in
struments ever forged. In her navy ia
pan has created in less than ten years
as perfect and as tremendous a fighting
machine as any on the globe At this
perilous crisis in her fortunes she has
chosen to place the working Of sis ma
% chine in the hands Of Admiral TOgo-a
choice. we may be sure, that has been
made with the utmost deliberation and
after complete survey Of all the posi-
buities Of the situation. Japan feels
this is a matter in which there must be
no mistake. and the unanimous ap-
proyal Of the nation expressed on his
.appointment TO the chief command
shows that he is regarded as the right
man in the right place.
TOGO \ SIMPLE GENTLEMAN.
Admiral Togo is now about SO
years Of age. lie is not of princely or
noble birth. but is a simple gentleman,
a Samurai Of the great Satsuma clan,
as so mauy Of his fellow officers are.
His senior IN rank, Admiral Count Ito
mot TO be confused with his namesake
Marquis Ito). who was in chief COM
mand of the navy during the Chino
japanese war. and is now chief of the
naval headquarters staff in Toxic, is
also Satsuma Samurai, and formerly
the whole japanese feet was differed
and manned by the Satsuma. in the
same way that the Japanese army was
drawn from the Choshu clan. Now
adays neither navy nor army is en-
tirely given over TO these, the two
most powerful of the clans Of Japan,
but many men from all over the en-
pire are found in both services. When
Togo entered the navy. however. its
whole personnel was Satsuma.
Admiral Togo received a great
part of his education at the Naval Col
Iece. Greenwich. where he went
through the regular courses Of instruc-
ton current some thirty odd years
aEo. He thus understands a good deal
or the history. training and traditions
of the British navy. and he has
brought the knowledge thus acquired
TO bear on his own with excellent ef-
feet. Returning to Japan. he was
employed in various capacities. In
1894. when war broke out between
China and Japan, he was in command
or the Naniwa, a cruiser Of 1850 tons,
one Of the vessels composing what
was then known as the first flying
SQUADRON of the japanese navy. Dur
ing the war he greatly distinguished
himself and earned the reputation OF
BEING a first-class fighting man.
SINKING or THE KOWSHING.
1t was in connection with the cpl
sode of the sinking OF the Kowshing
that h5s name first came into world
wide prominence. At the time some
adverse criticisms Of his action on that
away Oh fuller knowledge Of the cir
cunlstances. The story reveals some
thing OF the character Of the man. so
if is worth telling again.
TT was wearing on in the year
1894. Though there had been no ag-
tual declaration Of war, it was evil
dent enough that Japan and China