In the Yellow Sea Part 27

EXPLANATIONS--ON BOARD THE _NANIWA_ AGAIN--THE BLOCKADE OF WEI-HAI-WEI--ON SERVICE

During our journey to Talien Bay, which had become the j.a.panese 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 j.a.panese 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 a.s.sistance 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 compa.s.s 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 a.s.sist 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] p.r.o.nounced 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 j.a.panese 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 j.a.panese 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 j.a.ps 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 j.a.panese 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 n.o.bly 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 j.a.panese 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 sh.e.l.led 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 j.a.panese squadron, and the army, which was landing in Shengtung. The Chinese sent their men to support the force at Tengchow, and meanwhile the j.a.panese troops landed at Yingching Bay, at the eastern extremity of Shengtung; and I did not see Captain Goldheugh.

When the j.a.panese 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 _j.a.pan 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 j.a.ps had retired, as indeed was the case.

But the eastern forts were taken later by the j.a.panese, 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 j.a.panese, 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 circ.u.mstances. 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 sh.o.r.e, 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 j.a.panese 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, anch.o.r.ed by chains and grapnels, were supplied with torpedoes on both sides, in addition to the mines outside. Had any European or j.a.panese 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 j.a.panese, who would be exposed to the fire of the forts and batteries in nearly all directions. But if the a.s.sailants 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 j.a.panese 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 ash.o.r.e, 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."