The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-04-26
FLAG OF THE
R | 5 | n G
sun
Seen on Pacific Coast for
First Time in Ten Years,
Stay Will Be Brief

Los Angeles, Cal, April 25.-For the
first time in ten years war ships of
Japan entered Pacific coast port of
the United States, when the cruisers
Soya and Aso, comprising the Jap
anese training squadron commanded
by Rear Admiral H. Ijichi. steamed
into San Pedro at noon today Not
since the training ships entered the
bay of San Francisco. half score years
ago. have vessels flying the flag of
the Rising Sun been sighted on the
western shores of this country.
The Asa and Soya dropped anchor
at San Pedro, the harbor of Los An
geles. on peaceful visit OF some
weeks duration which will take them
to all Of the principal ports OF the
Pacific coast. The two ships COM
prisinS Admiral Ijichi's squadron are
prizes OF the Russo-Japanese war.
The Aso is the former Russian cruiser
Bayan, found in the harbor of Port
Arthur after General Stoessel surren-
dered that fortress into the hands Of
the victorious Japanese. The Soya was
formerly the cruiser Variag. which
was caught in the harbor of Chem
ulpo, Korea, just before the breaking
out of the war and sunk by the jap
anese fleet Today these craft are
comparatively modern war ships, car
rying heavy batteries and equipped
with high speed engines. Each has
single forward and after turrent
8 inch gun. broadside battery of
eight 6 inch guns and sixteen OF 8
inch calibre. They carry crews OF 600
men each including 67 officers and
1S5 cadets OF the Japanese navy.
The Aso is the flagship of Admir-
al Ijichi. He Is a veteran OF the war
with Russia. and commanded the bat
tleship Mikasa, the flagship of Admir-
al Togo. which participated In all
the memorable battles of that war and
on which Admiral Rojestvensky was
taken as prisoner of war after his de-
feat In the sea of Japan. Admiral
Ijichi is now griZZled veteran of
80 years. He has made one other
visit to the United States. when in
1880 he visited San Francisco as
cadet on a Japanese corvette.
1--WE shall visit Los Angeles. San
Francisco, Seattle and Victoria and
possibly other ports" said the admiral
I'VE must return to Japan by August
] and our stay on the shores of the
United States will be brief.
Personally. / can only eXl my
pleasure at the increased evidences of
friendliness between the United
States and my country | have no
doubt that our visit here will be one
of lasting pleasant remembrance for
lis. We of Japan have great admir-
alton for Americans and | am glad OF
this opportunity to return here even
for so short a stay,
The admiral was not prepared 10
make any formal statement regarding
the occasion OF the visit of his ships
further than that 1t was part of
their regular cruise.
Although San Pedro was the first
American port touched since the
squadron left Hilo, Hawaii. some ten
days ago, neither the federal nor state
government made any especial demon
stration Of welcome That is reserved
for San Francisco, when the ships ar
rive there about May l. when the Pa
cific fleet and federal and state Of
ficials will extend a more elaborate
greeting
The government was represented
today by c. W. Pendleton, collector of
customs of the port of San Pedro,
who was accompanied by officials
from the cities Of Los Angeles and
San Pedro
Consul General Makuzo Nagai, of
San Francisco, was a member Of the
party that boarded the Aso shortly
after she came to anchor.
A feature of the arrival of the
squadron was its reception by repre-
sentatives of the 10000 Japanese who
live in southern California Hun
dreds of japanese journeyed to San
Pedro and four steamers were char
tered by them, and, later. with pass
engers and with the flags of the Unit
ed States and Japan flying fore and
aft. steamed TO welcome the war YES
sells. A committee boarded the Aso |
and presented TO Admiral Ijichi a |
printed address OF welcome and con
upon his arrival. Gifts of |
hundreds of boxes of oranges. straw
berries and other fruits we're present |
ed to the officers and men.