Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1906-01-20
"On Board a Japanese Battleship'
BY Lady Lawson

japanese naval officers make the
best hosts in the world. as one soon
discovers after visiting the warships
in Tokyo Bay; and a luncheon party
on board the Asahi may serve as an
example OF the spontaneous courtesy
and delightful hospitality which char
acteriZe their entertainments.
In the crisp autumnal air, the ships
launch bounded merrily over the blue
waters OF Tokyo Bay, passing in turn
the Shikishima and the Full before
the Asahi was reached.
This fine battleship. at present the
flagship Of Admiral Togo, was built at
Clydebank, where she was launched in
1900, and she ranks second to none In
contributing to the success Of the Jap.
anese navy during the late war.
ln'the battle OF the Sea of Japan, she
was fourth In the line Of six ships
forming the first squadron under the
immediate command of Admiral Togo,
the Mikasa being the first, the Full
second. the Shikishima third. and the
Asahi fourth, followed by the Kasuga
and the Nisshin.
During the engagement, a shell from
Russian quick.firing gun, passing
through the shield OF a l2.pounder on
the upper deck of the Asahi and burst.
ing on the gun. killed and wounded al.
most the whole crew who belonged to
the same; but beyond this the Asahi
sustained no Injuries worth mention.
ing.
After the surrender Of Admiral Ne.
bogatoff, a number OF the Russian Of.
ficers and men were transferred to the
Asahi and she escorted the captured
battleship Orel to the naval port OF
Haizuru, accompanied by the Asama.
The renowned Commander Hirose.
who so nobly died In the attempt to
bottle up Port Arthur, went forth from
the Asahi, having previously composed
n ';Shi," or Chinese poem, according
to ancient custom, which was intended
by him TO be the final expression of
his desires, and which proved to be 4
forecast OF his fate. As translated to
"stirrup-Cup" runs as follows:
Would that could be born seven
times,
And sacrifice my life for my coun'
try!
Resolved TO die, my mind is firm
And again expecting to win sue
cess.
Smiling go on board"
may add that the above poem was
written by the heroic author on the
eve OF his departure for the second
blocking attempt Che participated in
the first attempt also).
The ship commanded by him was
again sunk, as In the first attempt, in
the most desirable place, but his body
was carried off by n Russian ball and
only n few fragments were brought
home to his Borrowing relatives.
After inspecting the ships, where
we saw sailors in some places knit.
ting, making artificial flowers, and
carving models of ships, we sat down
TO a CHEEKY lunch In the saloon, our
hosts beguiling the time by narrating
incidents that occurred during The
Battle, stories Of thrilling interest,
told with simple modesty.
Then they brought forth a Russian
gramophone found aboard the captur-
ed Russian ship Orel, and II emitted
various sounds which might have been
either a Russian march or a growing
protest against its presence as a State
prisoner on Japanese warship!
After this came a few songs. some
parting gifts OF photographs, and then
the homeward voyage In the comfort
able lunch, our hosts acting up to the
well.known injunction to welcome
the come, speed the parting guest" by
sending us off with bouquets OF roses.
and other souvenirs OF a charming aft.
ernoon, spent on one OF the finest bat.
tleships in the Imperial japanese