Feb-Mar-Apr, May-June-July 1972 - Navy League of Australia

A Recommended Contractor.
Riverstone Meat Co.
Pty. Ltd.
Who are proud to be associated with the Navy Dept in
THE SUPPLY OF FROZEN MEATS
"Contractors to the R.A.N
For Further Information Contact...
FROZEN MEATS DEPARTMENT
83 GOULBURN STREET, SYDNEY
Star
For your future reference. ..
Products Pty. Ltd.
(ENGINEERS)
Suppliers of. ..
COLD WATER DRINKING CLOTH
ALUMINIUM BOXES
Contractors to the Navy Department
For Further Information Contact. . .
Mr. L. Vigh
STAR PRODUCTS PTY. LTD.
YENNORA AVE., YENNORA, N.S.W.
Telephone: 632-6487
FAITH WITHOUT
FOUNDATION
networks of coaling stations in all
parts of the world. The Imperial
Japanese Navy, busily flexing its
finely-honed muscles in waters close
(o home, did not have much to worry
about in this regard. Even if. for any
conceivable reason, their Fleet (in
part or whole) had cause to venture
into distant waters, it could be
reasonably sure of gaining access to
the coaling stations of their then
British allies.
When the various Far Eastern
objectives of Japan and Russia
became at odds with one another in
the late 19th Century, it rapidly
became obvious that, sooner or
later, only a passage of arms on the
grand scale would decide the issue.
In brief, the Japanese, victors in the
Sino-Japanese war. were granted
treaty rights in the Liao Tung Peninsula.
Northern Manchuria, and the
strategically located harbour of Port
Arthur, that being the northernmost
ice-free port on the Asian mainland.
It was captured by Japanese
infantry only after absorbing heavy
casualties, however Japan deemed
the cost worthwhile as the harbour
afforded access to the rich natural
resources of Korea and Manchuria.
Japan's developmental aspirations
in this area ran contrary to Russia's
and within two years she was forced
to withdraw from the region in the
face of Russian pressure which had
both German and French backing.
The Tsar. Nicholas II. was out of touch wtth
reality. One of the last true European monarch.,
he Mfrt picture postcards of himself to Hi. troop*
The Hrst-cle**, 15,000-ton battleship Asa hi mat on* of the most
navy. Constructed from the very latest models of the tim«, equipped
and manned with a superior foret, sh* proved a daadly
It was now the turn of the Japanese
to call foul and after steadily
increasing pressure, the Russians
reached an agreement with China
which provided for their gradual
evacuation from the area. However,
the withdrawal was deliberately prolonged.
and after ignoring Japanese
protests, the Russian Far-Eastern
Viceroy and Supreme Commander.
Admiral Alexieff. implemented a
policy of deliberate provocation.
To the Japanese, this was the last
straw.
Thoroughly incensed by Russia's
apparent dismissal of her as a
second-rate power. Japan's military
leaders planned a surprise attack on
the Russian squadrons anchored in
Port Arthur that was remarkably
similar in concept and execution to
their attack on Pearl Harbour thirtyseven
years iater. (The British used
torpedo-carrying aircraft to achieve
a tactical surprise when Force H
crippled the Italian battle-fleet in its
harbour at Taranto in 1940.) The
man chosen to implement the
attack was the brilliant Vice Admiral
HeihichiroTogo.
Admiral Togo tad Ms battle lines against tha
Russian float aboard his flagship, tha
battleship Mikasa
with a full complamant of guns
Known as tha "Father of tha
Admiral HaiMchiro Togo was born In
tha Wand of Kyushu In 1847. Ha
naval sarvica as a cadat at tha aga of
Royal Navy, Togo sarvod two years
Worcester did
H.M.S Victory
rid
Nann
hostilities In tha Sino-J.panese
upon a Chinas* transport enrouta
tha ensuing struggle with
culminated a brilliant naval
annihilating tha Tsarist Baltic Fleet
Pace T.n THE NAVY February/March/April,
F2