The Fortnightly Review: No. CCCCLXIII, New Series [‎587v] (65/239)

34
the battle of the sea of japan.
Japan, consequently, has every prospect, even if we eliminate
such doubtful ships as the Retvizan and Pobieda, which were very
badly damaged, of repairing and adding to her fighting fleet four
battleships, two coast defence ships, and three cruisers.
Then there are the interned ships of the Russian Fleet. They
are under the shelter of neutral flags, and when the war closes
will, in ordinary circumstances, be handed back to the Tsar’s
Government, but under the treaty of peace the Japanese may
insist on these men-of-war being ceded to them, since they escaped
Admiral Togo’s meshes only by flying within the sanctuary of
neutral waters. These vessels, therefore, may possibly be added
to the Mikado’s Fleet. They include the following men-of-war : —
Type.
Battleship .
Cruiser ....
>> ... .
Gunboat...
Destroyers
Name.
Displacement.
Port of internment.
Tzarevitch
13,100
Kiao-chau.
Askold
6,500
Shanghai.
Diana
6,630
Saigon.
Aurora
6,630
Manila.
Oleg
6,675
Jemchug
3,100
5 y
Maud jour
1,416
Shanghai.
( Smely, Boiki, Bespochtchadni,
j. 240 to MOO
\ Beschumni, Bestrachtni
Grosovoi .
—
Shanghai.
Skory, Stratni, Berdity, Vlastni...
—
Chefoo.
But the story of Japan’s Fleet as it will exist after peace is
declared is not fully revealed. While war has been in progress she
has been busy fortifying herself to protect all she may gain by the
strength of her arms. Apart from a large number of torpedo craft,
which have been built in native yards since the war commenced,
she has under construction, and approaching completion, the
following j)owerful ships : —
Displacement in tons. Where building.
Battleship Kashima 16,400 Elswick.
,, Katori 15,940 Barrow.
Two armoured cruisers... 13,500 Kure (Japan).
Both the armoured cruisers building in Japan have been
launched, and on one the armour belt has been placed. Russia
emerges from the war practically without a fleet, while, deducting
the Hatsuse and Yashima, lost at sea, but including the interned
ships and those now building, Japan will be stronger by five battle
ships, two coast defence ships, three armoured cruisers (including
the Bay an), seven protected cruisers, a gunboat, and eleven de
stroyers. Such a triumph is the most extraordinary in the world’s
history.
Archibald S. Hurd.