The Savannah morning news., 1904-04-17
TOGO, THE MEL SON OF JAPAN
Fired the First Shot ChnaJn War Proved His Initiative Was
Placed in Command of Fleet attack Pot Arthur

rnklo, March 20.-Vice Admiral Togo
owes his present worldwide fame to
.5a circumstance that as captain of
tho protected cruiser Naniwa during
rbe China-Japan War he fired the first
shot in the battle of the Yalu.
When the Elder Statesmen, that
,,owerful coterie of five men who are
tra Emperor's chief advisers in ma
+.onal crises. were mapping out their
war with Russia, the question came
ND as to who should command the
feet that would be sent to reduce Port
Arthur.
Send Togo" the Marquis Ito is
represented 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's predominating traits. The ma
mons heads know so well that Togo
never let's the grass grow under his
feet that when they received the
news of his daring attack on Port
Arthur they were not overwhelmingly
surprised. "They expected it, said a
japanese naval officer on duty in To-
l<io. 1--WE all expected it. Wasn't Togo
in commando"
Another of the AdmiraTs distinctive
characteristics is 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 up"
Add to these two marks that of In
defatigability, and you have a clear
outline of the manner of man Togo is.
Even in time of peace it is no un-
common thing for him to forget his
meals when confronted with some in
tricate situation. and he has been
known to sit up all night in his room
wrestling enthusiastically with a puz-
cling 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 or
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 mar
tinet. He is a strict disciplinarian, and
expects every man to do his tasks
land a little more" as a lieutenant,
who served under him in the China
Japan War, added, but the glimpses
of his human side that his men catch
every once in awhile make them un-
derstand him thoroughly-in plain
Anglo-SaXon, swear by him.
His Soft side.
This softer side of Togo is shown
whenever a n1ishap befalls a 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 pri-
vate rations.
He keeps close watch on the crews
mess, thereby gaining the mems regard
through their stomachs, for the Jan
sailors, like all Jack tars, are great
grumblers If the rations fall below
regulation standards. He also not in
frequently engages in conversation
with members of the crew concerning
their duties, and he has been known
personally to assist some of the less
educated in writing letters to their
FAMILIES 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