The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-07-18
ceived commission to 60 to England
to study for naval career.

ceived commission to go to England
to study for naval career.
He went to London in 1871, and
soon after to Plymouth, where he
began a course in naval apprentice
ship on board H. NJ. training ship
Worcester. While there, he received
his commission as second lieutenant
In the new imperial navy.
In 1876 his course was finished, but
Togo remained in England to supper
wise the construction of the new Jap
anese ship Hyei, on which he return
ed to Japan in 1878.
While In England he spent some
months at Cambridge His tutors have
since said that he learned English
with difficulty and was considered a
poor student, except in mathematics.
In 1882, Togo, then vice captain.
won a present from his government
for his services and gallantry in lead
ing landing party to quell disturb
ances in Seoul, where the Korean
king had permitted insults to the
Japanese. In 1884 he was sent to OBJ
serve the progress of the Franco
Chinese war, after which he made
special report to his imperial majesty.
In 1891 he was placed in command
of the Naniwa, the warship from
which, three years later, Togo struck
the first blow of the Chinese-Japanes
war. An incident during his first
command nearly closed his career.
At time when war was expected
but not yet decared, the Naniwa fell
in with British steamer, loaded with
Chinese troops. Togo ordered the
British captain to follow him. The
Chinese officers on board the trans
port prevented the captain from do
ing so, whereupon Togo sunk the
vessel with single shot. Togo's ac-
ton caused a controversy among the
authorities on international law, it
being charged that his act was moth
ing short of murder. Threats of re-
prisals by England were made, and
Togos situation was critical
Fearful lest his government be un-
able to support his action, Togo made
this public announcement:
IF my action should prove fatal to
the imperial policy, and bring my
country into difficulties, | will at
once commit harikari (suicide.)"
However, it was finally held that he
was justified by the rules of war
Toga came out of the war a rear
admiral, and received many honors
from his sovereign When Russia in
terferred in the peace negotiations
and Japan became convinced that she
was being robbed of the fruits of her
splendid victory, her rulers foresaw
that their fruits must inevitably
clash with the car in the Orient. To
Admiral Togo was entrusted the task
preparing the Japanese navy for the
struggle which was to come at the
end of a decade. The Japanese states
men 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 command
ed the Maizuru naval station, which
became the cradle of the Japanese
navy. He devoted himself to building
an organization, and studying naval
tactics. When the war clouds appear.
ed, he was appointed Commander-in-
Chief of the United Squadron, com
prising practically all of Japans naval
strength. AS he left for his command,
and was asked if he had any mes
sages for his family he replied.
Nothing in particular; tell them
am well and happy and not to dis.
tract me by sending me letters
He proceeded to Port Arthur, and
two days after the delivery of the Jap.
anese ultimatum to the Russian min
lister, he had successfully attacked
with great damage, the Russian squad
ron lying under the shelter of the for
LITIGATION at that place. Then followed