Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-04-18

es In single -handed yachts are con-
stantly referred to In the Russian
press.
Rojestvensky did not want the COM
mand of the. Baltic feet, though, once
appointed. he never wavered in his be-
lief that It should be sent out.
Vice Admiral Togo. whose warships
annfhilated the Russian Port Arthur
fleet, who Is now face to face with
Rojestvensky, Is a small, stodgy man.
but wiry and tireless. He Is s. years
old, and like oyama and Nogi, is of
unattractive, commonplace appear
ance. He Is not Of princely or noble
birth, but is a simple gentleman, q
samurai Of the great Satsuma clan. as
so many Of his fellow officers are. His
senior in rank. Admiral Ito (not to be
confused with his namesake, Marquis
Ito), who was in chief command of
the navy during the Chino-Japanese
war and is:now chief Of the naval
headquarters staff in Toxic, is also q
Satsuma samurai, and formerly the
whole Japanese fleet was officered and
manned by the Satsuma, In the same
way that the Japanese army was
drawn from the Choshu clan.
Nowadays neither navy nor army Is
entirely given over to these, the two
most powerful Of the clans Of Japan,
but many men from all over the en-
pire are to be found In both services.
When Togo entered the navy, how
ever Its whole personnel was Sat-
suma.
Admiral Togo received a great part
Of his education at the British Naval
college. Greenwich. where he went
through the regular courses Of In
struction current some thirty years
ago. He thus understands good deal
Of 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. en-
ployed In various capacities. In 1894,
when war broke out between China
and Japan, he was In command Of the
Naniwa, a cruiser Of $3.50 tons, one OF
the vessels composing what was then
known as the first flying squadron Of
the Japanese navy. During the war
he greatly: distinguished himself and
earned thereputation Of being a first
class fighting man.
It was In connection with the epis-
ode of the sinking Of the Kowshing
that his name first came into world
wide prominence. At the time s6n,e
adverse criticisms Of his action on
the occasion were heard, but these
died away on fuller knowledge Of the
circumstances. The story reveals
something of the character Of the
man.
It was In the year 1894. Though
there had been no actual declaration
of war, 1t was evident enough that
Japan and China were about to fight
over Korea. Warships had been as.
sembled and large bodies Of troops
were either on the field or were on
the way to- the scene of conflict. The
Kowshing,,a a transport vessel flying
the British flag. with British cap
tain and crew, and carrying some 1.10o
Chinese soldiers for Asan, was met by
Togo In the Naniwa, who signaled to
her, by firing two blank cartridges
to stop, which she did.
Thereafter japanese lieutenant
went on board the Kowshing with a
order from Togo that the
transport must proceed no farther to-
ward her destination, but at once ac-
company the Naniwa to the main Ja-
panese fleet, Captain Galsworthy of
the Kowshing. was willing to obey
these orders. but not so minded were
the officers Of the Chinese forces on
the vessel; they Immediately raised
great clamor and threatened Galswor-
thy.
Seeing what was occurring, Togo
sent a boat to bring off Captain Gals
worthy and his crew; but meanwhile
the disturbance and confusion on the
had increased, and the
Chinese prevented them from leaving
her. Some time then passed, and at
length Togo signaled Galsworthy to
take one of his own boats and come
over to the Naniwa, but the British
captain was not allowed by the Chi
nese to do 80. For four hours Togo
stood off In trying to save him and the
ship, but finding there was no chance
Of this, he at last ordered the red flag
which announced that he was about
to fire, to be hoisted.
A few moments later a we'll directed
shot from the Naniwa struck the en-
CINE room and penetrated the hull OF
the Kowshing. which soon afterward
filled and sank AS Galsworthy and
his men leaped over the bulwarks of
the transport into the sea they were
fired on by the Chinese. Togo at
once sent out boats and rescued as
many as he could.
In this way Togo began the China
Japanese war. His countrymen have
never forgotten the part he played In
this episode.
"Togo!" they say; at was Togo
who sank the Kowshing."
And they draw a confident augury
from 1t.
In the course Of the war Togo saw
a great deal Of actual fighting, 80 he
Is a naval man Of no little experience.
He was present at the first battle |
Of Phungdo, at the battle Of Haly-
xoot. -o,t L., TIA hnpaho r6 nnant II