Bloody Sunrise

by Christopher Nicole

  ‘Ping Yuen!’

  ‘Armoured cruiser, two thousand six hundred tons deep load, one hundred and ninety-six feet, speed ten-point-five knots, complement two hundred and two. Main armament one ten-point-two-inch, two five-point-nine-inch. Carries nine-point-four-inch belt armour.’

  ‘Chao Yung!’

  ‘Sister to Yang Wei, honourable Admiral.’

  ‘Ching Yuan!’

  ‘Protected cruiser. Two thousand three hundred tons, two hundred and fifty feet, speed eighteen knots. Complement Two hundred and sixty. Three eight-point-two-inch, two six-inch.’

  ‘Kwang P’ing!’

  ‘Just over a thousand tons, no heavy guns.’

  ‘King Yuan!’

  ‘Armoured cruiser. Two thousand nine hundred tons. Two hundred and seventy feet. Speed sixteen knots. Complement two hundred and seventy. Two eight-point-two-inch, two five-point-nine-inch. Nine-point-four-inch belt armour.’

  ‘Lai Yuan!’

  ‘Sister to King Yuan.’

  ‘Chen Yuan!’ The first battleship.

  ‘Armoured turret ship. Seven thousand six hundred tons. Three hundred and eight feet, speed fifteen knots, complement three hundred and fifty. Main armament four twelve-inch breech-loaders in two turrets mounted just forward of amidships, two five-point-nine-inch, mounted in the extreme bow and stern. Fourteen-inch belt and barbette armour.’

  ‘Ting Yuen!’

  ‘Sister to Chen Yuan.’

  ‘Chi Yuan!’

  ‘Protected cruiser. Two thousand three hundred tons. Two hundred and thirty-six feet. Sixteen-point-five knots. Complement two hundred. Two eight-point-two-inch, one five-point-nine-inch.’

  ‘Kuang Chia!’

  ‘Composite dispatch vessel, one thousand three hundred tons, two hundred and twenty-one feet. Fourteen knots. Complement estimated one hundred and fifty. One five-point-nine-inch, four four-point-seven-inch.’

  ‘Tsi Yuan!’

  ‘Two thousand three hundred tons, three heavy guns.’ The lieutenant closed the book.

  ‘Your orders, honourable Admiral?’ Nicholas asked.

  ‘Maintain course and speed, until we see what formation the enemy is adopting.’

  Every glass on board every Japanese ship was levelled as they raced towards the Chinese fleet, which could now be seen raising their anchors. Which way would they turn, to take up their own line ahead positions?

  To the amazement of the Japanese, the Chinese did not turn either way, but steamed towards them in the same line abreast as at anchor. Nicholas had never seen anything like it, and had never expected to. Nor, apparently, had Ito, who turned to him in consternation. ‘How do we engage them, Barrett?’

  Nicholas continued to study the enemy ships. They were endeavouring to maintain exact station, which had to mean they were steaming at the speed of the slowest ship, less than ten knots. ‘I would say we cross their bows, honourable Admiral, maintaining our speed and firing into them, and then cross their sterns, again maintaining speed and fire. That should break them up.’

  ‘Give the command.’

  As Ito spoke, there was a huge puff of smoke from the Ting Yuen’s starboard barbette, and a tall column of water erupted a little ahead of Yoshino.

  Nicholas made a note of the time: twelve-fifty.

  *

  The range was then just over three and a half miles, about maximum for the big guns, but now the Chen Yuan also opened fire. The sea became dotted with white plumes, and Nicholas looked at Ito. But the little Admiral gave no signal, and continued to watch the enemy ships through his binoculars.

  ‘Range three thousand yards,’ said the gunnery officer.

  ‘Signal fleet to alter course two points to port,’ Ito said. ‘And open fire.’

  The flags went up, and ships changed direction, so that instead of making straight for the enemy they would now pass obliquely across their bows, and in the same instant Yoshino fired the first Japanese shots of the action.

  Nicholas noted the time as five minutes to one.

  Now the entire Japanese line opened fire, even Matsushima’s twelve-point-five-inch – uniquely mounted in the stern – being brought round as far as possible. The shooting was remarkably accurate, in contrast to the Chinese, and the enemy fleet was smothered in white water from the explosions, while deeper growls could be heard as the shells struck home.

  Now that the two fleets were close to, the Chinese also opened up with everything they had, from their big guns through their quick-firers to their machine-guns, which were both Hotchkiss and Nordenfelt designs. The noise was tremendous, and it was difficult to see how the total destruction of both fleets could be avoided, as they were now virtually at point-blank range. And indeed, only a few minutes later there was a huge explosion near at hand, and Matsushima shuddered as if shaken by a giant. Smoke poured upwards to obscure visibility, and for a moment she drifted off course. ‘Resume steering,’ Nicholas snapped. ‘Are you all right, honourable Admiral?’

  Ito had been thrown from his feet by the blast, but now he got up, without his cap. ‘Damage report, Barrett.’

  One of the lieutenants had already scrambled down the ladder, and Nicholas went out on to the bridge wing to see for himself. He gasped in horror. They had been struck forward by a twelve-inch shell, he estimated, which had penetrated the two-inch deck armour and blown a hole several feet across. The ship was on fire, but already hoses were being played on the flames, and orderlies were dragging men clear.

  Nicholas slid down the ladder. ‘Casualties?’

  ‘Severe, honourable Admiral.’

  Nicholas made sure the flames were under control, then returned to the bridge, trying to tell what was happening with the Chinese as he did so. It was impossible to discover much, because of the smoke and the flying spray, but he could see no signs of any equivalent damage to the enemy. The two battleships were still blazing away, although because of the ineffective formation adopted by Admiral Ting it was not possible for the Chinese to bring every gun to bear.

  ‘Damage and casualties severe, but our fighting capacity is not reduced, honourable Admiral,’ Nicholas reported.

  Ito nodded. ‘Fleet will alter course to starboard as possible and pass down the rear of the enemy,’ he commanded.

  The Japanese had reached the end of the Chinese line, and as they came about, they now had the enemy between two fires, as the forward squadron was astern while the main squadron was still in front. Nicholas decided that his original estimate of the Chinese speed had been on the high side; they were not making much more than six knots in their endeavour to keep their stations, and even that wasn’t working, as they slowly assumed a crescent formation. Again his mind flitted back to the Spanish Armada, but the Spaniards had been made of sterner stuff. Lieutenant Hamaguchi pointed, and they saw the ship on the extreme left of the Chinese line, Tsi Yuan, dropping away from the line, and as the entire Japanese fleet was now behind the Chinese – and thus the way south was open – beginning to steam in that direction at full speed.

  ‘She does not appear to be damaged,’ Hamaguchi observed.

  ‘She is running away,’ Ito cried triumphantly. ‘They are cowards.’ Then he frowned as he looked astern. ‘Where is Hiei?’

  Nicholas also looked astern, and felt a pang of alarm. The veteran corvette had vanished from her station at the end of the Japanese line. He could not believe a Japanese captain would ever run away from a battle, therefore she had to be their first casualty. But then there was a storm of cheering, and he saw the corvette emerge from the very midst of the Chinese fleet; knowing that with her slow speed she could not keep up with the main squadron, her captain had elected to take a short cut, and had actually steamed between the two Chinese battleships to regain station.

  ‘Brave ship!’ Ito said. ‘Now they are falling apart.’

  For Kwang Chia was now also in full flight. These two ships, on the left of the Chinese line, had actually received the least number of shots. Those on the Chi
nese right had been exposed to every ship in the Japanese Navy, and now there were even greater disasters for Admiral Ting, as both Chao Yung and Yang Wei burst into flames – the Chinese ships were very vulnerable to fire because of the immense amount of lacquered scrollwork decorating each vessel – and also had to drop out of the line, although in their cases they could only try to make the closest shore before they sank. ‘Detach Saikio to finish them off,’ Ito commanded.

  ‘Four down and six to go,’ Nicholas said. ‘We have a resounding victory, honourable Admiral.’

  But Ito was chewing his moustache, a sure sign he was agitated. The Japanese fleet had suffered severely. Hiei’s gallant dash through the Chinese line had cost so much damage she was dropping out of the line, while her people coped with various fires; Akagi had had her mast shot away and they later learned that her captain, Commander Sakamoto, had been killed and all her senior officers wounded, and Saikio, although she endeavoured to obey orders and close with the stricken Chinese ships, was exploding steam in every direction to indicate that her pipes were shot through.

  The fire on board Matsushima’s foredeck had been brought under control, but now she was struck again, aft, by another twelve-inch shell. This time the ship seemed to be stopped for a moment by the impact, and all the officers on the bridge were thrown to the deck. Nicholas was first up, feeling as if he had been hit in the chest by a giant, to gaze in consternation at the shambles. The twelve-point-six-inch gun had been dismounted, and one of the four-point-seven-inch had been blown right overboard. Dead and dying men were scattered across the deck, and flames belched upwards beneath a canopy of black smoke.

  Even the bridge had not escaped unscathed, as the blast had sent splinters of wood and steel flying in every direction. Ito was again on his hands and knees, and the helmsman was dead, slumped over the wheel.

  ‘We are lost!’ Ito gasped.

  Nicholas threw the dead coxswain aside and grasped the helm, while calling down to the engine room.

  ‘We have no steam, honourable Admiral,’ came the reply.

  ‘Can you repair?’

  ‘Yes, but it will take time.’

  ‘Get to it.’ Nicholas looked at Ito, then at the battle, which continued to rage, both sides banging away with everything they had. No one had as yet noticed that Matsushima had lost way, although Itsukushima had steamed past her, and Hashidate was coming up on her beam. ‘You must command, honourable Admiral,’ Nicholas said, as Ito seemed momentarily at a loss for ideas. ‘Lieutenant Hamaguchi, signal Hashidate to stand-by to receive the Admiral. You must transfer your flag, Ito san.’

  ‘You will come with me.’

  ‘I will stay here, honourable Admiral. We must save the ship. We will rejoin the squadron as soon as we have steam again.’

  Ito hesitated, then went down the ladder. The one remaining boat had already been lowered, and Nicholas saluted as it pulled away with the admiral.

  ‘We are a sitting target,’ said Captain Tanawa.

  ‘Keep firing your bow guns,’ Nicholas told him. ‘Lieutenant Hirada, get aft and see if we can get the big gun firing again.’

  But he knew that they were in extreme danger, not only from enemy fire but from the blaze aft. ‘You are in command, Captain Tanawa,’ he said. ‘Keep firing.’

  He went down the ladder and hurried aft, greeted with shouts from the sailors manning the hoses. ‘Are we finished, sir?’ asked a petty officer.

  ‘Never,’ Nicholas told him. ‘Keep working.’

  He lost track of the battle, as Matsushima drifted away from the centre of the conflict. There was so much going on that the Chinese either did not notice the stricken cruiser or did not have the time to concentrate on her. This gave Nicholas the opportunity to use his glasses to peer into the smoke and spray in an endeavour to find out what was happening to the two big ships. He found them easily enough, still steaming slowly together, guns belching smoke. He thought he could make out one or two small fires, but nothing at all serious, and certainly neither their manoeuverability nor their fire power seemed the least diminished by the unceasing cannonade.

  It was five o’clock when Engineer-Commander Itribishi came up to tell him that he again had steam.

  ‘Make to Hashidate,’ Nicholas told Hirada. ‘Matsushima operational.’

  The stern gun mounting had been repaired by now as well, and he opened fire as he steamed back to join the squadron.

  ‘Signal from Hashidate, sir.’ Hirada’s voice was strained.

  ‘Speak.’

  ‘Fleet will cease firing and withdraw.’

  Nicholas frowned at him. ‘That cannot be correct. Ask for confirmation.’ But even as he spoke he saw the Japanese ships forming line to steam to the south-east. He could do nothing but follow.

  Chapter Eleven – The Disillusion

  ‘I waited for you, Barrett san,’ Ito said as Nicholas clambered up the ladder to Hashidate’s bridge. It was dark, but the night was pin-pointed by fires still burning on board the various ships, just as it continued to mark the position of the Chinese fleet, now far to the south.

  Nicholas was so exhausted he could barely stand; he had lost his cap and his uniform was stained with smoke and blood. He had various pains in his body but they had been with him for so long they might have been permanent. But Matsushima was still afloat, and all her fires had been put out, even if her decks remained a shambles. Yet he was a long way from pleased with what had happened. ‘May I ask why we broke off the engagement, honourable Admiral?’

  ‘You look terrible.’ Ito had at least managed to change into a clean tunic. Now he peered at his Chief of Staff. ‘By all the gods, Barrett, you are wounded.’

  ‘Wounded?’ Nicholas looked down at himself. ‘It can only be a scratch.’ He grinned. ‘Several scratches.’

  ‘Captain Yamasada, send for the surgeon, quickly,’ Ito commanded. ‘It does not look like a scratch to me. You must lie down.’

  Nicholas allowed himself to be escorted into the captain’s day cabin, and half fell on to the couch. He had been in the midst of so much firing, had felt so many jolts and cuts during the afternoon, he could not remember when he might have received an actual wound. But from the expression of the surgeon as he bent over him and cut away his tunic, it was by no means a scratch.

  ‘I must endeavour to clean this out, honourable Admiral,’ Dr Kitowake said. ‘It will be painful. Will you take laudanum?’

  Nicholas shook his head, he wanted to talk with Ito. They should be chasing the Chinese, not keeping their distance.

  Ito saw his anxiety. ‘We have gained a great victory, Barrett san. Two of the enemy ships sunk, at least, several more very badly damaged. And we have lost no ships of our own. But you were right; our shells seemed unable to knock out the battleships, although heaven knows we hit them often enough.’

  Nicholas groaned as the surgeon got to work. ‘We have failed in our mission, honourable Admiral. We did not prevent Ting from landing his reinforcements, and we did not destroy his fleet as a fighting force.’

  Ito did not looked concerned. ‘We won a great victory,’ he said again. ‘What is the matter?’ he asked the surgeon, who was peering into the wound.

  ‘The honourable Admiral has a broken rib, honourable Admiral. At least one. The puncture is from the inside, not the out.’

  ‘Oh, hell,’ Nicholas commented.

  ‘You must take some laudanum, and rest,’ Ito said. ‘I am sending Matsushima back to Shimonoseki for repairs. You will go with her.’ He grinned. ‘For repairs, too, eh, Barrett san?’

  *

  It was obviously going to be some time before Nicholas would again be fit for duty; what he had supposed was a gash caused by a steel splinter was actually a severe blow which had broken three ribs. Apart from the pain, he had lost a lot of blood, in Shimonoseki he was immediately taken into hospital. He continued to feel considerable pain, but was greatly relieved to learn, in Shimonoseki, that Ting had after all failed in his objective, althou
gh no credit could really be given to the Japanese navy. Ting had simply been too slow, and Nodzu Michitsura, taking command of all the Japanese forces in the peninsular, had simply been to quick, and too brilliant. He had actually attacked Pyong-Yang and taken it by assault on 15 September, while the Japanese fleet had still been anchored off Chemulpo.

  ‘Is there news of my son?’ Nicholas asked Hirada, who was accompanying him back to Japan.

  ‘I know that he is unharmed, honourable Admiral, and that he covered himself with glory during the assault.’

  Nicholas lay back with a sigh of contentment.

  *

  The surgeons in Shimonoseki were grim-faced as they removed Nicholas’s bandages.

  ‘This wound is infected, honourable Admiral,’ they told him. ‘You will have to remain in hospital.’

  ‘Until when?’ he demanded.

  ‘Until we have cured the infection and your ribs have started to heal. You are very lucky, honourable Admiral. By refusing to admit your wound and lie down you have caused the bones to splinter; they could easily have punctured a lung.’

  Elizabeth and Aki came to Shimonoseki to see him.

  ‘Oh, Nicholas,’ Elizabeth said, holding his hand tightly.

  ‘I’m going to be all right,’ he assured her.

  Aki said nothing, but just sat and stared at him.

  *

  A week later the Emperor himself visited Shimonoseki. He entered Nicholas’s room, and waved away all the attendants, before sitting beside the bed.

  ‘Tell me about the battle, Barrett.’

  ‘Has Admiral Ito not made a report, Your Majesty?’

  Mutsuhito took the paper from his breast pocket. ‘I will read it to you.’ This he did, pausing when the action was broken off. ‘Is that accurate?’

  ‘It is what happened, Your Majesty.’

  ‘The report concludes, “About five-thirty p.m., seeing that the Ting Yuan and the Chen Yuen had been joined by other ships, and that my van squadron was separated by a great distance from my main force, and considering that sunset was approaching, I discontinued the action, and recalled my main squadron by signal. As the enemy’s vessels proceeded on a southerly course, I assumed they were making for Wei-hai-wei, and having reassembled the fleet, I steamed upon what I supposed to be a parallel course to that of the foe, with the intention of renewing the engagement in the morning, for I deemed that a night action might be disadvantageous, owing to the possibility of the ships becoming separated in the darkness, and to the fact that the enemy had torpedo boats in company. I lost sight, however, of the Chinese, and at daylight saw no sign of the foe.”’ Mutsuhito folded the despatch and replaced it in his pocket. ‘Comment?’