Part 20 (1/2)
Nor had the s.h.i.+ps themselves been forgotten. In turn each had been dry-docked, repaired, defects made good, down to the tightening of a loose screw, machinery overhauled and parts replaced where thought necessary, bottoms cleared of weed and coated afresh with anti-fouling composition, and hulls repainted, until each s.h.i.+p looked as though she had just been taken out of a gla.s.s case. And now there they all lay, in Chin-hai harbour, with boilers chipped clean of deposit and filled with fresh water, flues, tubes, and furnaces carefully-cleaned, new fire-bars inserted where needed, fires carefully laid and ready to be lighted at a moment's notice, and every bunker packed with specially selected Welsh coal, purchased for this very purpose, long ago.
Furnace fires were at once lighted and steam raised; and before midnight the old _Chin-yen_--looking very spruce and fit, despite her age--and her three companion cruisers quietly got their anchors and proceeded to sea, while aboard the s.h.i.+ps still in harbour the crews were busily engaged in making the preparations referred to in the general order, before retiring to what was for some of them to be their last night's sleep on earth. As for me, I sat in my cabin, far into the night, writing long letters to my friends at home, so that, in the event of anything untoward happening to me, they might know that loving thoughts of them were in my heart up to the last.
In Chin-hai harbour the morning of 27th May 1905 dawned bright and clear, and at five o'clock the crews of the j.a.panese s.h.i.+ps partook of a substantial meal before proceeding to the task of clearing for action.
They were still partaking of this meal when a marconi-gram arrived from the _s.h.i.+nano Maru_, one of our scouts, informing us that the Russian fleet was in sight, entering the eastern strait; that it was impossible as yet to say how many s.h.i.+ps were present, as the atmosphere was misty; also that there was a high sea running in which the Russian s.h.i.+ps were rolling heavily.
This was the news that Togo had been anxiously awaiting; and now that he had it, and knew that the enemy was making for the precise spot where it had been planned to meet him, the little Admiral gave vent to a great sigh of relief, and ordered the signal to be made for the protected cruiser squadron to weigh and lead the rest of the fleet out to sea.
This order was at once carried out, quietly and deliberately--for there was plenty of time on hand, the _Chitose_, Admiral Kotaoka's flags.h.i.+p, and her four consorts leading, followed by the _Kasagi_ and her four consorts, under Admiral Dewa; these being followed in turn by the _Akitsus.h.i.+ma_ and her three consorts, under Admiral Uriu. These three squadrons, with that which had proceeded to sea some hours previously, under the leaders.h.i.+p of the younger Togo, to draw the Russians into the eastern strait, const.i.tuted the protected cruiser division, to which had been a.s.signed the duty of attacking and hara.s.sing the enemy's rear.
Following these went the main battle squadron, with the _Mikasa_, flying Togo's flag, proudly leading, followed by the battles.h.i.+ps _s.h.i.+kis.h.i.+ma, Fuji_, and _Asahi_, with the new and powerful cruisers _Kasuga_ and _Niss.h.i.+n_ bringing up the rear. Then, at a short interval, followed the _Idzumo_, flying Admiral Kamimura's flag, and the _Iwate, Yak.u.mo, Adzuma, Asama_, and _Tokiwa_, in the order named, every s.h.i.+p flaunting two big battle-flags in the morning breeze. Once clear of the harbour, we parted company from the protected cruiser division, which headed away South-South-East, to get in the rear of the enemy, while we of the battle-line steered a trifle to the south of east for the battleground which Togo had selected. On the port side of the line steamed a flotilla of j.a.pan's fastest destroyers, told off by Togo to act as dispatch boats, in the event of the flags.h.i.+p's wireless apparatus being put out of action, or her masts shot away.
Once clear of the land, we soon ran into an atmosphere of haze and a rising sea which set the long line of s.h.i.+ps rolling ponderously; and as the vessels rolled and plunged, flinging heavy showers of spray over their weather bows, each captain stood in his chart-room, with a chart of the strait spread open on the table before him, anxiously awaiting the next news of the enemy. These charts had been, for convenience'
sake, carefully divided up into a series of numbered squares; and about nine o'clock the expected message arrived. It ran--”The enemy is in two hundred and three,” that being the number of the square on the chart occupied by the Russian fleet at that moment. No sooner was the message decoded and its purport made known than mutual congratulations were exchanged; for even as the fall of 203 Metre Hill into the hands of our soldiers had been the prelude to the surrender of Port Arthur, so now the fact of the Russian fleet being in square 203 on the chart was accepted as an omen of another victory.
The fine weather of the early morning had by this time completely deserted us; the sky had become overcast, Tsus.h.i.+ma's conical summit was hidden by a great bank of heavy, louring cloud, the grey, dreary-looking sea was running in confused, turbulent, foam-flecked surges through which the big s.h.i.+ps wallowed heavily, flinging great combers of yeasty froth from either bow, while the little torpedo craft, smothered in spray, were tossed about like corks. Yet, despite the gloomy aspect of the weather, the j.a.panese fleet presented a magnificent and inspiriting sight as it ploughed steadily through the leaping, mist-flecked sea, each s.h.i.+p keeping station with the most perfect accuracy, with her two-- and in some cases three--great battle-flags snapping defiantly in the freshening breeze.
It was shortly after six bells in the forenoon watch when we at length received a message which must have removed a load of anxiety from our little Admiral's mind. It came from the _Izumi_--one of the s.h.i.+ps which had been dispatched on the previous night for the purpose of luring the enemy into the eastern channel--and reported that at length her captain had succeeded in ascertaining the full force of the enemy's fleet, and that it consisted of eleven battles.h.i.+ps of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd cla.s.ses, nine cruisers, nine auxiliary cruisers, and nine destroyers.
These were heavy odds to face with our four battles.h.i.+ps, eight armoured cruisers, and eighteen protected cruisers; yet never for a moment did we shrink from the encounter, for we were, one and all, _determined_ to conquer. Moreover, the weather, gloomy as it was, was in our favour, for our s.h.i.+ps, having been painted the peculiar grey tint that had been found so effective in the atmosphere of the Sea of j.a.pan, were scarcely visible at a distance of four miles, while the heavy sea would probably give our own gunners a great advantage over those of the enemy.
It was about a quarter to two o'clock in the afternoon, and we were steaming in line ahead, with the _Mikasa_ leading, our course being about South-South-West, when, the fog thinning somewhat, we suddenly saw, away on our port bow, a great cloud of black smoke, underneath which we presently discerned several large s.h.i.+ps approaching in two lines, their black hulls and yellow funnels showing up with remarkable distinctness against the light grey background of fog. Instantly every telescope and pair of binoculars in the j.a.panese fleet was levelled at them in an endeavour to identify the craft in sight--for we were intimately acquainted with the characteristics of every s.h.i.+p in the enemy's fleet--and presently we recognised the big, three-funnelled craft at the head of the port line as the _Osl.a.b.i.a_, while the two-funnelled battles.h.i.+p leading the starboard line was undoubtedly the _Suvaroff_, Admiral Rojdestvensky's flags.h.i.+p. Astern of her followed the _Alexander Third, Borodino_, and _Orel_; while in the wake of the _Osl.a.b.i.a_ we were able to identify the _Sissoi Veliki, Navarin_, and _Admiral Nakhimoff_, with a long string of other craft at that moment too far distant for identification.
While we were still endeavouring to identify some of the more distant s.h.i.+ps, the _Mikasa_ made the general signal: ”The fate of our Empire depends upon our efforts. Let every man do his utmost!” It was greeted with a great roar of ”Banzai Nippon!” which swept along the line of the fleet like the rumbling of distant thunder. The crews of the s.h.i.+ps had, of course, been at quarters, and the officers at fire-control stations, for some time, and now we began to receive from the range-finders the range of the _Osl.a.b.i.a_, the leading Russian s.h.i.+p. ”Fifteen thousand yards”, ”Fourteen thousand”, ”Twelve thousand,” came the reports in rapid succession as the two fleets rushed toward each other.
At a distance of twelve thousand yards the _Mikasa's_ helm was s.h.i.+fted and the course of the j.a.panese line altered four points to the eastward, as though our purpose was to pa.s.s along the Russian line to port, exchanging broadsides as we pa.s.sed; and so the enemy evidently understood, for he came steadily on. But we knew differently. Already every forward gun in the fleet was bearing steadily upon the _Osl.a.b.i.a_, and when, in obedience to a signal from the flags.h.i.+p, the speed of the j.a.panese fleet quickened up to fifteen knots, we knew that the great battle was about to begin.
It began a few minutes earlier than we antic.i.p.ated, for our range-finders had just given the distance of the head of the Russian column as nine thousand yards, when two bright flashes, followed by a great cloud of white smoke, broke from the _Osl.a.b.i.a's_ fore-turret, and presently we saw two great fountains of foam leap into the air some distance beyond the _Mikasa_. As though this had been a signal, the _Suvaroff, Alexander Third_, and _Sissoi Veliki_ instantly followed suit, and a second or two later we heard the loud, angry muttering of 12-inch sh.e.l.ls hurtling toward us. But some flew over, and others fell short; not one touched us; and as the heavy, rumbling _boom_ of the reports reached our ears, the _Mikasa_ signalled another s.h.i.+ft of helm a further four points east, and before the Russians fully realised what we were about, the j.a.panese fleet was ”crossing the T,”--that is to say, pa.s.sing athwart the enemy's course.
Every gun which the Russians could bring to bear upon us was now being loaded and fired as rapidly as possible, so that in a very short time the enemy's s.h.i.+ps were enveloped in whirling wreaths of powder smoke, yet not a single j.a.panese gun had thus far spoken.
”Six thousand yards” was presently signalled by the range-finders; and at the same moment three shots roared forth from the turrets of the _Mikasa, s.h.i.+kis.h.i.+ma_, and _Fuji_. We knew at what target they were aimed, and those of us who happened to have our gla.s.ses at our eyes saw a bright flash and a cloud of smoke suddenly burst into view on the _Osl.a.b.i.a's_ conning tower. One of our 12-inch sh.e.l.ls had found its mark, and--as we subsequently learned--instantly killed Admiral Folkersam! This instant success told us that we might unhesitatingly rely upon the accuracy of our range-finders, and at once every s.h.i.+p in the j.a.panese battle-line opened fire, first upon the _Osl.a.b.i.a_ and then upon the _Suvaroff_, our manoeuvre of ”crossing the T” enabling us to bring every one of our broadside guns upon the enemy, while he, in turn, could only fire a few of his fore-turret guns, the rest being blanketed by the s.h.i.+ps leading the line.
The careful, deliberate fire of twelve s.h.i.+ps upon two could have but one result; the _Osl.a.b.i.a_ and _Suvaroff_ both received a most fearful punis.h.i.+ng; the unprotected portions of their hulk were blown to ribbons, dense columns of dark smoke poured from the _Osl.a.b.i.a_, and presently it was seen that she and the _Suvaroff_ were on fire and burning furiously.
Both s.h.i.+ps, as though instinctively, swerved away to the eastward, anxious not to shorten the distance any farther between themselves and the j.a.panese, and presently both the _Osl.a.b.i.a_ and the _Suvaroff_ fell out of their respective lines and dropped to the rear, with both their own lines between them and the enemy.
Then came the turn of the _Alexander Third_, which was now leading the Russian starboard line; and she got even more severely peppered than her battered sisters in misfortune, for the range had now dwindled to four thousand yards, and every shot of ours was telling with terrible effect.
It must not be supposed, however, that while the enemy was being punished so severely, we were going scatheless. We were not; very far from it, although we were giving a good deal better than we received.
Sh.e.l.ls were by this time falling pretty thickly all around us, while hits were becoming steadily less infrequent. The first to come aboard the _Yak.u.mo_ was a 12-inch sh.e.l.l which struck our fore barbette on the starboard side, glanced upward, striking the conning tower and exploding, the fragments wrecking a couple of ventilators, a boat, and freely puncturing our fore funnel, while one piece swept my cap off my head and overboard. The _Asama_, however, next but one astern of the _Yak.u.mo_, suffered very much more severely than we did, three heavy sh.e.l.ls. .h.i.tting her abaft in quick succession, throwing her steering gear out of action, and causing her to leak so badly that she had to drop out of the line and be left astern, executing temporary repairs.
By this time--that is to say, shortly before six bells in the afternoon watch--the two fleets were heading about East-South-East, running in parallel lines, our own line leading that of the enemy by about a mile, while the _Alexander Third_ was, like the _Osl.a.b.i.a_ and _Suvaroff_, in flames and blazing furiously. A few minutes later it was seen that the _Sissoi Veliki_ was also on fire, she being now the leading s.h.i.+p of the Russian port line of battle, and, in accordance with Togo's tactics, the object, with the _Navarin_ and _Admiral Nakhimoff_, of the concentrated fire of our battle-line. Meanwhile, our protected cruiser squadrons had come upon the scene and were hara.s.sing the Russian rear so effectively that, aided by the vigorous attack of our battle-line upon the Russian van, the enemy's line was breaking up in confusion.
Togo now gave the order for us to close in upon the enemy's van, himself leading the way in the _Mikasa_, with the result that the leading Russian s.h.i.+ps, in order to avoid being crossed and raked, were compelled to continually bear ever more and more away to the southward, until finally they swept right round and were all heading north once more, with the _Alexander Third, Suvaroff_, and _Osl.a.b.i.a_ all out of the line and practically out of action.
It is difficult, nay more it is impossible, for the captain of a s.h.i.+p taking part in a general action to note and remember every phase and detail of such action; he is so intensely preoccupied in the task of fighting and manoeuvring his own s.h.i.+p that only certain detached incidents of the engagements impress themselves upon his memory strongly enough to be permanently remembered; thus I am able to recall that about this period of the battle I came to the definite conclusion that we had won, notwithstanding the fact that several of our s.h.i.+ps, including the _Yak.u.mo_, had suffered severely. The _Asama_, for example, was at least temporarily out of action, while the _Kasuga_--one of the two new cruisers purchased from the Argentine just before the outbreak of the war--had all three of her heavy guns rendered useless.
By this time our protected cruiser division had crept up on the starboard quarter of the Russian line, and was vigorously attacking in that direction, while our battle-line, to port of the Russians, was as vigorously pounding the enemy's front, thus bringing the Russian line between two fires. It was about this time that one of those brief interludes of comparative inaction which occur in most battles afforded me an opportunity to look round a bit and obtain my first comprehensive view of the battle since its commencement.
The wind, which had been blowing fresh during the earlier part of the day, had been gradually dropping, and was now little more than a mere breathing, but the sky still continued overcast and gloomy, its shadow, falling upon the sullenly heaving but no longer breaking seas, causing the tumbling waters to look almost black where they were not veiled by the drifting smoke wreaths or slowly moving patches of fog. It was the obscuration caused by this combination of smoke and fog that had produced the interval of comparative inaction of which I have spoken, for it rendered accurate firing difficult, and our s.h.i.+ps, in accordance with Togo's determination not to waste ammunition, were only firing occasional single shots, when the hull of an opponent became distinctly visible, although the Russians were blazing away at us as recklessly as ever, thus enveloping themselves in an almost continuous veil of smoke, which was renewed as quickly as it drifted away.