The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-04-22
Letters From the Public


eminent and rule Russia as con
quered nation. or at least, TO create
sham republic that would be the
vassal of France and the tool of his
Unsuitable ambition. The Japanese are
too wary and wise to attempt any
such gigantic enterprise. They have
their own strength and Russia
gagged too accurately. 1t would spell
ruin for them, and they know it.
In their late war with Russia their
object was to stop Russian encroach-
ment on neutral territory, and they
have accomplished all that they set
out to do. We know now that stoes-
sci surrendered Port Arthur when he
might have held on perhaps indefinite
~, and SO set the besiegfng japanese
army free to march neutrality-suspicious.
that is the fortune of war, and does
not detract from the glory of their
achievements. In a word, Napoleon
placed a pistol at the heart of Russia
and the pistol missed fire The wiry,
thoroughbred little japanese terrier
has bitten Russia's heel. Russia is
now nursing an ugly wound and plan
ming to get even.
The second editorial statement that
have reference to is to the effect
that the Russo-Japan War produced
a naval officer equal to Nelson. Once
more I respectfully beg to differ
Tt is generally conceded that in a
historical sense man is called great
in whose career genius and opportu-
nifty have worked together to make
his achievements of greater import
ance than those of his fellow men in
shaping the destiny of some one of
the great nations or of mankind in
general, and in direct proportion to
the relative Importance of great mems
lives, services and achievements and
taking into consideration the issues at
stake, the immediate results and the
consequent effects. we say this or that
man is great, greater or greatest.
Measured by this standard, Napo-
leon is greater than Nelson, and this
in spite of the fact that Nelson's life
was one long act of patriotic self-sac-
rifiee and devotion, crowned by his
glorious death in the service of his
country-while on the other hand Ma
poleon was boundless. selfish, ambi-
ton incarnate. With this definition
and Illustration I pass on to the exam
nation of your statement that Togo
is equal to Nelson.
It may be as well to bear in mind
that the guns used in Nelson's day
could almost be loaded into a modern
Pinch gun and used as projectiles,
and that the weakest cruiser in the
Russian fleet, wretchedly inefficient as
that fleet was, could destroy the com
hined navies of the world of a hum
dred years ago and not have her paint
scratcheG-that is, if her ammunition
held out and the Russians could hit
anything-but this has no bearing
upon the comparative greatness of
Nelson and Togo.
The iliustrious Admiral Togo, the
victor in the great naval battle of
Tsushima. is the greatest living naval
commander because genius and oppor-
tunity have worked together to make
him So The defeat of the Russian
fleet at Tsushima is his most glorious
achievement, and in it the Japanese
were so infinitely superior in prepar-
edness, efficiency, tactics, gunnery and
all that makes for success in naval
warfare, that they were able to de-
stroy the Russian fleet as easily as a
butcher kills bull
| do not say this to helittle Togo's
achievement. but it is the best com
parison I can make in order to de-
scribe the utter helplessness of the
Russian fleet Togo went out expect
ing to meet a foeman worthy of his
steel. and would certainly have made
a gallant and brilliant fight if his
enemy had proved equal or superior to
him.
The Scientific American supplements
for August II and August IS, 1906, con
tain an account Of that battle. by
Lieutenant r. D. White, u. S. N,
compiled from information obtained
from most competent, reliable, un-
biased eyewitness who was with the
Russian fleet and is a close student of
modern naval science. I recommen
anyone who is interested in the sub
lect to procure this article. and after
reading it he will realize what one
sided affair it was.
I present herewith some extracts
from this article:
May 81. 1905. at daybreak. the Jap
anese scouts sighted the Russian fleet
THE scouts informed their COM
nander by wireless of the enemy s
position, course, speed and formation
In the Russian feet was a ship fitted
with wireless set. capable of send
ing messages 600 miles. Why she did
not break un the japanese wireless
messages is a mystery, and the fact
that she did not do so must ever stand
as a monument to the inability of the
Russian commander to accept modern
/ conditions. Later on some old battle
| ships Captured years before from
| China) showed up. and when one OF
| them came within $500 yards a shot
| was fired at her from the Orel, prob
| ably by some nervous gunner, or per
i haps the temptation was too strong
! to resist. Anyway. it was done with,
/ out orders, and had the natural re
| sult-several other ships commenced
| firing. Admiral Rodjestvensky signal
/ ed cease firing and further directed
| the feet not to 'expend ammunition
to no purpose
| cat 1:25 p. m. the opposing fleet:
| came in sight of each other.