EXPLANATIONS--ON BOARD THE _NANIWA_ AGAIN--THE BLOCKADE OF
WEI-HAI-WEI--ON SERVICE
During our journey to Talien Bay, which had become the Japanese naval
base after the demolition of Port Arthur, I put a number of questions
to Tomi and to the military officer, his brother, whom I now learned
was attached to the army staff. Several of these inquiries had
reference to the movements of the army and navy, but some questions
were personal to myself. At last my kind friends threw off their
official reserve, and cheered my heart with the prospect of release.
I began by asking how the young lieutenant had found me out, and why,
having sent me adrift, he had thought of seeking me again. I told my
adventures briefly.
"I am sure you did it for the best," I concluded, "but all the same
your plans nearly cost me my life."
"We had no choice, I am sorry to say. The report that you were a
Chinese spy had been so insisted upon that even Japanese discipline
wavered on board. When you confessed to knowledge of Chinese, the plan
of sending you as a scout with the interpreter was adopted, and I gave
you all the assistance I could."
"Yes, indeed. But the interpreter proved false. He robbed me, and
left me helpless."
"True; he has paid for his treachery. Yet, had you been taken
prisoner, and the map and pistol found upon you, your life would have
been forfeited and awful tortures inflicted," added the elder brother.
"I did not realise that contingency," said Tomi, "nor did I imagine the
interpreter would be false. He evidently regarded you as an enemy;
perhaps he thought he was serving us by putting you in danger. On the
other hand, he did you a service by concealing you and taking the
compass and revolver."
"Well, that is one way of looking at it," I said. "Let the matter rest
there. Now, may I inquire why, and how, I have been sent for? and how
I have been discovered?"
"The second question is the easiest to answer. Inquiries and letters
are awaiting you. The English captain from Shanghai"--
"What! My skipper, Captain Goldheugh?" I interrupted.
"I think he is the same. The captain who commanded the Chinese
transport, _Kowshing_."
"Rather _Feng Shui_," I said. "The same man. What of him?"
"He has come up in an American steamer, and has made inquiries about
you all around the coast--at Chefoo and at Talien-wan. He boarded the
_Naniwa_, and we told him all we knew. My brother had previously told
me something about the interpreter, and a Britisher in camp. So we put
our ideas together, and decided then you were the missing man."
"And the captain has letters for me?"
"Several; and despatches also, I understand. Inquiry from the consul,
too; so your Government think you are of some importance."
I laughed, and said, "I suspect my father and mother, were alarmed, and
set the diplomatic wheels moving. Then I am to go home?"
"Yes; but meantime we have a favour to ask, and we had considered it
possible you would assist us on the way back."
"Certainly; when I have announced my safety at home, I can do all you
require, I hope."
"It is merely to convey a letter to the English admiral in the gulf
outside Wei-hai-Wei. You have several ships there, and Admiral Ito is
sending a squadron to keep watch on Tengchow and Wei-hai-Wei."[1]
[1] Pronounced Way-hi-Way.--H.P.
"Then you intend to capture and occupy Shengtung?"
"So it is understood, but we cannot decide that. The _Naniwa_ or other
vessel will convey you to Tengchow, close to Chefoo. There you will
find your friend Goldheugh, or perhaps at Chefoo."
"That seems good enough," I said. "But why send _me_? Why not one of
your own officers?"
"You are neutral," replied the young lieutenant, "and the communication
is to the Chinese Admiral Ting. Both Chinese and Japanese respect
English good faith, and any intervention by your force will prove its
honesty of purpose."
I could only bow to this compliment, and did so with becoming gravity.
"I am quite ready," I said. "When properly equipped and clothed I
shall be at your admiral's service."
"Then I must bid you farewell," interposed the soldier, as we came in
sight of Talien Bay. "We shall never meet again, perhaps, but I trust
you will not judge all the Japanese soldiers from the specimens at Port
Arthur. They were exasperated and triumphant, they were victorious all
along the line, and irritated by the execution of prisoners."
It was on the tip of my tongue to ask what the Japs would do if they
were beaten, but fortunately I did not raise the discussion. It will
be time enough to ask that question when they are pitted against a less
yielding enemy. At present the Japanese have much confidence in
themselves, and are most enthusiastic. Time will show results.
My parting with the staff-officer was most friendly and regretful. He
had nobly paid his debt to the English lad whose countrymen had
accepted him as a friend. And for my own part I think the English
would do well to ally themselves closely with the Japanese nation,
which is a coming factor in the Eastern world.
* * * * *
I need not dwell upon the details of my mission. Let it suffice that I
accompanied the _Naniwa_, one of the three ships composing a flying
squadron to bombard Tengchow if necessary. On the 18th January 1895,
the three ships sailed--the _Yoshino_, _Akitsushima_, and _Naniwa_, and
after a trial engagement of blank cartridge they shelled the place.
When the feint was made the snow fell thickly, and so bad was the
weather that any attack was out of the question. The bombardment was
also delayed next day by a snowstorm, but in any case the ships were
only employed to divert the attention of the Chinese fleet and army
from the main attack of the chief Japanese squadron, and the army,
which was landing in Shengtung. The Chinese sent their men to support
the force at Tengchow, and meanwhile the Japanese troops landed at
Yingching Bay, at the eastern extremity of Shengtung; and I did not see
Captain Goldheugh.
When the Japanese arrangements had been carried out, and the army
landed, the navy being concentrated in the Bay of Pechili, I was
enabled to convey my missive to the admiral, and by him sent, per the
_Severn_, to the Chinese admiral at Wei-hai-Wei. The letter itself was
afterwards printed in the _Japan Mail_. It urged the Chinese to
surrender. Admiral Ito stated that his "friend" Ting would be well
treated if he would yield, and save much bloodshed. "I entreat you to
credit my sincerity," he concluded. "I address this letter to you in
pure friendship, and if happily you accept my counsel, I will, with
your permission, address some further remarks to you on the subject,
giving practical effect to the idea."
Admiral Ting did not reply, and when the 29th of January came, the
fleet, which had meantime been making preparations to attack, began the
bombardment. The army had already been feeling its way on land, and on
the 30th it advanced and encountered the Chinese troops on the
headlands, and drove them down to the seaside by Wei-hai-Wei. But then
the Chinese fleet in the harbour came into action, and we heard the
guns at ten o'clock a.m., and it was supposed that the Japs had
retired, as indeed was the case.
But the eastern forts were taken later by the Japanese, who manned the
captured guns. We subsequently heard many interesting and even
romantic accounts of this attack, which succeeded so well that when the
boats from the fleet made an attempt to break the east boom in the
harbour they were fired at by the Japanese, thinking the _Chinese_ were
attacking from the sea side. This was on the night of the 30th January.
These incidents were related to me later, but I can tell something of
the attack by sea, and I never wish to join in such another under such
circumstances. It was not because I had any fear, that was not in my
mind; but I did not at first take any real interest in the business. I
wanted to be landed at Chefoo, and sent home, or, at anyrate, back to
Shanghai. Instead, I was in the midst of storm and stress--winter of
the most terrible, fire and cold, both almost equally deadly. As luck
had it, the First Flying Squadron, in which the _Naniwa_ was included,
was "left out in the cold"; but I warmed up later to war-pitch.
Before I proceed with my narrative I must give you an idea of the
surroundings. Wei-hai-Wei embraces a wide bay, perhaps twenty miles in
extent, with hills crowned by forts and batteries on land. On the sea
front it is protected by two islands, one (Lui-kung) of fair size, and
inhabited; the other, Sih-tao, is merely the foundation of a fort. The
former island separates the harbour into two entrances, in the eastern
of which lies the smaller island-fort. At the opposite side is deep
water, and in all directions on mainland and islands, on sea and shore,
are defences--forts, batteries, mines, and ships of war--all Chinese.
The Chinese fleet consisted of fifteen men-o'-war and gunboats, and
thirteen torpedo-boats. The Japanese fleet numbered twenty-four ships
and sixteen torpedo-boats. Besides these latter ships were numerous
other vessels "looking on" and watching the struggle with the greatest
interest. The captain of the _Naniwa_ offered to send me on board an
English ship, or convey me to Chefoo, but I thought I would see the
match out--the end was not far off. Having gone so far I thought I had
better complete the tale, and curiosity was at length aroused; my poor
services were even enlisted on one occasion.
Besides the defences already mentioned, the Chinese had fixed two
substantial booms across the bay. Steel hawsers, supplemented with
great baulks of timber of immense thickness, anchored by chains and
grapnels, were supplied with torpedoes on both sides, in addition to
the mines outside. Had any European or Japanese soldiers been in
possession of Wei-hai-Wei, or Port Arthur, it must have been
impregnable, and if Russia seizes either place we shall find this out.
It was evident that the capture of Wei-hai-Wei depended upon the
destruction of the boom; and this seemed to be an impossible feat.
When the strength and position of the obstruction were considered, the
desperate nature of the service might well have daunted the Japanese,
who would be exposed to the fire of the forts and batteries in nearly
all directions. But if the assailants hesitated it was only in order
to make sure of the result.
The weather continued very bad, but worse was approaching. I had had
no further news respecting Captain Goldheugh, and no one thought about
my departure. The Japanese vessels were divided into five squadrons.
The main squadron consisting of the flagship _Matsushima_, the
_Chiyoda_, _Itsukushima_, and _Hashidate_. The four flying squadrons
included first the _Yoshino_, _Takachiho_, _Akitsushima_, and _Naniwa_.
The other three flying squadrons and the three torpedo-flotillas may be
mentioned generally.
On the 30th January 1895 the Admiral Ito decided to attack. All the
vessels united outside Wei-hai-Wei, and began patrolling the coast. At
intervals, and later more constantly, we heard the heavy guns as the
eastern forts were attacked by the troops ashore, and these continuous
roars made us impatient of inaction.
"I wish I could do something," I said at last to Tomi. "Can't I join
you if you go out in a torpedo-boat? Wouldn't your captain give me a
chance to do something?"
"Perhaps he might. He would not refuse a volunteer; and you could
steer the boat I suppose? Shall I ask the lieutenant?"
"Please," I replied. "Anything will be better than loafing here!"
"We shall not 'loaf' as you call it. The admiral has signalled us to
be ready to support the attack, and no hammocks will be slung to-night."
"All right," I said; "the sooner the better! Where are we making for
now?"
"For the western entrance. The main and second squad are guarding the
eastern. That island with a fort upon it may give us a hint presently."
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
ashore. We could do nothing at our end, though it was pleasant to see
the No. 3 and No. 4 squads had begun to throw shells 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 assisting the forts, yet never venturing out into the
gulf. But as the day wore into late afternoon a great white smoke
arose on shore, 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 Japanese 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, shivering, I was glad to get warm
clothing. As the day passed 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 ships were then fully exposed
to the fearful storm on a lee shore; 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 ships 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 passed in fearful discomfort, and
without any opportunity of distinction, though all the other Japanese
ships 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
illustrated 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 Japanese 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
space for the beleaguered inhabitants of the forts and ships. 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 pass the terrible days of wind and snow. The ships 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
ship 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 muffled up we were rowed to the flagship, where Tomi
delivered his message. Then we perceived that the first squadron was
closing in, and we waited on board the greater ship, which was firing
at the Lui-kung Island as well as the smaller one. Lui-kung is
precipitous and unassailable: the batteries were concealed, and some of
the guns, I think, were depressed and raised, like the Moncrieff
carriages at Woolwich long ago. The ships 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 assent. 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.
"You may join as a correspondent, but must not tell your experience
till the place is taken--if you survive."
"He said so?"
"Yes. 'Let him come and die, if he wishes it,' he said."
"Then I just _will_ go--and chance it!" I said boldly.
"All right. He is waiting. Good luck to you."
I hurried away, and in a short time was on board the little boat which
was tossing and plunging in the lumpy sea in the lee of the large
vessels. Retreat was now impossible. The die was cast.