The sun., 1905-09-13
TOGO'S FLAGSHIP GOES DOWN
CATCHES FIRE AT SASEBO AND
THE MAGAZINE EXPLODES.
Six Hundred Men Lost on tho Mikasa
Suspicion That Dissatisfaction with
the Peace Terms MAY Have Something
to DO with Disxster-TOgo Not Aboard.

Special Gable Despateh TO THE SUN.
TOXIC. Sept. 12,-The battleship Mikasa
sank at Sasebo carly yesterday. Six hum
dred men were lost.
The sudden sinking Of the battleship Is
thought by many here to be connected
with the dissatisfaction in Japan over the
peace terms. As yet the exact cause OF
the disaster Is not known. nor will IT DO
known for some time, 1t Is thought.
Government officers were ordered to be-
gin an investigation at once, and are now
trying to build up a chain Of facts that VIII
explain the reason for the as yet unex-
planned catastrophe.
The battleship was at Sasebo. AT mid
night on September 10 fire was discovered
near her mainmast, The fire companies
Of the vessels in the harbor and the firemen
from shore, many Of whom were subse-
quently lost, went to her assistance.
Although desperate efforts were made
to check the flames they spread rapidly
aft toward the magazine, which exploded
with mighty roar.
At l:40 A. NJ, after the magazine had
blown out a hole below the water line on
the port side, she rapidly filled, listed and
The casualties include numerous men
from other ships who were attempting to
save the vessel.
Until the official announcement Of the
loss OF the Mikasa was made the public
was unaware OF the disaster. The news
caused a moro profound sensation out
wardly than the losses sustained during
the war, which were regarded as to be
expected. A sentiment Of pride and affec-
tion attached to the fla gship of the victorious
fleet, and the detection was correspond
ingly acute.
The only relieving feature was that
Admiral Togo was not involved In the affair.
being ashore at the time. 1t is stated that
the casualties among the officers were
one killed eleven wounded and five missing.
An overcharge OF electricity Is the most
favored Of the numerous con lectures con-
cerning the cause of the fire. The vessel
sank in shallow water, and it is believed
she can be raised and repaired.
The Japanese first class battleship Mikasa
will be classed in history with Porter's
Essex and Farraguts Hartford. Like these,
she was always where the shot and shell
were flying thiokest. In the battle of the
Sea Of Japan she lost more than any other
Of the Mikados ships, sixty-three Of her
Grew being killed or wounded. Just before
the battle this signal was displayed from
the topmost spar: -The destiny Of our empire
depends upon this action. You are all
expected to do your utmost In the prin-
cipal engagement before Port Arthur. on
August 10, 1904, the Mikasa was Togo g
flagship, as she continued to be through
out the war.
The Mikasa, sister ship to the Asahi,
was a first class battleship. She was
launched from Vickers's yard at Barrow.
in 1900. She was Of 1920 tons displace-
ment, 4so feet long over all, 70 feet beam
and 29H feet draught. Her belt armor
amidships was inches thick, tapering at
the end to inches. The main deck battery
was protected by six inches OF citadel
armor, extending from the top Of the belt
to the upper deck. 1t entirely screened
the e-inch guns on the fighting deck. She
carried four l2-inch breechloaders mounted
In pairs fore and aft in armored barbettes
which are IA inches thick above the upper
deck and 10 inches thick below; fourteen
e-inch f1rers, ten In the citadel and four in
easements on the upper deck; twenty 3-inch,
six 3-pounders and six ~ Founders. Her
four torpedo tubes were submerged.
On her trial trip of six hours she made
an average Of 1919 knots with an expendi-
ture Of l84oO horsepower. She carried
q crew Of TAI men.