Famous Sea Fights Part 26

The war was followed by an immediate expansion of the j.a.panese Navy.

Numbers of captured Russian s.h.i.+ps were repaired, re-armed, and placed in the Navy List under j.a.panese names. No longer dependent on foreign builders, the j.a.panese yards were kept busy turning out yet a new navy of every cla.s.s, from the battles.h.i.+p to the torpedo-boat. The laying down of the gigantic "Aki" and "Satsuma," battles.h.i.+ps of over 20,000 tons, opened a new period in naval construction, and nations began to count their sea-power by the number of "Dreadnoughts" afloat or on the slips.

The great maritime powers are now engaged in a race of construction, and the next naval war will see forces in action far surpa.s.sing even the armadas that met at Tsu-s.h.i.+ma. And maritime war, hitherto confined to the surface of the sea, will have strange auxiliaries in the submarine stealing beneath it, and the airs.h.i.+p and aeroplane scouting in the upper air. But still, whatever new appliances, whatever means of mutual destruction science supplies, the lesson taught by the story of all naval war will remain true. Victory will depend not on elaborate mechanical structures and appliances, but on the men, and will be the reward of long training, iron discipline, calm, enduring courage, and the leaders.h.i.+p that can inspire confidence, command self-sacrificing obedience, divine an enemy's plans, and decide swiftly and resolutely on the way in which they are to be frustrated.