The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-07-15

Togo's naval training was begun IN
England, where, as young man, ne
attended the naval college in Green
wich. He also inherited his taste for
the sea, as he came of the Satsuma
clan, q tribe noted for its great sea
warriors. Indeed, prior to the time OF
the Carbohydrates war, the Jap
anese fleet was manned almost wholly
by the Satsuma clan, just az the army
was drawn from the Choshu clan
Nowadays, neither navy nor army is
entirely given over to these, the two
most powerful of the clans of Japan,
but many men from all over the en-
pire are to be found in both services.
When Togo entered the navy, how
ever, its whole personnel was Sat
suma.
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 1850 tons, one
of the vessels composing what was
ron of the Japanese navy. During the
war he greatly distinguished himself,
and earned the reputation of being a
flrst-class fighting man.
| It was in connection with the episode
| of the sinking of the Kcwshing that
his name first came into Worldwide
prominence. At the time some ad-
verse criticisms of his action on that
occasion were heard. but these died
away on fuller knowledge of the
circumstances. The story reveals
something of the character of the
man, so it is worth telling.
The Kowshing, a transport vessel
flying the British flag, with a British
captain and crew, and carrying some
l1,100 Chinese soldiers for Asan, was
met by Togo in the Naniwa, who sig
nailed to her, by firing two blank car
| tridges, to stop, which she did. There
after a japanese lieutenant went on
board the Kowshing with a peremp-
tory order from Togo that the trans
port must proceed no farther toward
her destination, but at once accom-
pany the Naniwa to the main japanese
fleet. Captain Galswortky, of the
Kowshing, was willing to obey these
orders, but not so minded were the
officers of the Chinese forces on the
vessel; they Immediately raised a
great elamor, and threatened Gals
worthy.
Seeing what was occurring, Togo
sent a boat to bring off Capt. Gals
worthy and his crew; but meanwhile
the disturbance and confusion on the
Kowshing had increased, and the Chi
nese prevented them from leaving her.
Some time then passed, and at length
Togo signaled Galsworthy to take one
| of his own boats and come over to the
not allowed by the Chinese to do so.
For four hours Togo stood off and on,
| trying TO save him and the ship, but,
finding there was no chance of this,
he at last ordered the red flag, which
announced that he was about to fire,
to be hoisted. A few moments later
a we'll directed shot FROM the Naniwa
struck the engine room and penetrat-
ed the hull Of the Kowshing, which
soon afterward filed and sank. AS
Galsworthy and his men leaped over
the bulwarks of the transport into the
sea, they were fired on by the Chinese.
Togo at once sent out boats and res
cued as many as he could.
In this way Togo began the Chino
japanese war. His countrymen never
forgot the part he played in this cpl
sode Incidentally, he was surprised
to find that the English captain, Gals
worthy had been an old classmate Of
his, years before, in the Greenwich
naval college.-New York Evening
Post