The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-07-17

l that their nation must inevitably clash with the Czar in the Orient. To Admiral Togo was entrusted the task of preparing the Japanese army for the struggle were convinced that Japan must fight for her life on the sea. Most of the next ten years Togo spent on shore, preparing for the war. A good part of this time he com manded the Maizuru naval station, which became the cradle of the Jap anese navy. He devoted himself to building an organiza tion, and study ing naval tactics. When the war clouds appeared, he was appointed -in-chief of the United Squadron, comprising practically all of aJpan's naval strength. As he left for his command, and was. asked if he had any messages for his fam fly he replied:
 Nothing in particular; tell them l am well and happy and not to distract me by sending me letters.''
 He proceeded to Port Arthur, and two days after the delivery of the minister, he had successfully attacked, with great damage, the Russian squad ron lying under the shelter of the for tif1cation at that place. Then fol- lowed the nerve-racking watch of months before the mouth of the har-
 
 bottled up.
 It was there that the commander-in- chief won the name of Father To- go' from the sailors, and it was there too that he showed the naval officers of the world how to use torpedo boat destroyers Though victorious in re- peated engagements with the Rus sians, Togo suffered severe losses in his own command. Most of these. however, he concealed from the entire world, and not even Tokyo knew that their naval hero was fighting with crippled force.
 When the ruin of the Russian fleet in the Pacific was complete, Togo ap- peared at Tokyo for a few days to report to the Emperor. One day he disappeared. He remained hidden from the world for four months. Then he reappeared with his fleet and an initiated the Russian Armada sent hiding place of Togo and his fleet during those months is not yet gen. orally known. With infinite patience he waited, and prepared to meet the great fleet he knew was coming.
 Admiral Togo chose that the batt1e'l should be fought on his terms, and not those of the enemy. He delib- erately staked everything on the chance that the Russians would pass through the Straits of Tsushirha on their way to vladivostok. Just with out this passage he awaited the ar rival of Admiral Rojesvensky. So accurately was he informed by wire less from his scout ships of the Rus sian advance. that twenty-four hours before the battle, he estimated that the battle would begin at o'clock the following afternoon.
 It was 1:55 when he signalled to his fleet, just as the firing was about I to begin:
 "The rise or fall of the Empire de- pends upon the result of this en- l gagement; do your utmost, everyone | of you"
 For two days, during May 27 and | May 2S, the battle continued. At it's | Togo sent the following | marked by the religious spir- it which is characteristic of the man:
 By the Grace of Heaven and the help of God our combined squadron | in nearly annihilating the First, Second and Third squadrons of the enemy"
 From this battle he returned to re- ,eive unprecedented honors from the Emperor and the nation Rewarded with the post of Chief of Staff of the Japanese Navy, his mind and genius lave been the controlling spirit of the advance of the Japanese navy ever since. His popularity has never wan d, and he is to-day a greater hero in |, Japan than when he returned to To- kyo fresh from the greatest naval victory of modern times.