New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-25
TOGO AT TOXIC

Admiral Togo is said to have had at Toxic a
reception unprecedented In Japanese history for
| splendOr, cordially and enthusiasm He de
served it all, for he is the hero of an achieve
ment unprecedented in Japanese history and IN
surpassed in the history OF the world 1t was
by happy choice that his reception at Toxic was
made SO closely to coincide with the celebra-
ton by Japans ally of the centenary of Traf-
algar Between the navies Of Nelson's time
and OF Togo's there is a vast difference, and
there is a vast difference between the two men.
But each of them won the greatest sea fight
of the century, and those two battles were the
examinations Of campaigns essentially alike in
purpose Nelson's aim was to win and to keep
the mastery Of the sea, SO that the island king
dom would be secure from invasion ard its
armies would be free to invade the hostile CON
tinent; and that was precisely Togo's aim.
There was likeness, too to Nelson's unsleep-
ing vigilance and unwearying pursuit In Togo's
campaign Of five months without once anchor
ing; while in completeness of success the two
careers were identical
The display of vessels in the Japanese fleet
in Togos triumph was imposing but above all
others the captured Russian ships were worthy
Of attention. In olden times 1t was no uncOm-
mon thing for captured vessels to be added to
victorious navy, as Mr.. Kipling has reminded
us with graphic power. But for modern steel
battleships to be battered to pieces, blown I'D
with mines, sunk in deep water, and then raised
and repaired, is an amazing performance Moth
Ing like it has hitherto been known or supposed
possible 1t was a great work for Japanese
gunners to disable those floating fortresses but
1t was perhaps even a greater work for jap
anese engineers to raise them again from the
bottom of the bay and make them as good as
new for the Mikado's service. Four great bat
tleships and four fine cruisers have thus been
added TO Togo's fleet, besides a considerable
squadron Of coast defence ships, gunboats and
what not; so that, despite some very heavy
losses, the Japanese navy is actually more nu-
merous and more powerful at the end than It
at the beginning of the war.
In this incident is confirmed completely the
status Of Japan among the great powers of the
world. Her greatness In arms is mquestioned
since the records of Moukden and the Sea of
Japan. Her greatness of spirit in the making
Of peace was finely shown at Portsmouth Her
greatness of purpose in international relation
ships is abundantly set forth in her alliance
with Great Britain, in which she has given hos
tages to peace. The notion. never well insnirad
that, upon vanquishing a European power she
would enter upon course of reckless aggres-
sion is repudiated by her voluntary committaI
OF herself to policy Of the most scrupulous
conservatism. 1t is not the least satisfactory
consideration in Togo's jubilee that his victories
led directly to this beneficent result Tr;
umphs 80 overwhelming command admiration
in any case, but most Of all when they make
not for continued and further conUuests
but for honorable and lasting peace.