ADMIRAL TOGO’S ORDER FOR BLOCKADE, JUNE 18TH, 1904.
[Japanese Confidential History, I., p. 292.]
(i) Combined Fleet Confidential Order No. 7561 dealing with the separate duties of the different parts of the fleet is amended as follows. The intended movements of the sections of the fleet at Position III.,2 should the enemy escape from Port Arthur, are appended.
(ii) The ships on blockade duty will leave at 8 a.m. on the day of their guard under the command of their Senior Officer. They will proceed to Encounter Rock, relieve the ships previously on duty, exchange information, and be on duty till the next day but one. They will return here (Elliot Islands) in the afternoon of that day.
(iii) The starting point of the daylight watch for ships on duty will be 10 miles due west of Encounter Rock. They may make any movements they think fit between the limits of N. Hwang-ching-tau on the west and the meridian of San-shan-tau on the east. Their main object is to watch for the emergence of the enemy, and secondly, to cut the communications of the peninsula.
They will alter course to southward as convenient about an hour before sunset; and during the night are to be east of the meridian and south of the parallel of Round Island.
If they meet with fog or other bad weather they are to anchor as convenient. In this case they are, if possible, to choose a spot east of the meridian of Chang-zu-do (S. Blonde Island).
(iv) If the ships observe the enemy attempting to escape to the south they are to inform the neighbouring sections by firing guns of 12 centimetres and over (not blank) in succession, to the extent of more than 10 rounds at intervals of 4 seconds. They are also to make by wireless the word KI, KI . . . in succession to inform Position III. of urgent danger. If the signal cannot be made on account of interference or atmospherics, one ship or a destroyer is to be sent with all despatch to Position III., and is to fire shotted rounds in succession as mentioned above.
(v) A division sighting the enemy’s fleet is to keep in touch with them out of battle range and attempt to delay their escape southward by occasionally attacking their rear ship or destroyer flotilla. It is also from time to time, to inform the fleet at Position III. by wireless of the whereabouts and course of the enemy. Signals are made in this order:—
(vi) The ships on blockade duty, as soon as they receive the signal of urgency, are to guide and guard the destroyer and T.B. Flotillas that are near them, and send them to make a vigorous attack on the enemy’s rear.
(vii) The four destroyer and T.B. divisions detailed for blockade duty are to leave at 9 a.m. on the day of their duty under the orders of their Senior Commanding Officer. They will proceed to Encounter Rock, relieve the divisions previously on duty, and exchange information. They will be on duty till the next day but one, and are to return to the Elliot Islands during the afternoon of that day.
(viii) The flotilla divisions on duty will move during the day at their own discretion, approaching Port Arthur from the east and south at least once in the forenoon and once in afternoon. They will find out the state of the enemy and make certain of the places swept by them. They will make a strict examination of Chinese junks and rigorously cut communications. They will have guard over the following sections as convenient:—
One destroyer and one T.B. division:
From south of Port Arthur to near N. Hwang-ching-tau.
One destroyer and one T.B. division:
From Ping-tu-tau to Encounter Rock.
At night, from about an hour after sunset till dawn next morning, they are to distribute themselves as follows, their chief duty being to keep a lookout for the escape of the enemy:—
One destroyer division:
Patrol Section (A). (Off Ping-tu-tau.)
One destroyer division:
Patrol Section (D). (Off Liau-ti-shan.)
One torpedo-boat division:
Patrol Section (B). (Off Dalny South Entry Point.)
One torpedo-boat division:
Patrol Section (C). (Off Kerr Bay).3
N.B.—The Senior Commanding Officer will decide which divisions are to be on duty in the different sections. In fog or in bad weather they may shelter as convenient at Odin Cove.
(ix) A flotilla division which detects the escape of the enemy’s fleet or destroyers is to give warning by sending up five rockets in succession and firing shotted rounds; the searchlights are to be waved vertically to show their own position to the other divisions. Those on guard in sections A, D, and B will combine and vigorously attack the enemy.
The rear boat of the division in B section will proceed without further orders at full speed to Position V (8 miles S.E. of S. San-shan-tau), from which she will warn the fleet at Position III. by sending up a series of rockets and firing shotted rounds in succession.
The torpedo-boats on guard at Position III. and the watch tower4 will fire a series of rockets in reply, whereupon the previously mentioned boat from B section will proceed to C section, and warn our ships in Talien-hwan of danger by firing a succession of rockets.
If only the enemy’s destroyers come out, guns are to be fired and two rockets sent up in succession as a differentiating signal; as, otherwise, in the event of the whole of the enemy’s force coming out, our whole fleet will take action.
The chief duty of the division on guard in Section C is to prevent the enemy from dropping mines from destroyers or Chinese junks in the areas swept by us at the entrance to Talien-hwan. They are always to drive away any suspicious looking craft, and to allow no boats to come near at night.
(x) If the destroyer or torpedo-boat flotillas sight the enemy escaping in the daytime they are to fire a succession of shotted rounds as in paragraph (iv) (more than 10 rounds at intervals of 4 seconds), at the same time joining the blockading division; they are to keep in touch with the enemy, and attack them if a chance occurs.
In the above circumstances, the division in patrol section C will devote its attention chiefly to communication. It will inform near ships as quickly as possible, and going close to Position III., will signal urgency by firing a succession of shotted rounds.
(xi) The blockading ships, destroyers, and T.B. flotilla must rendezvous each day at 9 a.m. about 6 miles due north of Encounter Rock, and inform each other of the events of the previous night and the movements of the day.
If the C.O. of the ships considers it necessary to have the destroyers and torpedo-boats with him he may give them orders as convenient to join his command.
(xii) The ships and destroyers, &c. on blockade duty will telegraph to me as quickly as possible, if necessary through the guardship in Talien-hwan, any changes in the state of the enemy and any movements they may make.
(xiii) Should news of the enemy’s escape to the southward reach the fleet at Position III., they will leave there as quickly as possible; and in the absence of special orders will make the following movements:—
(a) The Third Division will leave with two destroyer divisions (those commanded by the C.O.’s 3rd and 4th in seniority) and two T.B. divisions (those commanded by the C.O’s 1st and 2nd in seniority), will gradually increase to battle speed, and steam due south towards Shantung Promontory; they will alter course according to the information coming from the watching ships and endeavour to get into touch with the enemy. Should it be daytime, they will engage the enemy with the object of delaying them till the divisions astern can come up. At night they will send the destroyer and T.B. flotillas after the enemy to make vigorous attacks.
(b) The Fifth Division (Kasuga, Nisshin, Yaeyama) and the Sixth Division will take three of the destroyer divisions attached to the Third Squadron and steam S. by E. towards a point 15 miles east of Shantung Promontory. They will act as detailed in paragraph (a).
(c) The First Division will take the destroyer division commanded by the Senior C.O. and the T.B. division commanded by the C.O. third in seniority, and steam S. by E. 
E. towards Position 330, west of Modeste Island (Mackau Group, Korea).5 They will also act as in paragraph (a).
(d) The Fifth Division (Itsukushima, Natsushima, Hashidate, Chinyen), will go to Position U6 and guard the Army’s landing place and Position III.
(e) The Seventh Division is to guard the army transports only.
(xiv) The above orders explain what is intended to be done in case the enemy come out; but as the object of our strategy is to prevent them from escaping, our Blockading Squadrons are always to bear this in mind, and frighten the enemy by letting them see our ships. The destroyers and T.B. flotillas are frequently to adopt plans, such as pretending to lay mines, calculated to cause the enemy to hesitate before attempting to get out.
In view of changes in the situation the above orders need not be too strictly adhered to.
(Combined Fleet Confidential Orders No. 756, Part II.)
1 Issued June 9 giving blockade stations, &c. Japanese Confidential History, I., p. 289.
2 The Elliot Islands base.
3 These stations had been fixed on May 29. There were three others: (E.) West of Encounter Rock; (F) N.E. of same; (G) N. of Round Island.
4 The watch tower was on the top of Khas-yan-tau, the central island of the Elliot group. The Shikishima had orders to build it on June 9, and it was begun on the 12th.
5 Position 330 was 28 miles W.N.W. of Modeste Island.
6 West of Kwang-lo-tau.