Devil's Garden

Chapter 31

It was a long train ride, but Admiral Togo finally reached the Harbor at Kure, eager for news. He had a carriage waiting for him at the train station, and was taken immediately to naval headquarters where he was surprised to find Saito waiting for him there. Apparently the Vice-Admiral and Minister of Naval affairs was also curious as to what was happening, and he had come all the way from Tokyo to meet with the Fleet Admiral and discuss the matter.

“You say it was a Russian ship?” said Togo. “You are certain of this?”

“That was the report. The ship was even named in the signal we received: Kirov. It came across that tramp steamer, Tatsu Maru, and we have seen what they did. Thirty-two men died in that attack! It would have been worse if Kanto Maru had not been on the scene to pull men out of the water. Our Captain Kawase was on maneuvers out of Amori with a few torpedo boats and wisely cabled me in Tokyo before taking any action. He reports this is a very large warship-very large. It must be something we haven’t seen before. So I handed the matter to you. What have you done about it?”

“Kirov… Yes, I have no knowledge of this ship. Vice Admiral Kamimura has sortied from Maizuru with his squadron of armored cruisers and the two battleships we took from the Russians. I thought we’d send them along to remind them what happened last time they challenged us at sea.” Togo was drinking green tea and he reached to fill Saito’s cup now. “I have just been informed that we have received a wireless telegraph from him, so I thought I would enjoy my tea while I am waiting for the transcript.”

The wait was not long. As if on cue, there came a subtle knock on the door, and Saito turned his head expectantly. “Well they did not wait for your tea to grow cold. Let us hope this is good news.”

An adjutant came in, handing a transcript to Admiral Togo while Saito looked on with some curiosity. Togo read it for some time, a look of concern disturbing the otherwise placid calm of his face.

“Kamimura reports an engagement,” he said at last. “They spotted this Russian ship and it fired on them at long range. There was damage to his ship and two others. Then the Russians broke off before his squadron could close on them. The ship was last seen heading south in the Sea of Japan.”

“Then it could be coming this way,” said Saito. “Good! The Russians sail right into our strength. Have they learned nothing?”

“There is more… Kamimura’s cruiser Izumo was hit eight times and forced to fall off his battle line early in the action. Yet the inspection of the damage indicated it was inflicted by a small caliber round, perhaps no more than 6 inch shells.”

“And how many times was the Russian ship hit by our gunners?”

“It seems our ships never got close enough to fire. This is most unusual.”

“Surely our cruisers have the speed to run down a Russian battleship! They are much faster.”

“That is not what Kamimura reports. He indicates the Russian ship had tremendous speed in addition to these new long range cannon. A gun of that size might range out to 15,000 meters but it is not likely to hit anything at that range, unless fortune favored this ship. No, a 6 inch gun is best fired at no more than 8,000 meters to achieve any accuracy. For Izumo to receive eight hits at a range even beyond his larger 8 inch guns is most unusual. The ship was also able to elude our cruisers in spite of every attempt to catch it. This is an important development. Yes, Baron, this must be a new ship. There can be no doubt about it given these facts.”

“Are you certain Kamimura does not exaggerate to cover his shame? How many ships did he have?”

“Six armored cruisers and two battleships.”

“And yet he failed to find and sink a solitary Russian battleship? This is shameful. No wonder he makes such reports.”

Togo set his tea down now, his eyes still darkly scanning the transcript of Kamimura’s report. “No, Minister,” he said with finality in his voice. “Kamimura believes this is a new ship, as I do. He is a steady officer; cool under fire. He will not exaggerate in the interest of covering personal shortcomings. This ship must have slipped by our watch on the Tsushima Straits and made it into Urajio in recent weeks. We have not been as vigilant as we should, as it certainly escaped our notice.” Urajio was the Japanese name given to the Russian port of Vladivostok.

“What does this mean, Admiral Togo?”

“It means the equation of war at sea has just been given a new variable. Speed and range… that was the tactic this ship used according to this report. It makes good sense when a single ship is confronted by superior numbers.”

“If so I cannot imagine what the Russians hope to accomplish by doing this-engaging unarmed commercial ships and firing on Imperial cruisers! This is an insult!”

“Perhaps you should ask them, Minister.”

“I have done as much. Do not think that I entirely disowned this matter when I first informed you of the incident with Tatsu Maru. I have lately received a cable from the Russian Legation, but they claim to have no knowledge of this incident, or of any ship matching the description of this vessel. That was a lie, of course, because our spies in Urajio reported that a large Russian warship arrived there last week, and it put ashore a party of Marines and officers with some fanfare. The Mayor of the city turned out to greet them, and then they set out to sea shortly thereafter. The sinking of Tatsu Maru occurred the following day.”

“I see… I was not aware of this information. Then this ship must have sailed directly for the Tsugaru Strait.”

“Why else do you think I have come all this way from Tokyo? Do you know that the American battle fleet is also in the Pacific at this very moment, steaming for Hawaii?”

“Of course. Do not tell me there are still officers arguing that we should ambush them and become the supreme authority in the entire Pacific. I am growing very tired of putting out those fires.”

“There are such rumors still circulating, in spite of your orders to the contrary. Some feel that the approach of the American fleet is certainly a threat.”

“Now you begin to sound like the reporters for the London Times, Baron. Weren’t you the one complaining that our own fleet dispositions posed no threat to the Americans?”

“Indeed, but the situation has changed. Suppose this is a new Russian ship sent from their shipyards in the Baltic. You are well aware that the British have completed formidable new designs for battleships in recent years. Their HMS Dreadnought is a fearsome ship with ten 12 inch guns, Admiral. Our ships have only four, and we will not have anything to rival that ship for at least four years. Suppose the Russians have built a new ship like that as well, and they mean to test us in battle to determine its merit.”

“They would be foolish to do so. A solitary ship? Such a vessel would need to be supported by a fleet. It might stand as a strong flagship, but it surely cannot stand alone. I do not care how fast it is. Its speed, when confronted by the might of our current fleet, can only be used to flee from us. What good is a ship that cannot stand and fight? Beyond that, to risk a new ship in this manner, and also create an international incident in the process…well this would be the doings of a very foolish man. Perhaps the Russian Legation was being truthful. They may have no knowledge of this ship. It may be a disaffected Russian sea Captain with a bone to pick.”

“Then you believe we should accept the Russian denial concerning this matter?”

“At the moment. It would be very impolite to suggest they were deliberately lying to us.”

“But what if this is a deception?”

“That will be proved one way or another, and very shortly. It will be proved at sea, which is where we will deal with any enemy that threatens our nation from the sea. Once I sink this Russian ship, let them deny they ever sent it, but that will not change the facts.”

There came another soft knock on the door and the adjutant entered, bowing low and begging to be excused. This time the cable he bore was a message for the Naval Minister. Saito took it and read it quickly, his eyes widening as he did so.

“So, Admiral. Now we get to the heart of this. A wireless telegraph message was just received, and it is signed by a man named Karpov aboard the very ship we have been discussing! This man states that a naval quarantine has been imposed to prevent any and all shipping from entering the Yellow Sea. He threatens to attack and sink any ship flying Japanese colors that attempts to do so! The impudence of this man! Who is he? I have not heard this name.”

“Nor I, Baron.”

“I will put my people on this to find out. In the meantime, what do you intend to do about this? Such a declaration is a direct violation of the Portsmouth Treaty. Its intention would be to starve out our garrisons at Port Arthur and Manchuria by cutting the sea lanes and restricting supplies to long overland marches in Korea. This is, of course, impossible, and cannot be permitted.”

Togo was silent for some time now. Then he looked calmly at the Baron Saito and made his reply. “This man is either very stupid or very bold if he thinks he can impose such a demand with a single ship. That would be quite impossible. Therefore I am led to suspect that there may be more Russian ships en route, possibly hoping to catch us by surprise. As I said before, this ship would need the support of a fleet.”

“We would have certainly heard of this if any more Russian ships were heading our way.”

“Yes…I discussed this with Admiral Kamimura, and he was of the same mind.”

Saito frowned, his face revealing suspicion. “The American fleet,” he said with an edge of doubt evident in his voice. “It is certainly heading this way even as we speak. Roosevelt worked quite a deal with his intervention at Portsmouth. We got much less in that treaty than our victory should have accorded. Many said we were treated like the defeated power. You saw the demonstrations and protests in Tokyo. And now here we are busy printing up invitations and arranging ceremonies for the expected visit of the American Great White Fleet later this year-but what if it visits us early, Admiral? What if the Americans have some secret accord with Russia? You know the Tsar’s government is on shaky legs now, and our victory has only worsened his position. Now there is trouble in Europe rising like a bad storm. The British have made overtures to the Tsar, seeking his support should it come to war there. They have approached the Americans as well. This is very suspicious.”

“It is your job to sort through all the cobwebs in the diplomatic cupboards, Baron. I will confine myself to the military realities of the situation. If this ship is heading south as reported, and if it does intend to create a major incident, then the military solution to this is very simple.”

“What do you suggest?”

“This ship cannot get into any position to enforce a blockade in the Sea of Japan. That is too much area to be patrolled by a single vessel. No, it must reach the seas off Weihaiwei and the region reaching to Inchon in Korea. That is the bottleneck that we must always keep open-a very strategic stretch of ocean. This is why the British were wise enough to establish their China Station there at Weihaiwei. And to reach those waters this ship will first have to transit the Tsushima Straits. We will sortie with the Imperial fleet from Kure and Sasebo, and sail to Port Arthur with a large convoy of supply ships. If we move quickly we can close the Tsushima Straits and catch this ship in a nice net of steel, just as we caught the Russian Baltic Fleet in 1905.”

“Yes… another victory there would put a perfect bookend to this little affair.”

“Correct. If this man Karpov wishes to attempt to stop our convoy from reaching Port Arthur, then he will have to show himself and fight. Pecking at a few cruisers and running away will not avail him. At some point he will have to make a stand, and he will have to use something more than a 6 inch naval gun when he sees the Imperial Japanese Navy darkening his horizon. If he does flee, then he only increases the shame and humiliation we have already forced upon the Russians, and we become stronger yet.”

“Well said, Admiral. I completely agree. Perhaps you are correct to assume this is a renegade sea Captain with delusions of grandeur or a thirst for revenge. In fact, diplomatically, that would be the best possible line to play out in all this. It might allow the present treaty to stand unblemished, and then after all this is over we can make our displeasure known and request reparation for the loss of Tatsu Maru and the damage this ship has inflicted on any of our other warships. I have every confidence that, with your plan, this matter will be easily resolved.”

“That is good to hear, Baron Saito. Yet if I were you I would cable Port Arthur and make sure they are not surprised by a maneuver on land as well. If this ship is sailing with the knowledge of the Russian government, then it will certainly need support on land.”

“Yes, I will do so. But what about the Americans, Admiral Togo? What if my suspicion is correct?”

“Then we will have a very uncomfortable greeting for them when they arrive,” Togo said quietly. “Instead of visits to the Imperial Palace and the Tea Gardens, we will visit them at sea with the whole Imperial Fleet. I do not advocate this, or even believe it will be necessary, but you should realize that we are more than capable of defending ourselves. Our fleet is bigger than it was before we defeated Russia. No other power can match us in the Pacific at the moment, not even the British. If the world did not learn that lesson of war in 1905, then we will teach it to them again.”

“That said, we must keep close watch on the progress of the Great White Fleet. Speaking of that, the British are allies, are they not? Their China Squadron at Weihaiwei might come in handy in this situation.”

“Possibly…but I do not think it will be necessary. In fact none of this may even be necessary. Kamimura returned to Maizuru to replenish his ships, but he has every intention of sailing out yet again to cover the coastline south of that harbor. It may be he will find this ship again before we do, and finish the job. This may be nothing more than a tempest in a teapot, Baron.”