Armageddon

Chapter 7

“Gentlemen, we have before us a most unusual circumstance.” Admiral Togo pulled slowly on his white dress naval gloves, one finger at a time, a slow deliberate motion that seemed single minded and thoughtful as he completed the process and carefully laid the gloves on the briefing table. The senior officers of the fleet were all gathered there aboard Togo’s flagship, the battleship Mikasa, their faces eager for news and the orders that would most certainly follow.

“I have just come from a meeting with Naval Minister Baron Saito. There has been some disturbing news from the north involving the Russians. One of our supply steamers bound for Dailan was intercepted and sunk off the Tsugaru Strait by what was reported as a large Russian warship.”

At this there were quiet murmurs and surprised glances as the officers looked from one to another, the junior officers noting the reaction of those senior.

“Captain Kawase of our 9th Torpedo Boat Squadron at Amori confirmed the sighting of a large enemy warship, certainly a battleship, and I ordered our Second Cruiser division led out from Maizuru by Vice Admiral Kamimura to look for this ship. The vessel was subsequently sighted and a brief engagement ensued, but our cruisers were not able to close the range, allowing the ship to slip away to the west. It was last sighted heading southwest.”

“And the engagement?” It was Vice Admiral Dewa, a venerable and wizened officer hailing from the province of Fukushima which would one day be rendered practically uninhabitable by a disaster no man in the room could conceive of or ever foresee. Dewa was commander of the 3rd Cruiser Division at the famous battle of Tsushima Straits, and was naturally eager to learn the outcome.

“Inconclusive,” said Togo. “It was opened at extreme long range, which is somewhat surprising considering that fast cruisers were involved. Vice Admiral Kamimura’s own flagship, Izumo, suffered considerable damage and was forced to fall off the line of battle.”

“And the enemy?”

“Apparently the ship was able to escape unscathed.”

That was not well received, and the lately appointed danshaku, Baron Dewa, shook his head. “Kamimura can be a little headstrong at times,” he said. “He should have closed the range before engaging this ship.”

“From the reports I received it was not a question of Kamimura failing to fire at the appropriate range,” said Togo. “The enemy opened fire first, and from well beyond 15,000 meters. Yet the remarkable thing about this engagement was that they did not rely on their main cannon. All the hits on Kamimura’s cruiser were obtained by smaller caliber guns, no more than six inch shells.”

“This is most unusual. Then it means the Russians have better secondary batteries, at least insofar as range is concerned.”

“And I also conclude that this is certainly a new ship,” said Togo. “It could not have been any of the cruisers that were still sheltering at Urajio.” He was referring to the Port of Vladivostok, called Urajio by the Japanese.

“I see…” Dewa’s eyes expressed the concern that was now evident, and the real reason for this meeting. A new ship meant that it must have come from the Baltic or Black Sea, and passed unnoticed through the Straits of Tsushima.

“What do Kondo and Hidake say about this?” The two men commanded small torpedo boat squadrons that had been posted at the Japanese island base at Takeshiki in the middle of the Tsushima Straits. It was their watch that was breached, and Dewa wanted to know why.

“They have seen nothing but commercial shipping,” said Admiral Togo. “No warships of any kind have passed through the straits in recent months. This does not mean it is beyond the realm of possibility that this ship slipped by. Bad weather and night can confound even the most vigilant watch, and we have been lax of late.”

Dewa nodded his head in agreement, his grey brows frowning as he looked to the other officers with admonishment in his eyes. Vice Admiral Kataoka nodded his agreement as well.

“We should reinforce those commands,” said Kataoka. “Eight torpedo boats is obviously an inadequate force to patrol such an important sector.” He was a man of Satsuma prefecture, the naval Spartans of Japan, as Togo was. Small in stature, Kataoka was nonetheless a skillful and aggressive leader. He had commanded an odd assortment of older ships and outmoded gunboats during the last war that the Japanese came to call their “Funny Fleet,” but he led them effectively in major engagements in the Yellow Sea and at Tsushima Straits, and also commanded the naval expedition to seize Sakhalin Island after the war ended, giving Japan a strong bargaining chip in the negotiations that followed. He was soon awarded a baronage to acknowledge his successes in battle, and remained a most capable and energetic officer, his eyes bright and lively beneath the dome of his balding head.

“This meeting has obviously been called to redress these shortcomings,” said Togo. “Yes, this ship should have been spotted long ago, and yes, it should have been closely shadowed and kept bottled up in Urajio the moment it sailed into the Sea of Japan. But there has been another development that bears upon this matter. During my meeting with Naval Minister Saito a wireless telegraph message was received from the commander of this Russian ship, a man named Karpov. In that message he had the audacity to declare that a naval quarantine has been imposed to prevent any and all shipping from entering the Yellow Sea, and he has threatened to attack and sink any ship flying Japanese colors that attempts to do so.”

“This is outrageous!” Dewa was clearly angry now, his cinder brows raising with alarm, and Kataoka’s bright eyes glittered with the fire of impending battle.

“Indeed. It is an outrage,” Togo continued. “It was reported that the latest incident has involved a Canadian flagged ship en route from Shanghai to Vancouver. It was stopped, boarded and its cargo of mail seized as contraband. We have just received a vigorous protest that came to both our Naval Ministry offices and was undoubtedly sent to the British China Station as well. Needless to say, something must be done about this, and Baron Saito wants the matter settled at once.”

“We should immediately reinforce our patrols in the Tsushima Straits,” said Kataoka again. “Where there is smoke, there is fire, and more enemy ships could be heading for these waters even as we speak.”

“That was Baron Saito’s concern,” said Togo. “So this is what we will do. I have arranged a convoy of military and food supplies for shipment to Dailan and Port Arthur. This is the obvious aim of the Russian attempt at naval quarantine. They wish to restrict supplies to those important installations.”

“The Russians are planning to cross the border into Manchuria?” Dewa raised the most obvious point, as he could not simply see this naval incident as an isolated event. “This must be part of a general plan.”

“I would have thought the same,” Togo replied, but there has been no sign of any Russian buildup on the frontier, nor any word from our operatives in northern Korea. What we do know is that this new Russian ship pulled into Urajio last week, and with some fanfare. It left soon after, and the sinking of Tatsu Maru occurred the following day. The last incident, involving the Canadian ship RMS Monteagle, occurred yesterday, so the ship has moved closer to our home waters. That being the case, we will now sortie with the fleet to conclude this matter. The supply fleet will also have dummy ships, and these will make fine bait to lure the enemy in so our warships can deal with it.”

“Where will the fleet deploy?” asked Dewa.

“Initially we will do as vice Admiral Kataoka suggests. We leave here this very day and sail for the Straits of Tsushima. Any attempt to enforce such a naval quarantine would be useless in the Sea of Japan. No, it would have to control the vital Tsushima and Korea Straits, or perhaps the entrance to the Yellow Sea itself. Therefore we will strongly occupy the former, and use it as a base of operations until we locate this enemy ship. At that point we can establish flotillas to hunt it down. I have ordered Kamimura to replenish at Maizuru and then sail to the Oki islands. He will linger there, between Dozen and Dogo, and keep watch on that area. This ship has been trying to escalate the situation, and has been obviously keen to approach our home waters. It will be found before it can dishonor us by even sighting Japanese soil on Honshu.”

“Agreed,” said the bright eyed Kataoka.

“Your Third Cruiser Division will post a flotilla at Mishima Island, Vice Admiral Dewa. You will also command Suzuki’s 4th Destroyer Division. As for you, Kataoka, your ships will keep active patrols between Kyushu, Iki Island and the Tsushima Islands.” Togo pointed at the map on the briefing table now, indicating these strategic islands controlling the waters off Japan. “I will take the remainder of the fleet to the waters between Tsushima and Korea and close that route. The supply ships, and dummy ships will be dangled like bait in the waters northeast of the straits. The Russian Bear will look for the honey, and then the bees will come with a hard sting.”

Dewa smiled, obviously in agreement. “This is a sound plan,” he said happily. “Each group should be strong enough to deal with this single ship alone, but all groups remain within reasonable supporting distance. I hope my ships will have the honor of finding these Russians first, and I will end the matter there and then.”

“Perhaps Kamimura’s Second Division will settle the affair,” said Togo. “He has already sortied from Maizuru again, and is probably waving at the lighthouse at Kyogamisaki by now. Yet there is one further consideration we must discuss, gentlemen.”

Dewa had been studying the map, eager to get to sea again and assume his post, but now he looked up, his thick hand stroking his short grey beard. Admiral Togo’s face was flat and serious.

“We have been informed by operatives in Hawaii that the American Great White Fleet has changed its planned itinerary. It has already left Hawaii and is steaming west towards Japan as we speak.”

“Towards Japan?” Dewa was surprised again. “I thought they were going to visit New Zealand, Australia and the Philippines first. They were not expected here until October.”

“That is so, but their course is in a westerly direction and Saito informs me they have just received word that the Americans have requested a visit here instead. There were American citizens aboard that mail ship, and three were killed when the Russians fired to force them to stop.”

“Then the Americans wish to make a show of force here? They wish to chasten the Russians as well?”

“That is one interpretation. Saito is not convinced of this, however. He eyes this movement with some suspicion.”

“Most likely because he must now have all his invitations and signage re-printed if the Americans visit us early.”

At this the other officers laughed, but Togo remained silent. “Saito may have more than his invitations in mind here. I would hope this is, indeed, a matter of no concern, but to flatter the naval Minister, we should be prepared to receive and escort the American fleet when it arrives in our home waters. For this assignment I have selected Vice Admiral Uryu and his 4th Cruiser Division. The 3rd and 5th Destroyer Divisions under Commanders Hirose and Yoshijima will accompany him. Their mission will be to keep a close eye on the Americans and show the flag of the Imperial Japanese Navy when they arrive here.”

Vice Admiral Uryu bowed in response, his hair neatly parted down the center and slicked tight on his head. While one of the first cadets to attend the Japanese Naval Academy, he transferred to the United States and so he actually graduated from the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, learning English in the process. Like Dewa and the others he was also made a baron of the realm for his outstanding service during the recent war with Russia, and decorated with the Order of the Rising Sun and Golden Kite. Uryu was a strong proponent of achieving friendship with the United States, and so his posting to this assignment would make him the perfect man to greet and escort the fleet once it reached home waters.

“I am sure this change of itinerary does not bode ill, but I trust Vice Admiral Uryu will handle the reception of the American fleet with the utmost diplomatic courtesy. Too much has been said about imminent war with the Americans. Let me state categorically that this is not in the interest of Japan.”

Vice Admiral Uryu gave a strong nod of approval. “Will the American fleet be arriving at Yokohama, sir?”

“That remains to be determined. Saito is in the process of negotiating the new itinerary. Our concern now will be to find and cow this rogue Russian Captain, and impose calm in the region well before the Americans get here.”

“You call this man a rogue Captain?” Dewa spoke up again, a question in his eyes.

“Perhaps,” said Togo. “Inquiries have been made to the Russian Legation, but they have denied any knowledge of this man, this Captain Karpov, or even of his ship. Saito is of the belief that this is mere deception, as the ship was received by city officials when it made port at Urajio. The truth is most likely somewhere in that tea, but it is growing cold. No matter who this man is, he must be taught that the Sea of Japan is so named for a very good reason.”

“Concerning any encounter with this ship, Admiral, what are your orders?”

“As always, first report the ship’s location and heading to me so that it can be relayed to all other divisions. Then, as each division assigned to this mission is of sufficient strength to operate independently, the Russian Captain will be invited to surrender his ship pending investigation of the crime of piracy on the high seas. Should he decline to do so, you are authorized to engage.”

“And what if we suffer the fate of Kamimura, Admiral? What if this ship runs and attempts to evade us?”

“At the first sighting of the enemy all other divisions in the vicinity will be ordered to the scene. If the ship runs, then pursue it at your best speed and keep the flag informed of any change in its course.”

“This may be all academic,” said Dewa. “If this ship is as big as was reported, then it is certainly a battleship, and should not be able to make more than 18 knots. Our cruisers are much faster. We will catch him and bring this Captain to heel.”

“I would hope so, Baron Dewa,” said Togo. “But I must tell you that the ship is very fast as well, possibly the equal of any of our cruisers. This has been reported many times. It left the Empress of China in its wake easily, and that ship can cruise at 18 knots. It also evaded Kamimura’s cruisers with uncanny ease, almost as if they could determine his every move and alter course to exactly the correct heading to evade him. All this further reinforces the idea that this is a new ship, something we have never seen before. So I advise you all to be bold and very diligent. Begin live training exercises the moment you arrive at your assigned patrol station. Drill on maneuvers aimed at intercepting a solitary ship, not a set piece battle line engagement. If the enemy flees, drive him towards our other divisions. This ship must not be allowed to transit the Tsushima Straits, for any reason.”

“Rest assured, Admiral,” said Kataoka, his eyes alight with the excitement of the new assignment. The Navy had done little more than wallow in port with an occasional training exercise in recent years. He was going to sea again, and with the hope of battle. Now all these Vice Admirals made Barons for the glory they brought Japan in the last war could tussle with one another for this final piece of cake. He resolved, then and there, that he would be the one to find and discipline this Russian Captain.

Admiral Togo could see the enthusiasm in his eyes, and had every confidence in all the officers assembled. Then why this shadow rising in the corner of my mind, he asked himself? Why this odd inner warning that there is more waiting for us in the Sea of Japan than any man here might expect?