Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-10
RIVALS ON THE SEA
Characteristics Of. Rojestven-
sky and Togo.
ABOUT THE SAME AGE
SKETCH OF MEN NOW COMMAND
ING OPPOSING FLEETS.
Eyes of the World Now on Those Who
Hold Much of Russian and
Japanese Future.
ABOUT THE SAME AGE


initiated the Russian Port Arthur fleet, who
Is now face to face with Rojestvensky, is a
small stodgy man. but why and tireless.
He is ffty-five years old, and, like Oyama
and Nogi, is of unattractive. commonplace
appearance. He is not of princely or noble
BIRTH but is a simple gentleman. a samurai
his fellow officers are. His senior in rank,
Admiral Count Ito mot to be confused with
his namesake, Marquis Ito), who was in
chief command of the navy during the
China Japanese war and is now chief of the
naval headquarters staff in Tokyo, is also a
Satsuma samurai. and formerly the whole
japanese feet was Differed and manned by
the Satsuma, in the same way that the Jap
anese army is drawn from the Choshu clan.
Educated in Great Britain.
Admiral Togo received a great part of his
education at the British Naval College,
Greenwich where he went through the
regular courses of instruction current some
thirty years ago. He thus understands a
good deal of the history, training and ira
uttions of the British navy, and he has
brought the knowledge thus acquired to
bear on his own with excellent effect. Re.
turning to Japan, he was employed in vari-
Gus capacities. In 1894 when war broke
Oul Uei"een Snlfld ana Japan, ne was III
command of the Naniwa, a cruiser of 1850
tons, one of the vessels composing what
was then known the first flying squad
ron of the Japanese navy. During the war
he greatly distinguished himself and earned
the reputation of being a first-class dght-
ing man.
1t was in connection with the episode of
the sinking of the Kowshing that his name
first came into worldwide prominence. At
the time some adverse criticisms of his &C.
ton on the occasion were heard, but these
died away a fuller knowledge Of the
circums tances. The story reveals some
thing of the character of the man. ...
1t was in the year 1894. Though there
had been no actual declaration of war, it
was evident enough that Japan and China
were about to fight over Korea. Warships
had been assembled and large bodies Of
troops were either on the field Or We're on
the way to the scene. of conflict. The
Kowshing, a transport vessel flying the
British flag. with a British captain and
crew, carrying some LOO 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 a japanese lieutenant went on
board the kowshing with "eremptory Or
der from Togo that the dnsport must
proceed no farther toward her. destination
but at once accompany the Naniwa to the
main Japanese fleet Captain -GaTsworthy
of the Kowshing was willing to obey these
orders, but not so minded We're the officers
Immediately raised a great cian1or and
threatened Galsworthy. -. .r..
Seeing what was occurring, Togo sent a
boat to bring off Capt Galsworthy and his
confusion on the Kowshing had increased
and the Chinese prevented them from leav-
ing 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 Chinese to do So 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 engine room
and penetrated the hull of the Kowshiig.
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 many as he
could .-
In this way Togo began the Chlna-Japan-
csc war. His countrymen have never for
gotten the part he played in this episode.
sank the Kowshing."
And they draw a confident augury from
it.
Has Much Experience.
In the course Of the war Togo saw a
great deal of actual fighting, SO he is
naval man of no little experience. He was
present at the first battle of Phungdo at
the battle of Halyang, took part in the
bombardment of Tangchow and saw the
final overthrow and destruction at Weihai-
wei of all that was left of the Chinese feet.
Nor did his ship, the Naniwa. pass entirely
scatheless through these ordeals, though
she received no vital damage. But ever the
fame of Togo Heihachiro grew; he was
known as man of resolution and resource,
most of all as hard and determined
fighter.
After the war he was raised to the rank
of rear admiral and promoted to the third
command in the japanese fleet.
When the elder statesmen, that powerful
coterie of five men who are the emperor's
chief advisers in national crises. were map
ping out eighteen months ago their plan OF
campaign for the impending war with Rus.
STA, the question came up as to who should
command the fleet that would be sent to
reduce Port Arthur.
Send Togo 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 nations heads
know so well that Togo never lets 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 Jap
anese naval officer on duty in Tokyo. We
all expected 1t. Wasn't Togo in command?
While Togo thus drives himself hard and
responsibility sits heavily upon him, he IS
by no means a martinez. He Is a strict
disciplinarian and expects every man to do
his tasks land little more" as lieuten-
ant who served under him in the China
japan war added, but the glimpses of his
human side that his men catch every once
in a while make them understand him thor
oughly-in plain Anglo-Saxon, swear by
him.
Outside of the science of war Togo him.
self confesses that his knowledge is lin
tied.
Not Like Japanese.
In. appearance Admiral Togo looks more
like the ordinary sea captain of England
or America than a japanese. His short,
bristiy gray beard is largely responsible for
this resemblance and marks him from his
fellow officers. He is also not SO scant OF
stature as the average Jap. and his eyes
show very little slant. Like the average
officer of the mikado he does not know how
TO wear a uniform. the coat especially show
ing numerous wrinkles where 1t should fit
snugly.
But while he thus approaches Caucasian
standards outwardly in many respects. In
wardly he clings to every tradition of his
,ativa nd that does not interfere with