Imperial Japanese Navy

Japan Times

C. Boudreaux - JT
 

Japan Times #4

Japan Times #3

Japan Times #2

Japan Times #1

Japanese Advisors Aide Korean Allies 

Japan Times #4
Dateline: Chemulpo, (Date Unknown)

Facing unbelievable odds, the small Japanese force stationed at Chemulpo was able to repulse the force and maintain control of the port. Hundreds of selfless Japanese sailors bravely gave their lives to protect our Korean brothers.

Our Bleoved Emperor is calling upon all nations to concemn this heinous act and come to the aid of the peace loving Korean people. More information will follow as body counts and damage estimates are finalized.
 

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Japan Times #3
Dateline: Tokyo, 16-Feb 1904

Russian Force Threatens Peaceful Korea

The Imperial Japanese Government today ordered the immediate closure of the Russian Embassy, severed diplomatic relations with Russia and has given all Russian diplomats 24 hours to leave the country. At the end of this period, any Russian diplomatic personnel remaining in Japan will be considered spies, not covered by diplomatic protocols, and detained for interrogation. Any other Russian nationals have 48-hours to leave the country or face similar detention for an indefinite period.

These actions come on the heals of reports that a massive Russian Naval Force has massed outside of the Korean port of Chemulpo with the obvious intent of attacking our Korean brothers. The Japanese Navy has maintained a protection fleet in Chemulpo since Korean leaders requested military support from our Beloved Emperor when it became evident that the expansionist Russian regime looked to spread its murderous tentacles into the peaceful countries of the Extreme East.

In an exclusive interview today with Japan Times,  the Emperor called on those world leaders who had rejected earlier Japan ese concerns about Russian actions to join with him and others to condemn the impending Russian attack on a peace-loving and neutral Korean people. He also called on all nations to come to the aid of Korea and Japan to repel this Russian aggression.

“The integrity of Korea is a matter of constant concern to this Empire, not only because of Our traditional relations with that country, but because the separate existence of Korea is essential to the safety of Our realm,” Our Beloved Emperor said. “Nevertheless, Russia, in disregard of her solemn treaty pledges to China and other world leaders is obviously bent on the final annexation of Manchuria, Korea and other peaceful, sovereign nations of the Extreme East. Any hope for a lasting peace in the Extreme East is predicated upon the elimination of the Russian scourge.

“This Empire will not go quietly. Russian sailors poised outside Chemulpo should hear me loud and clear: Turn away and go back to your families. Any other path will awaken a Lion, which will not lay down again until it has killed and consumed all who would threaten it.”

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Japan Times #2
Dateline: Tokyo, 15-Feb 1904

In an act of shameless aggression with disregard for international maritime treaties and conventions, as well as the universally accepted rights of civilian commerce on the high seas, four heavily armed Imperial Russian Navy armoured cruisers attacked the civilian cargo vessel Miharu Maru without warning on the morning of 11-Feb.

Information provided by crewmembers of the vessel outline a tale of brutality and executions. Survivors said that while under way in the Tsugaru Strait to bring much needed humanitarian supplies to our beleaguered Korean brothers, a group of four IRN warships opened fire on the vessel forcing the Miharu Maru to stop. The civilian vessel was then boarded by force by heavily armed Russian sailors purportedly looking for weapons and wireless radio equipment.

When the Russians were unable to find either of these items, as one would expect on such a civilian vessel, they began to torture and then execute crew members one-by-one to force the crew to lead them to these non-existent items. After the torture and brutal deaths of several innocent crew members, the Russian officers were finally convinced there was no such equipment aboard and the vessel was in fact civilian. But the atrocities did not end there. Russian sailors next pillaged the vessel before forcing the remainder of the crew, many close to death from torture, into lifeboats without food or water, then sunk the Miharu Maru and sailed away leaving the civilian crew to die.

Thankfully, the lifeboats were spotted the next day by local fishermen and surviving crewmembers were rescued. Local sources report several dead in the lifeboats and many others close to death. Upon hearing of the horrible incident, our Beloved Emperor issued the following statement:

“It is with a heavy heart that we must mourn the loss of brave, innocent sailors whose only offense was to have crossed path with the barbarian Russian Navy while bring humanitarian supplies to our beleaguered Korean brothers in their time of great need. Though they were upon a civilian vessel on a clearly humanitarian mission, the Russian sailors treated them in a manner which would be considered horrific even in a battle among military combatants. To treat civilians in such a manner is but another of many incidents clearly demonstrating the Russian plan for the Extreme East.

“They will not have sufficiently fed their blood thirst until they have wiped the Koreans, Japanese and all other peaceful peoples from the region and occupied the lands our fathers have defended, cared for, and cherished for centuries. This Empire will not let this happen to either Japan or any of our brother countries in the region. I have summoned our greatest and most honorable military leaders to join me here for an immediate conference to discuss how to best handle the bloody Russian scourge before it can strike again.

“In the interim, the Japanese Navy will immediately step up naval patrols and coast-watcher stations along our coastlines and essential maritime lifelines. Any vessel that fires upon Japanese warships, the civilian vessels of  Japan or our brother nations; as well as those who fail to submit to a courteous boarding and inspection; will be sunk. We remind maritime traffic that Russian aggression has forced us to mine vital waters for the safety of the Empire. All legitimate vessels will not only be allowed on their way quickly, but will also be provided with pilots if crossing through mined areas and escorts in areas of potential IRN activity.

"The blood of our brothers and brave sons will not have been shed in vain. Nor shall the will of the Empire waiver in its course as long as blood courses through my body or that of any Japanese citizen.” … Signed and dated by our Beloved Emperor.

The Chief Aide to Admiral Togo, speaking for the Japanese Naval Command, also offered his condolences to the families of the civilians brutally killed in the incident and spoke briefly with the  Japan Times reporter today before once again entering into talks with government leaders.

"While I cannot comment on ongoing operations or future plans, I will note that it is apparent to any knowledgeable sailor that the Vladivostok Cruiser Squadron, and we are certain this is whom committed this barbaric act, left port prior to the declaration of war and was obviously headed to rain terror on our Brothers in Korea and the Japanese homeland while sitting at the table with regional leaders discussing peace,” the Admiral noted. “This should finally quell the miniscule group of world leaders who have tied to place the blame for this military situation upon Japan. As Japan and the majority of world leaders understand, the Emperor only chose the path of war when Russia burned the bridges to all routes to peace while portending to participate in honorable negotiations.

“The barbarous attack on the Miharu Maru is just further evidence of Russian aggression, that was first demonstrated by the captain of the Cruiser Varyag firing on our ships at Chemulpo and murdering hundreds of our sailors whose only crime was trying to provide peaceful aid of our Korean brethren. I will commend the commander of the Vladivostok Cruiser Squadron on his daring and fortuitous timing. Luck was with him this time. But just as the Varyag and her murderous crew paid for their actions, so shall these barbarians from Vladivostok and all who sail under the cowardly banner of Russia. Blood shed will stain their hands, not those of the Japanese Navy.”

Neither the Admiral nor any other Japanese Navy officials would discuss current plans either openly or in private. Our reporters at harbor cities along the northern and western coasts have all reported a tremendous increase in activity at major naval bases with dozens of ships taking on supplies and crews, while coaling for what would appear to be an imminent departure on a long cruise. The only possible sign of where the warships are headed comes from reporters in both Kure and Sasebo reporting "basket upon basket of cold weather gear" and "sled dogs" being loaded upon a number of large warships preparing for, or just prior to, departure.

The Japan Times is proud to be your only source of factual and timely news from within the Extreme East region.

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Japan Times #1
Dateline: Tokyo, (Date Unknown)

Japanese Advisors Aide Korean Allies 

The Japanese Ambassador to Korea today issued a statement regarding erroneous reports about large troop landings in the Korean port of Chemulpo. We present the honorable Ambassador's statement below in its entirety.

"A small cadre of Japanese advisors began moving ashore in the Korean port of Chemulpo Monday at the invitation of our Korean brothers. After seeing the heinous actions of the Russian Armoured Cruiser Varyag, which led to the death of hundreds of brave Japanese warriors, whose only hope was for peace, it has become obvious to the people of Korea and our most gracious Emperor that Russia is determined to disrupt the peace of this region in its continued quest to expand its terror into more and more sovereign nations.

"The integrity of Korea is a matter of constant concern to the Emperor and the people of Japan, not only because of Our traditional relations with that country, but because the separate existence of Korea is essential to the safety of the Empire as well. Russia, in disregard of her solemn treaty pledges to China and her repeated assurances to other powers, is still in occupation of Manchuria and has consolidated and strengthened her hold upon three provinces there bent upon their final annexation. Can there be any doubt that Korea would be the next land whose sovereignty would be cast aside and her people enslaved by savage Russian forces?

" Japan remains committed to the continued peace in the Extreme East. Our goal, as it has been from the outset, is to settle the question by negotiation, and to secure thereby permanent peace. With that object in view, Our competent authorities, by order of the Emperor, have made countless proposals to Russia, and frequent conferences have been held during the course of recent months. Russia, however, never met such proposals in a spirit of conciliation, but by her wanton delays put off the settlement of the question; ostensibly advocating peace on the one hand while she was on the other extending her naval and military preparations, as seen recently in Chemulpo, sought to accomplish her own selfish designs.

"No person of honor could conclude that Russia had from the first any serious or genuine desire for peace. She has instead used the sincere proposals of Our Government as nothing more than a ruse to hide troop movements and preparations for the enslavement of thousands of peaceful civilians in Manchuria and Korea. The safety of Korea is in great danger and the vital interests of Our Empire are gravely menaced.

"While we continue to plead for peace, we will not sit idly by and let Russia spread like a disease over the Extreme East and threaten Japanese forces or our Korean brothers. Our most Gracious Emperor has agreed to allow this small group of  Japanese officers ashore at Chemulpo to aide our Korean brothers in their time of need. Of course the Russians would have the world believe that Japan has landed an occupation army in Korea. Another lie to try and divert attention from their own brutal expansion into the Extreme East. They would of course rather Japan abandon its Korean brothers to the slaughter of their armies. But Japan does not abandon her allies in their time of need.

"Once the threat of a Russian invasion has passed and our Korean brothers once again feel safe, we will bring this paltry force of brave soldiers back home to their families. We pray that will be soon. But should Russia not take the honorable course, Japan must protect its fleet, its allies, and its homeland from reckless acts of aggression. We pray for peace and call on the other peaceful nations of the world to condemn the Russian actions and demand they withdraw from sovereign lands. For that is the only true road to peace. May the glory of Our Empire be preserved forever."

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