The Washington herald., 1912-11-26
JAPANESE NERVE.
Remarkable Document Written by
Naval Omcer Facing Doom.

Naval Officer Facing Doom.
on April Is last. Submarine No. 6, OF
the Imperial Japanese navy, was lost
while maneuvering in Hiroshima Bay.
and an on board perished. She was
commanded by Lieut.. Takuma Faoto-
mu, and after the vessel was raised a
letter of farewell from him was found
in her coming tower. This remarkable
document will be read with interest. The
translation from the original published
In the Japanese press appeared in the
Kobe Herald. and is as follows:
Although there Is no excuse to make
for the sinking of his imperial majes-
ty's boat. and for the doing away OF two
subordinates, through my heedlessness,
all on board the boat have discharged
their duties we'll and in everything act
ed calmly until death. Although we are
departing in pursuance OF our duty to
the state. the only regret We have is
due to anxiety lest the men Of the world
misunderstood the matter. and that
hereby a blow may be given to the
future development of the submarines.
Gentlemen, we hope you will be in
creasingly diligent without misunder-
standing the causS OF the accident and
that you will devote your full strength
to investigate everything. and so secure
the future development OF submarines.
II this be done We shall have nothing
to regret.
While going through gasoline subms-
rins exercise we mered too far, and
when we attempted to shut the sluice
valve the chain in the meantime gave
way
Then we tried to close the sluice valve
by hand. but IL was then too late. the
rear part being full of water. and the
hpaf nj ~ q hnnf de-
grees. The boat rested at an angle of
about l. degrees pointing toward the
stern. The switchboard being under
water the electric lights gave out. Of
fensive gas developed and respiration
became difficult. About 10 a. m. on the
18th the boat sank, and under this Of
fensive gas we endeavored TO expel the
water by hand pump.
AT the same time the vessel was be-
ing submerged We expelled the water
from the main tank The light having
gone out. the gauge cannot be seen. but
We know the water has been expelled
from the main tank.
I'VE cannot use the electric current
entirely. the electric liquid IS overflow
in. but no salt water has entered, and
chlorine gas has not developed. We only
rely on the hand pump now. The above
has been written under the light OF the
coming lONeT. We are no" sodhtu "
the water which has made its way in.
Our clothes are pretty wet and we feel
cold. ! had always been used to warn
my shipmates that their behavior Gin
an emergency should be calm and deli
cate. while brave: otherwise We could
not hope for development and progress.
and that at the same time one should
not cultivate excessive deliCacy, lest work
should be retarded. People may be
tempted to ridicuIe this after this fall
ure, but l am perfectly confident that
my previous words have not been mis-
taken. The depth gauge Of the coming
tower indicates 30 feet. and despite the
endeavor to eXpel the water, the pumps
stopped, and did not work after y
o'clock. The depth, in this neighborhoOd
being ten fathoms, the reading may be.
correct.
The officers and men OF submarines
must he appointed from the most dis
t.nguished among the distinguished, or
there will he annoyances in cases like
this. Happily all the members of the
crew have discharged their duties well.
and I am satisfied. ! have always OK
peCted death whenever / left my home.
and. therefore. my will is already in the
drawer at Karaski. CThis remarks ap-
plies only to my private affairs. and ii
Is not necessary. Messrs. Taguchi and
Asami please inform my father Of this)
1890 o'clock. respiration is extraor-
dinarily difficult. I mean I am breath
ing gasoline. I am intoxicated with gas
oline.
1T is l2:40 o'clock