Kaigun-taisa Gotō Eiji had to watch helplessly as the enemy battlecruiser came up. He ordered the crew to fight to the bitter end. As long as the enemy pursued them, the transporters were safe.
+ + +
On the Kawachi, Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi read the latest messages that had been brought to him from the radio room. Then he shook his head.
"What's the point? Why do you change the plans without consultation?"
Questioningly, the captain of the Kawachi Kaigun-taisa Inoue Shigeyoshi turned to his admiral:
"Are there any problems, Mr. Admiral?"
"The High Command has decided in its wisdom that the attack has a greater chance of success by bombing the enemy positions by land-based bombers. That's why bombers were launched from the Kitakyushu and Sasebo bases to support us."
Inoue Shigeyoshi now also shook his head:
"By the time they're here, it's all long gone."
"After all, these bombers could then attack us if they want to - or have to - show a successful sinking at home!"
+ + +
The Russian battlecruiser was in a real attacking mood. He not only continued the shelling of the Takao, but now also took the Mogami under fire. Although the Takao defended itself to the best of its ability, the few hits on the Russian capital ship did not seem to impress it.
+ + +
It was now five o'clock on the morning of the twenty-second of May, nineteen hundred and thirty-five, and it had become a beautiful, sunny morning of crystal-clear beauty. There was no trace of early morning fog as one had hoped, but that had become inconsequential. The battle had been raging for over two and a half hours and the Russians knew what to expect.
Morning fog as cover no longer played a role. The invasion fleet was still about twenty thousand yards from the landing zone and would gradually move into the range of land-based artillery, if there were any.
The enemy ships were concentrated on the Japanese heavy cruisers, and a number of ships, of which neither type nor damage were known, were last seen running towards Kidō Butai before they went out of sight.
All in all, it went quite well so far, but as soon as the troop transports dropped anchor, they were more than easy to take under fire. Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi had actually calculated that there would be no contact with the enemy at all, but since the Russian fleet was present, more forces had to be expected. Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi could not and did not want to believe that this coincidence was a complete coincidence.
+ + +
For the Takao, it was now only a matter of time. The enemy shot at the cruiser and escape was impossible. But then Kaigun-taisa Gotō Eiji listened attentively. Reconnaissance number Eighty-Eight of the Ibuki reported several unknown ships southeast of the position of the Japanese heavy cruisers, including three aircraft carriers.
Kaigun-taisa Gotō Eiji calculated the information and came to the conclusion that the reconnaissance officer must now actually be somewhere in this area. He had released the Ibuki from his cruiser group hours ago and in the meantime the damaged cruiser had joined the Kidō Butai. But that didn't stop the pilot of the reconnaissance aircraft from continuing to fly.
Takao had also retired from the Japanese 31st Cruiser Division, but he was able to help the two remaining cruisers in the division. If he now deliberately slowed down a little and kept the enemy battlecruisers busy, the heavy cruisers Mogami and Suzuya could take the opportunity to pursue these aircraft carriers. It was a risk because the carriers certainly had escort protection, but the chance to capture and sink the Russian aircraft carriers was just too tempting.
+ + +
Again, Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi received the report of land-based air support. This time, however, the message said that the reported enemy aircraft carriers would be attacked. This was finally something meaningful, Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi thought and put the message aside. If the bombers from Japan tried their luck in the south, they couldn't get in his way. It was hard to say what danger emanated from the Russian carriers. The probability was far too great that the reconnaissance aircraft had spotted a group of sperm whales instead of aircraft carriers. It would show. If there are really Russian carriers there, one would have to expect enemy aircraft at any time.
+ + +
Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi was right. Only a few minutes had passed when the heavy cruisers reported enemy bombers approaching!
More serious, however, was the report of the cruiser Suma, which had identified unknown contacts and also reported that two ships known as battlecruisers had turned around and let go of the Takao.
Now her course led her directly to the invasion fleet!
Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi had to react on the spot and ordered the Japanese 23rd Destroyer Flotilla to launch a frontal attack on the enemy battlecruisers.
He himself had to keep his battleships ready in order to be able to either take action against the enemy ships, or against any coastal positions on land.
While the command was still being issued, the loudspeaker crackled:
"Cruiser Mogami reports heavy air attack, lies in a hail of bombs from enemy carrier aircraft, starboard center artillery hit by bombs amidships and destroyed. Air raid continues!"
+ + +
Two reports arrived from the Kidō Butai. The next wave of attacks would begin and take care of the battlecruisers, so sacrificing the destroyers was no longer necessary at this moment and the heavy cruiser Ibuki, which had reached the carrier fleet in the meantime, had a destroyed radio system. The commander of the cruiser reported considerable structural damage and a water ingress that has not yet been brought under control by flag signal.
The commander asks for permission to disembark the crew and to keep only one hull crew on board who is trying to save the cruiser.
The cruiser has so far been kept stable by compensatory trimming, but capsizing must be expected shortly if the water is taken further.
+ + +
Kaigun-taisa Gotō Eiji steered the Takao close to land. On the one hand, the crew had a real chance of reaching the shore as soon as his cruiser began to sink, and on the other hand, he could try to spot a canal in the shallow water areas that would allow a refuge in the offshore island world.
With the best will in the world, no enemy positions have been found on the beach of the invasion zone so far. If there were any, they were excellently camouflaged. For Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi, however, this also means turning around with his battleships to seek battle with the battlecruisers. His heavy ship guns were not needed to support the landing troops.
+ + +
The order appeared innumerable times at Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi:
"I report..." the young sailor began his report
„… our aircraft carriers are already launching the second wave of attacks. Several squadrons are on their way to us and to the enemy carriers."
Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi thought it was all too risky. He let the destroyers continue to act against the enemy. It would take some time until the bombers were over the target and what they could then achieve was not clear. The enemy ships would probably already be within range before that.
The destroyer crews would probably have to pay dearly, but that's how the war has been since it existed!
He himself was now almost within attacking distance and let a battleship run across the enemy in order to be able to work with all the guns. At that moment the sirens blared, and a screaming sailor had stumbled through the door of the bridge from outside:
"ENEMY PLANES – THERE ARE ENEMY PLANES ABOVE US!"
Then the staccato of the flak broke out and a conversation was out of the question.
+ + +
Even before the air attack could be reacted to, explosions could be seen on all other battleships.
Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi stared out of the window in disbelief, then noticed Kaigun-taisa Inoue Shigeyoshi patting him on the shoulder.
"These are our broadsides, Mr. Admiral, no bombs. We opened fire on the enemy!"
Another orderly appeared:
"I report: The troop transports have dropped anchor and are beginning to disembark the troops."
Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi had a blank stare. It all came together, an enemy air attack on his battleships, the opening of fire on the enemy and now also the disembarkation of the troops. Now the transporters were the most vulnerable and the enemy bombers were guaranteed to notice this very quickly.
Then the Kawachi also tilted to the side and the first broadside thundered over the deck!
+ + +
Kaigun-taisa Gotō Eiji began to breathe a sigh of relief. The enemy battlecruiser turned along. It is possible that the risk of running so close to land on an unmarked sandbank or an unknown underwater rock was too great for his opponent. However, the enemy could now bring all his guns to fruition, which had not been possible before.
Over the radio, Gotō Eiji listened to other units submitting their status reports, the Kasagi, the Amagiri, Keyaki and Kaki. It was his turn to report when there was a wild knock against the bridge armor and several windows shattered.
"Air raid croaked a sailor of the bridge guard..." and Gotō Eiji whispered quietly to himself, "That's why the battlecruiser turned away..."
The next messages came from the loudspeaker:
"Battleship Fuso – bomb hit aft – rudder does not react – rudder possibly destroyed!"
"Transporter Hikawa Maru – air raid – we are under fire!"
You could think what you wanted of the Russian attacks, they definitely had an effect, the formations of the Japanese units were completely in disarray. This was a certain advantage for the approaching enemy battlecruisers, because the shelling by the Japanese battleships had lost power.
On the bridge of the Mogami, Kaigun-taisa Michitarō Tozuka concentrated on the horizon. In fact, the lookout had been right, smoke could be seen on the horizon to port, exactly where the last reconnaissance report had located the enemy carriers!
Kaigun-taisa Gotō Eiji on the Takao also had the enemy in sight, but in the form of the torpedo bombers of these same enemy aircraft carriers!
The Japanese attack waves were still gathering with their carriers, but the start was abruptly interrupted when the wind turned its direction almost exactly one hundred and eighty degrees and the Japanese carriers now also had to turn in the opposite direction.
+ + +
Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi tried to bring order to his battle formation, which took far too much time, to his chagrin. Now he would have to work with all guns against the enemy to give cover to the destroyers, but this was not possible. He expected a slaughter among his destroyers.
Kaigun-taisa Gotō Eiji tried to evade the enemy air attack, but the enemy battlecruiser had long since resumed pursuit. Every small change of course brought this battlecruiser closer to the Takao faster.
Then the Russian pilots showed all their skills and flew a pincer attack on the Takao.
It didn't matter which heading Gotō Eiji had applied, he would definitely get into the trajectories of some torpedoes!
The jammed rudder of the Fuso brought the giant directly into conflict with the light cruisers of the Reconnaissance Division and thus caused hectic maneuvering for them as well.
Then the slaughter began practically at the same time. The enemy battlecruiser near the Takao made a dangerous hit on the waterline of the Japanese heavy cruiser.
The other two battlecruisers fired everything they had at the destroyers and literally blew away the stem of the bridge of the Nokaze.
Surprised, Kaigun-taisa Michitarō Tozuka squinted into the sun on the Mogami, then the cruiser's flak screamed and several explosions appeared in the sky. The air raid on the Mogami came out of nowhere. No one had noticed the approach of enemy bombers until it was too late. Across the Mogami, torpedoes slapped into the water and headed for the cruiser.
Author's note: Actually, the air attack was supposed to be aimed at the Takao. Apparently the computer just "beamed" the torpedo bombers to the Mogami?
+ + +
Frantically, the helmsman of the Mogami turned the rudder, but it was too late. A torpedo headed directly for the cruiser and hit.
Kaigun-taisa Michitarō Tozuka held on to the card table, but nothing happened. "Dud," hissed his first officer, wiping beads of sweat from his forehead.
Then it tore both of them off their feet!
"Torpedo hits amidships!" it roared from the loudspeaker and black smoke clouded the view from the windows.
The captain of the Nokaze stood on his feet again and looked ahead – the side of the bridge was gone, but otherwise the helm was intact, he shouted an order into the intercom, then the artillery of the destroyer hit the enemy with a broadside and shredded several unarmored superstructures and the launches of the battlecruiser!
+ + +
Then, to everyone's surprise, morning mist settled over the sea and visibility decreased drastically. Only the destroyers were still in full combat, the other ships no longer had valid targets for their guns.
Kaigun-taisa Michitarō Tozuka decided to give his cruiser a breather. In the side, water penetrated the hull through a man-sized hole and so damaged the cruiser could not go into battle. The carriers would certainly have cruisers as escorts in the convoy and that would mean the certain end for the Mogami. First, the water ingress had to be stopped. Fortunately, the larger part of the hole was above the waterline and was easy to get under control at a short speed.
The situation was different on the Takao. Kaigun-taisa Gotō Eiji had to acknowledge that the waterline hit had caused irreparable damage. The enemy shell had torn open the ship's side several meters and the cruiser was already a good meter lower aft than at the bow.
Now it was only a matter of time, but there was nothing to prevent the Takao from sinking!
The haze was a bigger problem for the artillery, but not for the enemy bombers! Another wave of planes appeared over the battleships, and Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi had to stand idly by while these bombers could do whatever they wanted. Although the carriers had long since ordered hunting protection to the battleships, there was no sign of them so far.
+ + +
The artillerymen of the Nokaze vented all their anger over the bridge hit on the enemy battlecruisers. Although the destroyer's 5inch guns could hardly sink the battlecruisers, everything from the deck superstructure that was not armored was sifted through. Almost every shot was a hit and the enemy ships would have to go to the shipyard anyway. But now all the destroyers together had fired so many torpedoes that the battlecruisers had to be careful which course they took.
Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi could breathe a sigh of relief that most of the planes had turned away from his battleships, but they only did so because they now pounced on the transports again.
He was all the more surprised when there was a bang on the Yamashiro and smoke rose from one of its towers of the medium artillery.
"Where are those damn fighter planes?" Takahashi Sankichi roared to the orderly, who left the bridge towards the radio room at a run.
At least the Mogami reported that the water ingress could be stopped.
What happened to the destroyers was exactly what Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi had expected. They were shot down! However, modern destroyers have many more torpedoes on board than previous torpedo boats. The tactic of simply firing volleys of torpedoes in different directions had an effect and there was a first hit on one of the two Russian battlecruisers.
On the Takao, the crew did superhuman feats and were able to significantly reduce the water ingress. However, the cruiser was not yet saved.
+ + +
The rudder system of the Fuso was functional again and finally the Japanese fighters appeared in the sky, now Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi had to form his convoy into a proper battle line again, which would take some time.
Southeast of the convoy, an enemy battlecruiser lay motionless in the water and demanded attention. Theoretically, he was a found fodder for the destroyers, but whether they would still be able to fight in a few minutes was not certain. After all, they now brought the most notorious Japanese weapon to full advantage.
+ + +
The sacrifice of the Japanese destroyers was rewarded by numerous torpedo hits. The enemy battlecruisers would probably no longer pose a threat to the invasion fleet. Among the destroyers, however, they were able to continue to let off steam.
+ + +
A single destroyer of the Japanese 23rd Destroyer Flotilla had so far remained undamaged, but the enemy battlecruisers lost speed and began to smoke in. Now all that remained was to give them the rest, then the order was to march to the nearest base.
Kaigun-taisa Gotō Eiji had little hope about the success of the leak barrier and he was right. Once again, planes appeared over the Takao, which was already badly battered and could only offer little resistance.
+ + +
The Takao had a considerable pitch, but the water intrusion was now practically stopped again. With only six knots left, the cruiser was now fair game for everything and everyone who wanted to try.
Kaigun-taisa Michitarō Tozuka also had to endure another air attack on himself and his mogami, but at least he was still fit for combat and was approaching the supposed carrier of the Tsar's fleet. Soon he wanted to turn the tables. Only minutes later he had to watch how the Suzuya in front was hit in rows and black smoke rose above the cruiser.
The battle was now again like right at the beginning a wild slashing and stabbing and while Kaigun-taisa Gotō Eiji had to report heavy hits again, the first troops had gone ashore without resistance and were able to establish themselves there.
+ + +
The ship's side, which had just been sealed, was torn open again and again large amounts of water penetrated the hull of the Takao. Kaigun-taisa Gotō Eiji ordered the fight to the last shell, but there was no prospect of effective hits on the enemy battlecruiser.
Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi had ordered the fire of the battleships, which were still not in formation, to be distributed. He fired on everything that was somehow within reach in order to support the battered destroyers in the best possible way.
Then Kaigun-taisa Michitarō Tozuka heard a brutal bang on the Mogami and thought that his last hour had struck. He hissed at his orderly:
"Damage report – damage report!"
The answer came quickly: "I report: We were not hit Mr. Commander!"
"Not hit? – But what?"
Then one of the bridge guards came in from outside:
"Mr. Commander – look there..."
Kaigun-taisa Michitarō Tozuka stepped outside - far northeast - where the heavy cruiser Takao might be - a huge black cloud rose into the sky as he had never seen before...
Kaigun-taisa Michitarō Tozuka immediately ordered radio contact with the Takao, but the cruiser failed to respond. But Michitarō Tozuka couldn't do much more, because he himself would probably be in battle himself in a few minutes and almost nothing was known about the number and composition of the opponent. The two remaining heavy cruisers were battered, but giving up was out of the question.
Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi listened to the radio traffic, but he couldn't do anything for the Takao either. The landing went satisfactorily, but his escort ships were busy wrestling down the enemy ships in sight. This was mainly at the expense of his destroyers, but his battleships also fired shell after shell at everything within range.
+ + +
From cruiser Suzuya finally came the longed-for message. In fact, the enemy aircraft carriers had been found. Since the entire enemy formation ran at high speed instead of facing a battle, the hope arose that it was only the carriers and a few destroyers. Cruisers or even heavier ships would otherwise almost certainly face a battle.
At six twenty a.m. local time, the Japanese heavy cruiser Suzuya opened fire on a classified light aircraft carrier of the Russian fleet.
+ + +
The resistance of the Russian battlecruisers had noticeably weakened. Both ships lay almost motionless in the water and had a clear side. Now it was only a matter of time before these ships would sink.
Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi concentrated on another battlecruiser lying quietly in the water. This ship must have been hit so badly in the darkness at the first collision that it could not continue. Only one destroyer had remained nearby and was now causing greater concern to the departing badly damaged Japanese destroyers.
+ + +
Five minutes after opening fire, cruiser Suzuya reported that the enemy was now beginning to swarm out. Now it would become clear whether they were death-defying destroyers or whether the brash appearance of the Japanese cruisers would be punished. When the lookout reported both an enemy battlecruiser and a heavy cruiser, the hunting fever suddenly changed to fear.
+ + +
Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi had been notified of two more ships that were gradually coming within range of the Kawachi at a short speed or possibly only driven by the current. This much was certain: There were still a number of enemy ships here and the sighting reports of the maritime reconnaissance aircraft were absolutely worthless.
The only thing he could do at the moment was to give the order to fire at his own discretion. Orderly formations were out of the question given the condition of his ships and the scattered enemy ships.
+ + +
At least one of the enemy ships was referred to as a battleship, but seemed to run off in the direction of the Japanese carrier fleet. At its current speed, however, it would not reach it so quickly unless the wind turned again.
+ + +
The second sighting also turned out to be a battleship, but lay motionless in the water. Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi was holding the news of another torpedo hit on the southern battlecruisers when a brutal bang drowned out all the gun noise from his battleships.
"Bullseye – bullseye!" thundered from the voice tube of the Kawachi's artillery control center. Takahashi Sankichi looked out of the window and where the enemy battlecruiser had just been, a huge cloud of black smoke wafted over the sea.
Kaigun-taisa Inoue Shigeyoshi approached him:
"It tore him apart, Mr. Admiral!"
"Was that us?"
"Yes, Mr. Admiral – direct hit by 18inch shell of our turret B"
"Steep fire at this distance?"
"Not steep fire, but penetration. The 18inch guns may be downright crap, but when they hit the mark, they really do!"
"You're probably right, Inoue – then let's get these two battleships now!"
"Yes, Mr. Admiral!"
+ + +
Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi asked in vain where and which ship they were aiming for, but he also had to acknowledge that the battlefield was completely chaotic and he could only hope that the pilots knew the difference between Russian and Japanese ships?
+ + +
The classification was still "capital ships", but that could not be in terms of behavior. If these were enemy battlecruisers, the Suzuya would have long been within range of enemy guns. But there was no enemy fire and so the only explanation was that the lookout had drunk too much sake. Wherever did they get the rice wine from?
The fears of Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi did not come true. In return, the bombers disputed the sinking of the battleships. He saw through his binoculars how four dive bombers went into a dive as if hanging on a string of pearls, pulled up at a low altitude above the battleship, followed by a clearly visible explosion on the deck of the battleship.
"Hit," he muttered to himself and didn't know whether he liked it or not? He preferred to see some of his own 18inch grenades hit there and they had the better hit effect anyway.
Then he could hardly believe what he was seeing. The battleship tilted to the side and sank.
"An aerial bomb? A single damn aerial bomb?"
+ + +
Then messages came over the radio that made him sit up and take notice. Bomb hits on ships out of sight. These ships could only be between him and the Japanese aircraft carriers and that was not good news!
The battle was now somehow rippling along and there was a reason for that. Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi wanted to wait and see what the planes could do before he opened up in order to be able to fight the enemy better himself. He still did not trust the skills of the pilots. However, this may have been self-evident, because the carrier fleet announced that the torpedo stocks on board were running low.
Kaigun-taisa Michitarō Tozuka had also ordered restraint. He wanted to catch up with the Suzuya with the Mogami and not let it run to its doom alone. However, it was now certain that there were no capital ships among the Russian carriers. The entire behavior clearly spoke in favor of destroyers and perhaps light cruisers, nothing more.
The enemy battlecruisers lay more or less motionless in the water and most of the destroyers began to pull away so as not to catch any more unfortunate accidental hits, but the resistance had almost come to a standstill.
After Kaigun-taisa Michitarō Tozuka was sure that he was not a danger himself, he ordered the fire to be directed at the enemy carriers. It was necessary to prevent the flight operations of these ships, then one could target all ships one after the other.
+ + +
Finally clarity about the enemy formation came about and indeed one had to deal with more or less defenseless ships of the enemy. The centerpiece, in fact, was the large aircraft carrier Leningrad, and according to the known facts, this was the only large Russian aircraft carrier. If Kaigun-taisa Michitarō Tozuka was lucky, he could destroy the core of the Russian delivery weapon here and now. In addition to Leningrad, two light aircraft carriers of the Russians were also recognized. If he was able to sink all three, the enemy would still have three more light carriers and these were partly conversions from cruisers, so not to be taken seriously.
To his delight, a squadron of bombers that had taken off from Sasebo and now also flew in attack formation shortly before the enemy carriers reported.
Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi was also allowed to take note of the next air attack, but the hit position of his ship guns was now very good even at longer range. The bombers now bothered him more than he perceived them as a benefit.
+ + +
Then the time had come and Kaigun-taisa Michitarō Tozuka was able to watch the bombers attack. However, the hit messages that could be heard over the radio did not come from the aircraft supporting his cruisers, but from the carrier aircraft of the Kidō Butai. For him it didn't matter who hunted down the enemy, but he knew that the commanding admiral judged it differently. For him, on the other hand, it was clear that today he might be in the last major artillery battle ever. The development of the air force had recently progressed so quickly that it was only a matter of time before only aircraft would still have enemy contact.
The airstrike on the Russian carriers, despite his opinion on the future of the Air Force, was spectacularly unsuccessful. But the air raid had one effect. The enemy was forced to turn around and now very quickly came close to the two Japanese heavy cruisers.
+ + +
The air raids were hardly worth mentioning. Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi noted for himself that the first wave of an air raid had a high striking power, but the second wave was already much weaker. The High Command had to take this into account in its urge to rebuild the entire fleet.
The hit situation of his battleships, on the other hand, was all the more pleasing.
+ + +
The sky was now filled with Japanese carrier aircraft and the tasks were widely scattered. The enemy battleships were the most obvious and, due to their size, also the most rewarding targets. However, several pilots also targeted some downright vagabond enemy destroyers and a larger group would try to reach the enemy aircraft carriers. Confused was probably a good description to characterize the use of carrier aircraft.
+ + +
It was now seven o'clock local time and Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi was preparing for a long day. Although they scored goals everywhere, there were many places and too few goals to achieve quick results. It became apparent that they would spend several more hours trying to find all enemy ships.
A pilot has just reported bomb hits on a heavy cruiser, but where this cruiser was supposed to be was unknown. Of course, it might have been only one of the destroyers, but if a heavy cruiser was reported, it would have to be investigated.
At least the last known enemy battleship could no longer withstand the combined fire of the four Japanese battleships. Although it had been literally dispersed by the 18inch and 16inch guns of the Japanese, it sank upright and dignified in the East China Sea.
But the next enemy ship came into view at that very moment. Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi wondered if this could be the reported heavy cruiser?
Kaigun-taisa Michitarō Tozuka had finally caught up with the Suzuya with his Mogami. Although both cruisers were damaged, the enemy had no heavy artillery to offer. As long as the two Japanese cruisers kept enough distance not to run the risk of being hit by destroyer torpedoes, they could calmly fight down the enemy.
The situation was completely different with the departing Japanese destroyers. At least four enemy ships were on interception courses. They were probably also destroyers, but they were certainly in better condition than the Japanese. Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi ordered the Japanese destroyers to move south to gain time. Sure, the Russian battlecruiser that had hunted down the Takao was still in the south, but if its commander had any sense of strategy, he would try to reach its carriers instead of chasing Japanese destroyers.
Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi himself would run with his battleships to the Japanese carriers. There had to be larger Russian units between him and the Kidō Butai. Too many sighting reports from the pilots spoke of it, even if none of it had been concrete. It was also completely unclear whether these were fleeing ships from the night battle or a previously completely unrecognized formation with fresh units.
At least the disembarkation went undisturbed and according to plan. The invasion was already a success, that could not be taken away from him.
+ + +
The Russian fleet carrier had already been badly hit. Whatever the reason for this conspicuous ship having been classified as a battlecruiser for far too long, at least the carrier had already been unsuspectingly set on fire. Kaigun-taisa Michitarō Tozuka was satisfied!
Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi was disappointed. The supposed heavy cruiser turned out to be a destroyer and the fact that several squadrons announced an air attack could not improve his mood, because no one gave exactly which targets were attacked where.
But then he could see who the bombers were attacking. As before with the Russian battleship, the pilots of the Kidō Butai now disputed the destroyer!
+ + +
It was pure waste! Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi had to watch as two entire squadrons pounced on a damaged destroyer. Didn't the bombers have orders to fly south to the enemy carriers? Whatever this form of naval warfare meant, for Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi it was clear that it could not go on like this.
It was a classic of naval warfare, a far superior ship should have no problems against a weaker opponent. However, all ships had a weak point, no matter how big and powerful they were. Kaigun-taisa Michitarō Tozuka had to learn that now. The enemy's light cruisers could hardly harm the armor of the Mogami, but they could damage or destroy the rudder, and that's exactly what had just happened!
+ + +
Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi had to smile. Over the radio, he was able to overhear Japanese land-based bombers carrying out an air raid on the enemy airfield Chemulpo. The only thing he missed was precise information about what exactly was bombed and what the results were.
These pilots were no better than the pilots of the aircraft carriers and he was sure for today that the Kidō Butai was of no use!
The Mogami was ready for battle again and fortunately did not become the target of a destroyer attack. Nevertheless, one had to act more carefully in order not to become the hunted oneself.
+ + +
The Russian carrier rapidly lost speed and tilted to starboard. Kaigun-taisa Michitarō Tozuka was satisfied, this ship was something like the main prize of the day and the fact that he had hunted it down in classic whites with gunfire would give military strategists all over the world pause for thought.
+ + +
The next news brought Kaigun-taisa Michitarō Tozuka less joy – the ammunition supply had fallen below fifty percent. He would have to close the gap to the enemy to increase his hit rate. In addition to the fleet carrier, there were also the two light carriers and he wanted to sink all the Russian aircraft carriers present.
Just at the moment when Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi was reported air torpedo hits on an enemy destroyer, a much more significant message came: The Russian battlecruiser that had sunk the Takao was not on its way to the Russian carriers, or on an interception course to the fleeing Japanese destroyers, as suspected, it was seen sneaking close under land to the north.
This battlecruiser was on its way to the troop transports and there was no Japanese ship of equal importance in the vicinity to intercept this enemy.
+ + +
"Report to the admiral, enemy fleet carrier takes water and seems to slowly sink away aft over starboard." Kaigun-taisa Michitarō Tozuka watched the orderly, which disappeared in the direction of the radio room.
The girder had not yet sunk, but that was now only a matter of time. Now he could pursue the two light carriers.
Of the original four light cruisers of the Japanese 35th Reconnaissance Division, three were still in the formation and only the Suma had remained undamaged. Now these three light cruisers, supported by two destroyers, had to hunt down a far superior enemy. Kaigun-taisa Kiyohide Shima had taken command of the division with the Suma after the Akitsushima had lost its important communications equipment in battle. Now he was facing perhaps the biggest test of his career so far.
Kaigun-taisa Kiyohide Shima ordered interception to the battlecruiser and said a prayer!
+ + +
Across the starboard, Kaigun-taisa Kiyohide Shima saw some planes in the sky and they seemed to be heading for the battlecruiser as well. Apparently, not all pilots were incompetent and had recognized the impending catastrophe.
The Russian battlecruiser snapped around a shallow waterhole and opened fire on the Suma!
In the meantime, the last other combat-capable Japanese destroyers did everything they could to keep the enemy destroyers away from the retreating Japanese units, and at the latest after the unplanned air attack with two torpedo hits on the enemy, the Japanese had taken the initiative here as well.
Kaigun-taisa Kiyohide Shima couldn't believe his eyes. The Japanese bombers simply flew on and made no attempt to attack the battlecruiser. What was that supposed to do? He did not even think of dictating anything to the orderly. He ran to the radio booth himself, grabbed the microphone and covered the radio traffic with wild insults!
+ + +
The tantrum seemed to have been of some use. In fact, the bomber squadron turned around and now flew a direct attack on the battlecruiser. But the enemy also still had aircraft ready for action and began to fly attacks on the troop transports as well.
Kaigun-taisa Kiyohide Shima was boiling with anger because the Japanese bombers now seemed to be flying after the Russian bombers. What were the pilots thinking? Didn't they realize that they were enemy bombers or had they recognized exactly that and did they want to prevent the Russian bomber attack?
The confusion was maximally perfect!
Kaigun-taisa Kiyohide Shima kept his light cruisers at a distance and hoped that the destroyers would succeed in a successful attempt. He no longer counted on the bombers!
+ + +
The battlecruiser had an easy time with the Japanese ships. A heavy hit was enough to take the Suma out of the fray. Kaigun-taisa Kiyohide Shima could only hope that the rest of the ships would pull off a feat, otherwise the invading troops would still have a hard time.
To the astonishment of Kaigun-taisa Kiyohide Shima, the Japanese pilots seemed to have finally understood which ship to attack and at least they got the enemy to maneuver with their approaches. This could be the opportunity for the destroyers to save the day.
The enemy fleet carrier was still swimming and was now being attacked by land-based bombers, while Kaigun-taisa Michitarō Tozuka had not yet completed the circumnavigation of this formation. He wanted to sink the two light carriers, but could not ignore the opponent to the north. Once the fleet carrier had finally sunk, his escort had nothing else to do but attack the Japanese heavy cruisers, and then he found himself between two enemy formations. He wanted to avoid that, no matter how much he wanted to rush at the light carriers.
+ + +
Two battered destroyers turned away from the enemy without success. After all, the battlecruiser had turned south, now that Japanese destroyers were heading towards it from three other directions. And then finally the bombers attacked the battlecruiser. It was now even two seasons that had possibly tried to coordinate all the time?
What to think of the 帝国海軍航空隊 (Teikoku Kaigun Kōkūtai - Imperial Japanese Naval Air Force) had to be evaluated by the Admiralty. Kaigun-taisa Kiyohide Shima could now at least watch as the pilots put six torpedoes into the Russian battlecruiser and that should be the end of this ship.
The destroyers could now take over the mopping up in peace.
While Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi could hardly believe his luck that these good-for-nothing pilots had prevented a catastrophe at exactly the right moment, Kaigun-taisa Michitarō Tozuka had to admit to himself that the first reports about the sinking of the fleet carrier had been too optimistic. The wearer was still swimming and didn't sink any lower. He still had to improve here. After all, for whatever reason, the escort ships had left and thus cleared the way.
The torpedo bombers had left the Russian battlecruiser motionless, the Japanese destroyers completed the work of destruction and completely torpedoed the hull of the giant over a length of several meters with their torpedoes. The sinking was now only a matter of time and it would probably be sooner rather than later.
+ + +
The next few minutes the battle was again quite tough. However, this changed with the unpleasant appearance of further enemy aircraft, which seemed to be looking for stricken Japanese destroyers as targets.
After all, the Imperial Japanese Naval Air Force had sown blood after the last attack and were also trying to achieve further successes. However, when approaching the remaining Russian light aircraft carriers, they were discovered and attacked by enemy fighter planes.
+ + +
As suspected, the end for the battlecruiser came quickly. In the meantime it was clear that no other large units of the enemy were present in this battle area. Apart from scattered destroyers, there was nothing left here that posed a danger. Thus, in fact, only the two light aircraft carriers of the Russian fleet remained, which could cause trouble with their bombers.
Apart from the Imperial Japanese Naval Air Force's own aircraft, only the Mogami and Suzuya could do anything against these ships, and these two cruisers were slowly but surely running out of ammunition.
For the Japanese bombers, however, the large and wide flight decks were a perfect target for achieving success even with little ammunition. Kaigun-taisa Michitarō Tozuka saw through his binoculars how a large group of Japanese bombers plunged down from a height onto the Russian carriers, almost giving the impression of crashing into the carriers himself, only to pull up seconds before impact and release their bombs – boom – hit – he could no longer observe the remaining aircraft because of the cloud of fire.
+ + +
It was now shortly before ten o'clock in the morning and a few minutes ago the Japanese carriers had come within sight of Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi. He had decided to mingle with the Kidō Butai in order to benefit from their hunting protection on the one hand and to be able to summon up firepower on the other hand in case a Russian capital ship should appear unexpectedly.
From the south came the news that the two heavy cruisers had now taken the light carriers under fire and in the center some light cruisers were chasing the Russian destroyers.
Kaigun-taisa Michitarō Tozuka had imagined it differently, but it couldn't be changed. The Russian carriers had suddenly lost considerable speed, so that he had caught up with the enemy with his cruisers. This was probably intentional, because it was now within the range of the artillery of the light carriers and the Russian crews knew how to handle it.
+ + +
Then the next long-winded phase began with a few meetings and time-consuming maneuvering back and forth.
+ + +
In the end, however, the light carriers simply had too few guns to be able to inflict serious damage on the Japanese cruisers. So Kaigun-taisa Michitarō Tozuka simply needed time to fight down the enemy.
+ + +
It was not until shortly after eleven o'clock that the first light carrier was sinking, and Kaigun-taisa Michitarō Tozuka wondered if his ammunition stocks were sufficient to carry the second light carrier to the bottom of the sea? At least other Japanese carrier aircraft came to his aid, even if they took the already sinking carrier as their target as another brilliant achievement.
+ + +
Half an hour later, Kaigun-taisa Michitarō Tozuka at least had visual contact with the second light carrier again. Whether he still had enough ammunition available would therefore soon become apparent.
To the disappointment, however, it was only one of the escort destroyers, whom his artillery stopped with a magnificent shot with only one hit. The rest was hard work.
+ + +
In the end, the missing carrier was found in the tangle of the South Korean islands, where he tried to hide together with another destroyer.
After the last events, Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi ordered all combat-capable ships to swarm out and finally sink all detected enemy ships. In his opinion, major problems were no longer to be expected. At best, chance hits by enemy bombers might still be a danger, and this danger would also diminish hour by hour.
+ + +
Kaigun-taisa Michitarō Tozuka did not need an order to search for and sink enemy ships. He was still behind the last enemy aircraft carrier with the two cruisers and his problem was the ammunition supply. He had long since decided to reduce the distance considerably, even if he did not know whether the destroyer escort still had torpedoes or not. He urgently needed to increase his hit rate and this could only be achieved by a short distance to the enemy.
+ + +
Shortly after thirteen o'clock local time, several enemy ships were spotted near the sinking site of the Takao. Course calculations quickly revealed that these had to be the escort ships of the sunken Russian fleet carrier. Like the battlecruiser before them, these ships tried to sneak north close to land.
Someone on the Russian side had probably realized to throw everything that could still sail towards the invasion fleet. This realization probably came many hours too late, or the person who was now in command had been aware of it all along, but the previous superiors had probably been of a different opinion.
+ + +
After the sinking of the Russian battlecruiser, the air forces of the Kidō Butai had consolidated as much as possible and flew up and down the sea area in squadron formation if possible in order to be able to react quickly to sightings. Thus, it took just under an hour for several bombers to attack over the rediscovered Russian escort ships and score their first hits.
+ + +
The Russian destroyer had run away and preferred to try to save itself instead of protecting the aircraft carrier, and maybe that had been the only right thing to do, because it was simply no match for the two Japanese cruisers. Thus, Kaigun-taisa Michitarō Tozuka had free rein to sink the last light carrier.
For the two light cruisers on a northerly course, fate was also sealed. After a few but effective bomb hits, both ships began to lay smoke screens and at the same time had to admit their critical condition. Here, too, it was now only a matter of time.
+ + +
Around fifteen o'clock only a light cruiser of the enemy was still able to make some speed. All the other ships lay more or less motionless in the sea or sailed so slowly that the current had an easy time with them. Everyone had to endure a moderate but constant barrage.
+ + +
Whenever Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi was sure that there would be no more surprises, he was proven wrong! Even now, previously undiscovered ships appeared on the scene, but as slowly as they crept north, they were already badly damaged ships.
But one thing was clear – a ship is only sunk when it has been confirmed to have sunk!
So it was only the old doctrine according to which it was right to fire at an enemy until it had sunk irrevocably. Otherwise, even severely damaged ships would always appear unexpectedly somewhere. He didn't have to look at the enemy at all. Currently, many of his own destroyers are limping to the nearest base, some of them at a speed of only one or two knots. Some had holes in the hull big enough to pass through with a launch, but they swam and made speed!
+ + +
After two air torpedo hits, one of the two enemy light cruisers finally sank into the sea. Kaigun-taisa Michitarō Tozuka had let go of the burning aircraft carrier in the meantime and chased after the fleeing destroyer to use his few remaining shells for this target. Much to his delight, its captain accepted the battle, but the Suzuya felt it.
Then the artillery control center of the Mogami reported that the last shell had been fired!
+ + +
The battle had now dragged on for more hours and the evening was approaching. It wouldn't be too long until dusk and almost all ships in battle either had no ammunition left or only small remaining stocks.
In the end, the Bombers scored important goals again. The second light cruiser broke in two when one of the dive bombers placed its payload directly in the middle of the ship and then disappeared back into the air with a victory gesture.
Kaigun-taisa Michitarō Tozuka had lost sight of his goal when a fog bank was approaching, and accordingly frustrated he set course for Sasebo.
+ + +
The bombers also completed the last act with a series of hits on a destroyer, which immediately lost speed and remained stranded. A good twenty minutes later, the ship capsized and sank. After that, the Japanese units shifted to picking up shipwrecked people from both sides. Before the order for the general march back to Japan was given by Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi at about eighteen o'clock.
+ + +
Shortly after eighteen o‘clock, the light cruiser Chitose picked up some leftovers on the wreckage of the heavy cruiser Takao. Among them was the badly injured Kaigun-taisa Gotō Eiji, and the captain of the Chitose was unsure whether fate had been good or bad for Gotō Eiji?
Dusk set in about fifteen minutes before nineteen o'clock, and an hour and a half later darkness silenced the darkest day in the history of the tsar's fleet.
Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi declared the battle over and he knew that he had practically completely destroyed the Russian East Asia Fleet except for very few ships - which were still approaching somewhere!
Editorial Board of the Tōkyō Shinbun – Wednesday, May 22, 1935
It was getting late, but Osaki Satoshi was still engrossed in huge stacks of paper that stood on his desk. He rummaged through all the documents that had anything to do with Korea and occupations by foreign powers. Which armies have sought their way to Korea so far and how have they done so?
In fact, most of the invasions against the empires on the Korean Peninsula were not very successful. But stubborn opponents managed to do this from time to time.
The last significant attempt on the part of Japan led back to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who tried for six years from 1592 to 1598 to subjugate Korea, then called Joseon, which he did not succeed in.
"Toyotomi Hideyoshi" whispered Osaki Satoshi, because this name commanded some reverence in Japan. Toyotomi Hideyoshi was responsible for the flourishing of the samurai, but also for a good thirty years without a shogunate. The centuries before there were only very short periods without a shogun. It was only after the death of Toyotomi Hideyoshi that Tokugawa Ieyasu succeeded in establishing a new shogunate, and this was the last one, which lasted until 1867. The Tokugawa shogunate was the last episode of ancient feudal Japan. Significant events in Japanese history took place during this period.
The village of Edo, for example, was a tiny fishing port of no major importance. Tokugawa Ieyasu nevertheless made it the administrative seat of his shogunate and to this day it has remained the administrative seat of Japan, even though it is now referred to as Tōkyō (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edo_period).
Then Osaki Satoshi's mind jumped and he whispered, "What a coincidence!"
"It all goes back to this Anjin-san..." he continued to whisper.
This Anjin-san had a significant influence on Tokugawa Ieyasu and ultimately it was this Anjin-san who built the first modern Japanese sailing ship of European design.
"Actually, this could have been the beginning..." Satoshi continued...
"... but then came the 鎖国 (sakoku – the time of the closure of Japan)..."
"Where would Japan be, where would the Japanese fleet be today without the sakoku?"
Osaki Satoshi had a questioning face!
Only now - three hundred years after this Anjin-san had built Japan's first truly ocean-going ships - did the Japanese Empire once again have ships on a par with other great seafaring nations (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Adams_(samurai)).
"Only now – we have been asleep for three hundred years..."
"Rampampammpammm" it suddenly thundered out of the radio, which had been playing quietly in the background.
"The High Command of the Imperial Japanese Navy announces:"
"Today, on the twenty-second of May, combined naval and air forces of the Imperial Japanese Navy have transported the remnants of the fleet of the Russian Tsarist Empire to the bottom of the sea in an eighteen-hour naval battle. At the same time, the daring soldiers of the Marine Infantry and the Imperial Army have begun an invasion of Korea. South of Chemulpo, the Imperial troops successfully landed, which was considered impossible! Soon the Korean Peninsula will be under the control of its rightful owner and the European imperialists will be expelled."
+ + +
Osaki Satoshi sorted his thoughts in a flash. Damn how right he was that it had to happen soon with Korea and now it had happened. Certainly, this pompous radio broadcast full of dripping national pride was only to be taken seriously to a limited extent, but he hoped very soon to hear from his son again exactly what had happened there during the day.
He got up and ran to the door, but before he got there, it swung open and his editors squeezed through into his office.
"Get to work. You've heard it – south of Chemulpo – get maps and check the archive to see if we have any photos of this region? We'll do it like last time – we'll deliver photos and maps! What the radio can't do!"
As quickly as the room had filled, it had been empty again. Nevertheless, his thoughts went round in circles – he now had not only the military and their secrets as an enemy, but also the radio, which disputed his position.
He knew that he could never be that fast, extra sheet or not. But comprehensive details, he could provide that, he had to provide that!
Editorial Board of the Tōkyō Shinbun – Thursday, May 23, 1935
The Japanese were considered dignified, level-headed and calm, who could not be easily disturbed. Even the simplest everyday things often followed stringent rituals that consistently prevented surprising and emotional behavior. Outbursts of anger were an extremely private matter that even the closest family circle did not always notice.
When Osaki Satoshi picked up one of his predecessor's old vases and hurled it against the door of his office, his editors outside the office first thought it was an attack. The vase smashed through the glass pane of the door with force, flew across the corridor and smashed with a loud crash on the shelf opposite. Everyone quickly ran to the boss, only to hear the worst rant that had ever been heard in modern Tōkyō.
Then Osaki Satoshi looked up questioningly from a pile of newspapers and spoke only one word:
"How?"
Only minutes earlier, one of the errand boys had gone to Satoshi's office and placed several extra sheets of the competition on his desk, which were already being sold on the street. But it wasn't the fact that the competition was faster to put the latest news on paper, no, it was the content.
Several editors stared at the spread out newspapers and understood immediately.
Pictures 173 to 177: Title pages of Japanese daily newspapers on May 23, 1935
Sources: AI image generated by the author of this AAR
Then such a violent screaming spread that the employees from the other floors now also became aware and stormed into Osaki Satoshi's editorial offices.
As suddenly as the riot had started, it fell silent again. Then one of the young editors took the floor:
"Boss – how can that be? Where did the other publishers get these photos from?"
Osaki Satoshi turned his head to his editor:
"I don't know, I don't know where these Pictures come from."
Then he looked at the edition of the Tōkyō Shinbun, which he was about to release for printing, and said:
"That's crap, we can pack up. No extra sheet, the extra sheet is cancelled today!"
+ + +
>> Memorandum of Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi on the invasion of South Korea, May 22, 1935 <<
Honored officers and members of the 大本営 (Daihon'ei),
I'll report! The invasion of South Korea was a great success! In the meantime, our troops have advanced further and there is no trace of enemy resistance. The plan will succeed!
However, what happened during the naval and air battles was also memorable. This encounter should never have happened and enemy reconnaissance has completely failed here! The fact that Japan emerged as a lucky actor in the first minutes of the battle can and must be described as a fateful coincidence.
If the formations had been only a few nautical miles off, or if the Russian torpedoes had found their targets and not the Japanese, it would have been a disaster and we would have lost the best infantrymen in Japan.
The fact that neither the secret service nor the daily aerial reconnaissance knew even the slightest hint of enemy movements must have consequences.
And this brings us to the topic of the Imperial Japanese Naval Air Force.
I'm at a loss for words!
I don't know how to describe the achievements of the Imperial Japanese Naval Air Force? On the one hand, the start of the air operations came far too late to develop direct benefits, but when the first wave had achieved its goals, there were enough hits to put the opponent on the defensive.
After all, this has enabled our destroyers and battleships to inflict considerable damage on the enemy and escort the transports to their destination in a largely safe manner. However – and this must be emphasized – this was due in no small part to the Russian commander's lack of foresight and little assertiveness. The existential threat of the troop transports was latent for hours and we must probably attribute it to karma that the happier ending was on our side.
After the first exchange of blows, however, I have to attest to a complete failure of the Imperial Japanese Naval Air Force. The second wave arrived uncoordinated and disorganized over the combat area and the pilots lacked any self-evident information regarding position and classification reports. There was no chance to say which ships had been sighted and attacked where. Several times it seemed that my own battleships became the target of our bombers, only to see that the planes turned away at the last moment to regroup.
However – and this is what makes the whole battle so incredibly bitter – our bombers were once in the perfect place at the perfect time and produced outstanding hits against the enemy.
Without this successful attack by the torpedo bombers on the Russian battlecruiser 'Oleg', which had already sunk our heavy cruiser Takao, we would certainly not only have lost several destroyers and light cruisers, but certainly also all transports and with them at least half of our soldiers.
Throughout the day, our pilots did not really succeed in a sufficient attack, only in this one moment, when a successful air attack decided the weal and woe of the entire invasion, the naval air force was able to show what is possible.
And this - and this is the clear and irrefutable essence of this day - was also complete coincidence!
Gentlemen – it cannot go on like this. It must be clarified whether this is simply due to a lack of experience and training – or worse – whether it is due to defective aircraft. The worst, however, would be the fact if naval aviation pursues fundamentally wrong strategies and tactics or if disastrous whites cannot achieve continuously better results in principle.
I recommend that the 大本営 (Daihon'ei) set up a commission of inquiry as soon as possible, which will relentlessly take on all concerns of naval aviation in order to make an independent judgment on the future of aircraft carriers within the Imperial Japanese Navy.
It remains to be noted as a side note that on the twenty-second of May we saw a classic artillery duel and the massive use of torpedo attacks that were supposedly never to happen again. To my regret, I had to be convinced of the moderate usefulness of the 18inch guns of my flagship. When our 18inch shells found their target, the impact was devastating, especially at shorter distances. However, the cadence and consequently the hit rate of these guns were far too low. The designers had promised more here than was ultimately kept. The installation of 18inch guns should be reconsidered. The announcements regarding the imminent availability of better 16inch guns make this caliber appear to be the better one in the future, if new battleships should be built at all.
Of course, despite all the criticism that has been voiced, it must not be overlooked that we have almost completely destroyed the Russian East Asia Squadron. If the information of the secret service is correct, the Russians still have four destroyers present in Northeast Asia and two battlecruisers in Southeast Asia.
We must take advantage of this momentum of the impossibility of Russian interventions and I await your further orders for the next course of action in this war!
+ + +
Thus, the officers of the 軍令部 (Gunreibu) of the Imperial Japanese Navy, the 参謀本部 (Sambō hombu) of the Imperial Japanese Army, as well as the 海軍省 (Kaigun-shō) may take note of the prepared and illustrated course of the battle for the invasion of South Korea on May 22, 1935 of the year.
Long live the Rengō Kantai, long live the Imperial Japanese Navy, long live the Emperor!
Kaigun-chūjō Takahashi Sankichi, May 24, 1935
+ + +
Editorial Board of the Tōkyō Shinbun – Saturday, May 25, 1935
It had taken two days to find the photographer and he hadn't really come to the Tōkyō Shinbun publishing house voluntarily. Osaki Satoshi listened to the photographer's story for two hours and slammed his clenched fist on his desk several times. Then he released the man from this regular interrogation and paid him respect.
He had to do that, because this photographer was a devil of a guy. He couldn't blame the photographer either, how could he? It wasn't the photographer who had made a fool of him, it was the other publishers.
Time and time again, the Tōkyō Shinbun had been the fastest and best-informed newspaper. If you wanted to know what had happened, read the Tōkyō Shinbun. Other publishers had almost always been left behind, because Osaki Satoshi had always been at least one step ahead of them and Osaki Satoshi's good connection to the Ministry of the Navy was almost legendary.
In fact, all the other publishers had joined forces, because one alone would never have been able to finance this undertaking. The competing publishers had actually acquired an old aircraft, hired a pilot and hired this photographer. For this purpose, several sailors were bribed to obtain information. When these informants made it clear that something big was imminent, the photographer and pilot were put on the plane and sent on their way.
Sure, a thousand things could have gone wrong, but that wasn't the case, much to Satoshi's annoyance. It was easy, it was dangerous, and it was now clear that the military police had been very rough with some of the publishing directors, but the coup against the Tōkyō Shinbun had succeeded.
The competing publishers had opened with real photos of the events of the invasion. The plane, pilot and photographer had made a daring flight, taken some photos from the air and by the ground troops, even received jet fuel with the greatest impudence and made their way back to Japan.
While Osaki Satoshi had listened to the special report on the radio, the competition was already developing the photographs.
For Osaki Satoshi, for the Tōkyō Shinbun, it was a disaster across the board. The other newspapers had real Pictures of the front, while he only wanted to have a Picture artist "paint" something again.
This time the others were better, he had to acknowledge that. Full of anger at the radio, he had been blind to the fact that the work of newspaper editors also had to change. How simple but ingenious was the idea of capturing news and Pictures directly on site and transporting them by plane faster than you could think?
He should have had this idea, such actions had been his collar size. He felt old and sickly, he had been beaten and defeats were not part of his repertoire so far!
