The sun., 1916-01-09

hHeSt naTDOT OF the province with
view to converting II into "a naval base
OF her own. The news OF the conciu-
sion OF the secret convention between
China and America was received In
Toxic with great astonishment. The
Mikados Government at once lodged
vigorous protest with the Govern
ments at Pekin and Washington. Yet
America, resorting to "A policy Of eva
sion. gave no satisfactory answer.
The sinister intentions Of the Amer
lean Government became obvious when
the naval base OF Pearl Harbor at
Honolulu was completed. On the pre-
text OF celebrating its opening the
United States mustered most Of her
warships In Hawaiian waters.
When the celebration was over the
President ordered naval manpuvre
OF an unprecedented scope. The first
Meet. consisting of eighteen dread
noughts. with the usual number of
minor vessels. was instructed to pro-
ceed 10 the Philippines. visiting Japa-
nese ports on the way. The second
fleet of twelve battleships was to
| cruise the Pacific In the direction of
the Samoan group. II was obvious
that the American Government meant
to intimidate us by demonstration
of her great naval prowess.
BY coincidence. our navy was at the
same time also holding a manPuvre in
that part of the Pacific stretching from
Formosa To the BONN Islands. When
Americas first squadron Of eighteen
dreadnoughts entered the Bay of Toxic
there were no japanese warships 10
4. AH-.l-
war were all engaged in the manPuvre.
But the forts on the bay fred salutes
In honor of the visiting squadron and
our officials and people extended to
the American officers and crews the
most cordial welcome.
The imposing appearance of the
eighteen floating castles made "A pro-
found impression upon the minds Of
+, the spectators. Even the jingoistlc
journals Of Toxic. which had been fond
of scoring the humiliating foreign pol
Icy OF the Government in dealing with
America, were impelled to speak with
moderation in the face of such an i'm
presslve display OF Americas naval
strength.
Our courteous treatment of the vis-
iting fleet from America was easily
interpreted by American newspapers
as admission Of the infe-iority OF our
navy. They were elated over what
they considered the master stroke OF
American strategy. and urged the Gov
ernment at Washington to seize upon
this psychological moment to attain its
long coveted end in China.
| In the meantime our warships, hav-
ing completed the manPuvre. were re-
turning to the naval harbor Of Sasebo.
They had been instructed by the Naval
Stan Board to take a circuitous route.
SO that they might not meet the Amer
lean fleet. which had left Yokohama
for the Philippines. The board took
this precaution in order to forestall
any untoward incident not unlikely to
result from the meeting Of squadrons
representing two nations far from
friendly toward each other.
To the perplexity Of the japanese
|. the American fleet, having followed ar
extraordinary route. Unexpectedly ap.
peared upon the horizon at the point
toward which our vessels were speed
! ing. II was obvious that the Ameri
cans. having somehow discovered the
; change of route Of our feet, delib
erately came to confront it for the oh
vious purpose Of parading the proves
OF their fighting craft before the eye!
T. of our crews.
Fortunately for the empire tn
meeting Of the two fleets was no
marred by any awkward incident
, They exchanged the usual seventee
salutes and proceeded on their re
spective courses.
! As our squadron went past tn
! American line our officers could nc
but admire the magnificent presenc
of the American dreadnoughts, bull
. without regard for cost and labO
Slowly the American fleet vanished |
the pallid haze of distance. when thre
D aeroplanes came chasing our war
ships. and hovering over them for
few minutes sped back in the direC
] ton OF the American fleet. whenc
= they had evidently been sent ou
n What did they follow us for?
Il
: Toward sundown that day tn
< weather became threatening. Whe
n night fell rain poured down in toI
rents, and the wind ragged with tn
: ferocity of a tornado. The ocean wa
stirred from the very ottou dHu W
r huge battleships. beaten by grindln
s waves, quivered from stem to ster1
Neither the Japanese fleet nor tn
i American could forge ahead.
9 Suddenly a huge pillar OF fire an
: smoke rose from where the America
: fleet was struggling with the ten
9 pest. 1t went up, piercing the black
d ness OF night, and for an instai
o threw a ghostly light against II
grim sky. AZ the crews OF our vel
sells looked up In amazement tr'
IF mendOus sound rent the air. drownln
q for a second the roar OF the wint
.. and the howl of the sea- Our ship
y though miles distant from the Amer
10 can position. felt the terrific impact
% the explosion.
a The searchlights Of the America
u ships were instantly focused upon Il
Q scene of the explosion. It was no
= obvious that the flagship Manila VI
% the victim Of q fatal accident. In II
y dassiing rays oe searchiights the maj
niflcsnt dreadnousht Of sb.oov tor