THE BATTLE IN THE YELLOW SEA--THE EVIL GENIUS OF "FENG SHUI"
It would not be interesting to the reader to peruse the details of our
cruise off the Chinese and Corean coasts after the declaration of war
till the middle of September, but a passing reference to the actions of
the squadron may be made.
The fleet was under the command of Admiral Ito,[1] who later made an
attack on Port Arthur and Wei-hai-Wei, which are opposite each other in
the Gulf of Pechili, the latter port being in Shangtung, and the former
in Manchuria, North China. The admiral did not communicate his ideas
to many people, but it leaked out in the fleet that he was keeping the
Chinese in check while his transports were carrying the Japanese troops
to Corea. Meantime the Chinese fleet remained in harbour at
Wei-hai-Wei, and the Coreans assisted the Japanese troops. So the
Chinese soldiers were marching southwards, and the Japanese northwards,
the respective fleets being in the Yellow Sea.
[1] Now "Marquis" Ito, Prime Minister of Japan.
The Yalu River separates China from Corea, and by that entrance the
Chinese came by sea, the land forces came from Manchuria. The Japanese
from Chemulpo, Gensan, and Fusan, the fleet having left the Taidong
River, which is across the peninsula, opposite to Gensan, cruised along
the Corean shore searching for transports; and the _Naniwa_, in which I
was, was one of the First Flying Squadron, composed of four ships,
_Yoshino_, _Naniwa_, _Akitsushima_, and _Takachiho_.
This was the arrangement in September when, on the 16th of the month,
we left Taidong River, our division being commanded by Rear-Admiral
Kozo in the _Yoshino_. The main squadron, commanded by Vice-Admiral
Ito Sukahiro, was inclusive of the flagship _Matsushima_ and five other
ships, with a couple of small vessels of no great importance.
While in Corea I managed to get a kit and outfit, and though feeling
strange in my new surroundings, I was treated well, and in a most
friendly manner as an Englishman. Many of my messmates in the fleet
had been to England, and some had studied there, so they knew that a
naval cadet was not an upstart, and if he were he would be quickly
brought to his bearings. At anyrate I got on very well with the
Japanese officers and "subs," though the crew were not so friendly.
"When shall we find the Chinese fleet?" I asked one day, when after
cruising about not even a trail of smoke had been visible. But the
reply was a half shrug and a smile; no one knew when, but everybody was
evidently impatient. All were prepared for action,--well disciplined
and trained. The admiral had confidence in officers and men, and they
obeyed orders calmly and smilingly; and if they looked unenergetic, and
at times listless, they quickly "perked up" when "business" was
"toward."
It seemed to me curious that the ships had not fallen in with the
Chinese as everyone anticipated. Every "Jack"-Jap was full of fight,
strong language (_not_ swearing), and disdain of the Chinese. But we
ascertained that the astute John had landed his soldiers in transports,
under the protection of his warships, while the Japanese fleet had been
temporarily refreshing themselves in the Taidong River. The Chinese on
the 16th September landed their troops at the Yalu, and returned home
thence--at least they started back homewards across the Yellow Sea.
The Japanese vessels made for Hai-yang, a large island off the
Manchurian Peninsula, and considerable irritation was displayed when
the lookouts declared that no Chinese ships were in sight. The chief
officers were on the bridge or in the tower, and as the morning wore on
and nothing appeared, the disappointment increased.
Suddenly a hail startled some of us, and the Japanese smile widened.
"What's the news?" I asked my neighbour.
He could not reply in English, but pointed to the horizon over the
port-bow. We were proceeding under easy steam, the day was fine and
pleasant, and I managed to make out a darkening or smudge upon the
horizon in the north-east.
"Smoke!" I exclaimed aloud. "The Chinese ships, I expect."
My Japanese friend at that moment came up to announce to me the great
news. The Chinese fleet was approaching!
Then the discipline of the Japanese sailor was observed. At once, at
the word "beat to quarters," every man and officer was in his place,
and the proper arrangements were made for disposing of the wounded and
supplying ammunition. In fact, so far as I could ascertain at the
time, and subsequently by inquiry and reading, the condition of the
Japanese navy is equal to that of any European nation, if it is
deficient in the size of the men and in numbers. The cool and yet
defiant manner of the crew struck me greatly, and all the vessels went
into action like bulldogs.
The day was beautifully fine, with a calm, almost quiet, blue sea, over
which twenty vessels at least were approaching each other. In the
arrangements I was in a measure overlooked, and kept out of sight of
the officers as much as possible, watching ahead. All the ships had
cleared for action and beat to quarters. Eight bells,--noon.
There's a signal! I wondered what it meant, but I soon saw the object
of it. The flagship _Matsushima_ was quickly making the arrangements,
and our ship, with three others, was commanded to proceed to attack the
Chinese. These "flyers" steamed ahead, the _Yoshino_ in advance,
against the great Chinese ironclads, ten or twelve immense vessels, of
different sizes and speed, like the Japanese, but two of the Chinese
ships, named _Lai-yuen_ and _Ching-yuen_, came first, the rest
extending behind them like wildfowl.
As the four Japanese vessels went on they did not fire. Then a most
fearful roar arose in front, a mile off, and the sea became alive with
spray and jets of water.
"Shell-fire," whispered my friend as he passed, carrying an order below
astern. Shells! I had heard of shell-firing, but never had expected
to see it. The sea was torn up all around the Japanese as they steamed
swiftly on, but certainly our vessel was not hit, and I did not see any
man touched.
But soon after all the vessels began, and such a fearful din and such a
pall of smoke it is impossible to describe properly. The concussion of
the big guns deafened me, the spitting of the smaller ones irritated
me; and yet we passed the enemy with little damage to the _Naniwa_, and
without a single casualty amid the crew. If anyone had told me at the
time that the ship would escape serious injury I would have derided him.
Now, how shall I describe this naval battle, as I am not one of those
wonderful correspondents who see everything at once, and that amid the
smoke and thunder and crashing of shot and guns and shells, 'mid the
shouts and cries of victory and the shrieks of the dying, or the more
ghastly wounded? I could see the other ships coming up behind us in
our wake, the _Naniwa_ was the last ship of the leading squadron, and
the Chinese phalanx advanced, firing steadily and punishing us. I
heard fearful thuds and crashes beside me, and saw, amid the white and
murky smoke of the guns, flames shooting up and flashes from the
broadsides and tops of our opponents.
I sheltered myself as much as possible, and waited while the heavy
smoke drifted away slowly. We could see signals above it, astern, from
the flagship, and I was thankful when our speed carried us on beyond
the Chinese vessels, though the din and the smoke became more fearful
each moment. I had no real idea, or rather had no idea of the reality,
of war. I had read of sailors _seeing_ cannon-shot coming towards
them, and of others ducking before shells; but I saw no missiles, and,
until I saw the result, did not know where to look for them.
After passing the Chinese ships, and firing like demons until the ship
actually quivered on the glassy water, we all--I mean the first four
vessels--left the enemy on the starboard quarter, and turned to port.
We had passed thus along in front of, and to the starboard side of, the
Chinese, and now, in response to signals, rounded back, starboarding
the helm, and came _behind_ the advancing Chinese, having driven the
small vessels away to the north.
Then the conflict began again for us, while the main squadron were
attacking in front. I could perceive that some of our ships were
getting badly hurt. One of the Japanese vessels came through the
Chinese line most bravely, but came out shattered and in flames. Her
bulwarks were smashed, and her deck shambles enveloped in fire, as she
had met two Chinese dragons, veritable monsters, iron-cased.
Then we came in behind the main squadron, as the Chinese swept on and
round to starboard to cut off our stragglers, and the main line of our
ships came on on their quarters and gave them none. The "Rising Suns,"
their rayed naval ensigns, blowing out in the draught--for there was
little wind--advanced with deadly intent, the flags floating proudly
amid the smoke and flames.
Close came the fire, and still closer, as the Japanese "circled" in two
divisions, and in opposite directions, around the Chinese ships.
Shells crashed and shot thundered, bullets whizzed and sang in all
directions, and over all the flame-streaked smoke of guns and furnaces
poured out and hung upon the scene, as if to conceal man's awful
passions and fierce conflicts. Through this Gehenna we rushed at great
speed, tossing the water upon our sterns and bows, to leave it seething
astern jotted with plunging shot.
One Chinese vessel, in particular, I noticed, which was most fearfully
punished. We dosed her well, and passing on saw her sinking slowly,
certainly, her decks battered and bathed in blood, her dead and wounded
left, and her living crew shouting for the aid which never could come,
as the ship heeled over and sank helplessly, the cries of the doomed
Chinese being audible even above the fearful roar of the opposing guns.
[Illustration: ONE CHINESE VESSEL WAS MOST FEARFULLY PUNISHED]
We, the _Naniwa's_, continued our chase of two Chinese ships for a
while longer, and would have destroyed them willingly had not our
captain seen a signal of recall. As he had both eyes--and not one
blind side--he was compelled by discipline to return to the main
squadron. It was then about half-past three p.m. In all these
encounters the _Naniwa_, being last in the line, did not receive any
damage, nor did I see a dead or severely injured man.
But when we came near the flagship I learned what war was.
We had come back as ordered at full speed to the main body, and found
them all in full conflict, the terrible effects of the heavy guns being
visible to the unaided eye, and the shells were still causing flames to
break out in the opposing ships. One of the big Chinese ships tried to
ram us, and we had a narrow escape. I ran forward to my young Japanese
friend, and stood by him. But the ships made such a tremendous attack
upon her that she was almost helpless.
"Suppose she _had_ rammed us?" I said nervously to my friend.
"We should have been picked up," he replied carelessly; and this cool
reply from a Japanese lad is deserving of mention. It was worthy of a
young Nelson, who in such surroundings could quietly contemplate the
sinking of the ship, in full assurance that his mates would pick up all
they could even in the midst of the battle.
This faith was justified in some degree, for the great Chinese ship was
shot through. Time after time the Japanese shot and shell struck her,
battered her, splintered and dinted her. Her inner fittings must have
been shattered, and her guns dismounted. Still she persevered. She
pluckily retaliated until we perceived she was listing to starboard
more and more, her port-side being less exposed. She was sinking.
Sinking! Yes, I could see she was settling amid the smoke, and she
herself in flames. An awful sight! We, with other ships, kept our
circular course around the poor vessel; it seemed cowardly. She was
burning fiercely; great masses of smoke rose up and drifted over the
ships, and yet she did not strike, but fought it out, until at length,
blazing, she plunged suddenly down, and slowly disappeared, hissing at
her enemies, shrouding them in what seemed a deep shadow after the
brightness of flame. It was like the sudden sunset on the sea.
Then I felt almost sick and angry with my friends. The fearful
destruction of life which I had witnessed made me feel "bad," and
savage too. I was curiously placed, and was debating with myself, when
a great shell, and then another, from the big guns of the Chinese
flagship came plump upon the Japanese flagship. No one, I think, who
has not witnessed the effect of modern artillery can conceive of the
destruction which these two shells caused in the ship attacked. My
reflections were suddenly banished.
Fancy a mass of metal discharged into a warship's steel armour, and
bending it, shattering it, smashing the gun behind the shield, and
dashing on almost unchecked, plunging almost into the magazine,
exploding the ammunition near it, and killing all there. Then, not
satisfied, it set fire to the ship, which burned for a long time. The
other shell apparently had made a big hole in the port-side, by the
lower deck, struck upwards to the opposite side, and sent a gun
overboard, or tumbled it below. The loss of life was tremendous; about
eighty killed and wounded by these two discharges alone, besides the
other damage done by the explosion of the quick-firing ammunition which
lay around. Had the fire thus caused reached the magazine, the
_Matsushima's_ career must have ended then and there, and the Japs
would have had to lament a terrible loss in their admiral. As it was
the guns had to be manned by marines and recruits afterwards.
But the _Ping-yuen_, which had done this damage, was also seriously
injured and "fired." Had not other ships come to her assistance, I
think she must have been destroyed. Thus the battle raged until the
Chinese, outmanoeuvred, separated themselves from their enemy and
dispersed.
The evening was by this time closing in. It was already five o'clock.
The great Chinese ironclads continued the contest as long as possible,
their action being directed by the German officer--the same, I was
given to understand, who had been released with the passengers in the
_Kowshing_. Why this German soldier was intrusted with the control of
the Chinese squadron was one of the topsy-turvy "Celestial" decisions
which happen in China, where the admiral himself had served in a
military capacity.
The firing slackened. The Japanese ships had quite outmanoeuvred their
opponents, and at length they steamed away from the fatal circle on
which the "Rising Suns" threw a lurid light. The circling vessels
moving to the attack in opposite directions gave the Chinese no
quarter; the latter became confused and fought independently, while the
Japanese, as I can testify, kept touch with each other, and implicitly
obeyed the signals of Admiral Ito.
So the Chinese fleet was crumpled up, the great ironclads alone
displayed confidence, and they, at dusk, retreated, followed by the
Japanese at a respectful distance, fearing torpedoes, of which the Japs
had not one in action, having left their boats in harbour.
At six o'clock the battle was ended. Then, while slowly pursuing the
enemy, the doctor's report was presented. To my unbounded astonishment
the _Naniwa_ had absolutely not one man reported dead or even wounded.
No doubt there were some contusions, but the hands assembled later, and
not a man was missing at quarters.
As soon as I could, I joined my young Japanese friend and engaged him
in conversation.
"Have the Chinese cut and run?" I asked, after some few remarks and
congratulations had passed. "What shall we do now?"
"Pursue them. You perceive we are following them in a parallel course.
They will take shelter in Wei-hai-Wei."
"But has not some change taken place in the ships. I see the flagship
has been doing something."
"Your eyes are pretty smart," he replied. "The admiral has transferred
the flag to the _Hashidate_. The _Matsushima_ requires repair, and is
lying up for Japan. We have gained a victory."
As if to accentuate his declaration, at that moment the admiral
appeared upon the deck of the _Hashidate_, amid lights, and cheering,
marines presented arms, and all the crew uncovered dark heads in the
dying daylight. From ship to ship the cheering spread, and speeded
many brave souls to heaven in the excitement attendant upon the martial
strains of the solemn "Kimi-ga-yo," the National Anthem. Far over the
now quiet sea, and amid the still evening air, the music died away in
the distance. The lusty singing accompanied by the band made all
pulses beat as fiercely as in action; and as a good omen a falcon flew
down and perched upon the _Takachiho_.
"Look, look!" cried my friend. "The falcon alights. He rests upon the
main topsail-yard of the ship. Surely someone will capture it?"
"Not very likely," I replied, "unless it is tired or tame it will
quickly escape. We shall not be able to ascertain at anyrate till the
morning. What a curious incident!"
"It means good luck," said my friend. "For hundreds of years our
philosophers have agreed that the falcon brings good fortune to the
Japanese. So this is a splendid omen for us, and a bad one for our
enemies."
"I am pleased that I am a friend, then," I replied, laughing. "The
bird, I hope, has nothing evil in store for a _volunteer_."
"I do not think so," he replied, joining in my humour. "But here's
something to interest us both," he continued, as a marine approached
and saluted.
A few sentences were exchanged, and my young friend turned to me,
saying--
"Here's an opportunity for a volunteer. Do you understand the Chinese
language?"
"I can make myself understood in it, a little," I answered. "Why do
you ask?"
"Because someone has suspected you of being a _spy_," he replied. "You
must see the captain at once, and explain matters to him. One of the
officers has sent me the message; I must speak to the lieutenant. Wait
here for me; someone has been talking about you. Wait a while."
Then he went aft, leaving me to think of this new misfortune. The
trail of "Feng Shui" was over it all.