Part 28 (1/2)

We continued to steam slowly to and fro all the morning. The roar of the engagement increased every minute, and all hands became excited.

It was like a cat watching a mouse in a cage. We were so many cats prowling about the cage in which numerous Chinese ”mice” were calmly seated watching us, while the dogs of war inland were worrying the dogs ash.o.r.e. We could do nothing at our end, though it was pleasant to see the No. 3 and No. 4 squads had begun to throw sh.e.l.ls at ”long bowls” in the direction of the eastern batteries to support the land attack.

It was aggravating to see the big Chinese ”mice” steaming inside the harbour, followed by some small craft--like micelets--between the islands, and a.s.sisting the forts, yet never venturing out into the gulf. But as the day wore into late afternoon a great white smoke arose on sh.o.r.e, and a fearful explosion rang the knell of the fort; with telescopes we could see the Chinese running away.

The admiral at this time signalled our No. 1 fleet to join him, and we went back to the long line, spreading ourselves all across the harbour outside. Then an order went out to try the boom that night, and the Chinese began to find our range from the islands, whence they began ”pilling” us at frequent intervals, with the setting sun behind them, which interfered with the j.a.panese accuracy of fire. We managed to creep in to the east side and keep up the watch. Tomi was right; there was no hammocks slung. The men lay around the guns on mats.

That night was cold, and when I rose, s.h.i.+vering, I was glad to get warm clothing. As the day pa.s.sed the snow and sleet came heavily down, and at last the storm hid everything. The wind and sea rose, and the thermometer and barometer fell fast. The s.h.i.+ps were then fully exposed to the fearful storm on a lee sh.o.r.e; the thermometer was below freezing, and all chance of reducing Wei-hai-Wei more distant than ever! The climax for us came when the admiral, with three squadrons, retreated to the shelter of Yengching Bay, leaving us--the first squad--on guard in the snow and storm.

Yet not a single murmur arose from the s.h.i.+ps which continued to watch the harbour, though the chances of the escape of the Chinese in such weather, and in such a gale, were infinitesimal. So the last day of January and the first of February pa.s.sed in fearful discomfort, and without any opportunity of distinction, though all the other j.a.panese s.h.i.+ps were in shelter, and thus left the Chinese to their own devices.

When the cat is away the mice will play, and this proverb was fitly ill.u.s.trated in this case, for on the 1st of February Admiral Ting destroyed all the guns in the western forts.

This was a very sensible move on his part, because he knew that if the enemy attacked and captured them the j.a.panese could have turned the Chinese guns against his fleet in harbour! So while the storm raged the Chinese sailors spiked the guns,[2] and thus caused a breathing s.p.a.ce for the beleaguered inhabitants of the forts and s.h.i.+ps. On the 3rd there was some exchange of ”civilities,” but the snow again caused a truce. That evening we had a little consultation on board the _Naniwa_, and the speculations as regarded our success were numerous and varied in their way, but the ultimate result was never doubted.

[2] An Englishman led the sailors that time.

”We must win,” said one. ”We hold the place now. We have seen the Chinese retreating. We have captured most of the forts. The Chinese may as well surrender!”

”They are too proud,” said another. ”The eyes of Europe are upon them.”

”And on us,” interrupted a third. ”Shall we give way now? Certainly not!”

”What can we do then?” I ventured to ask (Tomi translated). ”Cannot we attack by sea and break the boom? such things have been done.”

I had read of this, and though I could not at the time recall the historical incident, the fact was impressed upon my mind.

”We must await orders. But it must come to that,” said a senior.

”Mr. Julius will help when the time comes,” said Tomi. ”He will be on board one of the boats, I daresay.”

”If permitted,” I said. ”When the weather moderates we shall see.”

In this way we tried to cheer ourselves, and in other ways we managed to pa.s.s the terrible days of wind and snow. The s.h.i.+ps were completely covered with snow, an inch thick, at least, even though the roll of the vessels shook off the flakes continually. The thermometer went down to twenty-five degrees below freezing, and that was quite sufficient for us at sea. When on the 3rd the weather improved we heard the news announced that the torpedo-boats were to have an innings, and I became excited.

I had never actually witnessed the attack of a torpedo. When formerly in the _Naniwa_ I had seen a Chinese vessel sunk off Hai-yang, but had only seen the effects. Now, if permitted, I would perhaps see something new! A very novel experience indeed, because torpedoes had never been used in warfare before then. At intervals we had been exchanging shots and experimenting upon the boom, but none of us in our s.h.i.+p had been engaged. We were policemen, and little else. But the attempt had to be made, and, by what I may call accident, I was in the first attack.

There was an officer named Kosaki--a splendid fellow--who had done excellent service under fire before in a torpedo-boat, and he was attached to boat No. 6. There were ten boats employed, and the news was known that day, and there was talk of volunteers trying to proceed in her, for they all knew that ”No. 6” was bound to do something! Tomi told me this. He had been ordered to carry a report to the main squadron, and suggested that I should accompany him.

”Perhaps you may have a chance to join the torpedo-boat,” he said. I thanked him, and m.u.f.fled up we were rowed to the flags.h.i.+p, where Tomi delivered his message. Then we perceived that the first squadron was closing in, and we waited on board the greater s.h.i.+p, which was firing at the Lui-kung Island as well as the smaller one. Lui-kung is precipitous and una.s.sailable: the batteries were concealed, and some of the guns, I think, were depressed and raised, like the Moncrieff carriages at Woolwich long ago. The s.h.i.+ps could not reach in close: the water is shallow, and the guns were well served. Meantime the Chinese rested behind the shelter of the boom.

”I hear we shall attack the boom to-night,” said Tomi.

”Is there any chance of my finding a berth in the flotilla?” I asked.

”Ask the commander,” said my friend. ”The captain of No. 6 is a warrant officer. He might consent. Shall I try for you?”

I nodded a.s.sent. Perhaps it was a silly ambition! Tomi had a chance and grasped it. As the ”captain” of the boat was descending the side Tomi arrested him, and made the request. Something was said, and then Tomi returned to me.

”Well?” I asked, feeling rather ”half-hearted” about the result.