The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1911-07-13
Not Given to Talking-.-Some.
thing OF His Great
Career

pared to demonstrate his loyalty to
Japan and to the mikado. His orders
to all captains and leading officers of
the fleet were that they should report
to him that night aboard the flagship
singly and in the order of seniority.
One by one they entered his silent
cabin, and he spoke no word of greet
ing, but only bowed his head in grave
recognition. In fall uniform, his sword
grit on, he sat solemnly upright, and
resting on cushion that lay before
him was the keen bladed harakiri knife
of the samurai
AS each officer entered and saluted
the chief acknowledged his salute. He
spoke no word. None was needed.
With a grave gesture toward the
cleaning blade, Togo motioned his
guest away and babe the next ap-
proach
1t was midnight before this grim
pantomime was ended in the half light
of the admiral's cabin in the Nikasa.
And when Japan's navy sailed away
to meet the enemy every officer aboard
knew that he carried the emperors
commission either for victory or for
death. And the navy department knew
that Togo could be trusted
Not many days later the trust of his
countrymen turned to abject adora-
ton. With one swift stroke the mas
ter sea fighter Of Japan had reduced
Rojestvenskys fleet Of Russian battle
ships to SO many helpless hulls 1t
was without doubt the greatest naval
victory of the century, and the sea-
craft and skill of the little man that
had guided the course of the mikado's
fleet made many a European and
American naval commander marvel.
1t was then that they nicknamed him
the Nelson Of Japan.
Bearing in mind that Togo was sick
man throughout the engagement with
the fleeing Russian fleet, it empha-
sizes the almost reckless courage Of
him to state that he directed the move
ments of his ships from the bridge i'll
stead of taking advantage of the shell
ter of the coming tower The fight
was at its hottest when a six inch
shell struck the chart room directly I'M
der his bridge, killing every man in it.
Some of the splinters whizzed by Togo
and his staff, and four Of his officers
were wounded. The admiral, after
seeing that the wounded officers were
attended to, resumed his place on the
bridge.
There was aboard an old valet of
his, feudal retainer Of his family.
This man, when he heard that the
admiral was in a place of great dan
ger, broke all Japanese etiquette and
rushed to the gangWay leading to the
bridge. There he hesitated, but a shell
struck just then, wounding Imperial
Prince Fushimi, who was aboard. The
valet made rush and Frustrated him
self before Togo, begging him, for the
good Of Japan, to go to the coming
tower. The admiral, with half
amused seriousness, gave a kind re-
fusal.
Just then six inch shell struck the
chart room and scattered the staff
A flying splinter wounded the valet
on both legs. He was carried to the
hospital, bowling protest. From his
cot he implored the surgeons to carry
the admiral away by force. Finally
the deck officers surrounded Togo and
almost dragged him to the coming
tower. Togo laughed indulgently as
they locked him in.
His First War.
Togo's naval training was begun in
England, where as a young man he
attended the naval college in Green
wich. He also inherited his taste for
the sea, as he came of the Satsuma
clan, tribe noted for it's great sea
warriors.
Returning to Japan, he was en-
ployed in various capacities. In 1894,
when war broke out between China
and Japan, he was in command of the
Naniwa, a cruiser of $3.50 tons, one
Of the vessels composing what was
then known as 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 fighting man.
Those who have served under him
say that Togo is one of those men
who cannot bear to be defeated.
Togo is now sixty years old. In ap-
pearance he does not resemble the high
caste Japanese, for he is not of noble
birth. he is an understood, pudgy lit
tie man, with a close cropped head Of
hair and sharp iron gray beard and
eyes that are not markedly almond
shaped. In composure-which is to say
at all times-there is that half smile,
half scowl about the corners of the
mouth which defes analysis. His uni
form, unlike that Of the average
American or English naval officer, fits
badly. His bearing is not what people
call military" neither is there that
about him which proclaims the great
man. It is said of him that he might
easily travel incognito.
IT. a