E. of Encounter Rock).ADMIRAL TOGO’S BLOCKADE ORDERS, JULY 23RD, 1904.
[Japanese Confidential History, I., p. 426.]
On July 23rd, Admiral Togo issued the following orders in anticipation of the enemy’s emergence, and to assist the Third Army’s attack:—
I. The condition of the enemy at Port Arthur is unchanged.
II. The Third Army will move forward to attack on the 26th. Their right wing will be at Shwang-tai-ku; their centre at An-tsu-Ling (2 miles east of Triple Peak); and the left wing will be at Ta-po-shan (a hill at the head of Lung-wang-tang Creek). They expect to advance as far as the line from Tung-chang-ling-tsu to Ei-kaku-seki (2 miles E.N.E. of Wang-chia-tien.) It is intended to push forward the left wing slightly during the 25th in preparation for the main attack.
III. The Combined Fleet’s main work is, as before, to be read for an emergence of the Russian Fleet; but they will also assist in the Third Army’s movement.
IV. The Seiyen, Heiyen, Chokai, and Akagi of the Seventh Division, Nos. 7 and 8 auxiliary gunboats, and two boats of the 12th T.B. division, will go into the Liau-tung Gulf during the night of the 25th. They will threaten the enemy at Shwang-tai-ku in the early morning of the 26th.1
V. The Fifth Division will go to Cap Island by 7 a.m. on the 25th, where they will meet the special sweeping party under Commander Hirose. With these going ahead of them, they will proceed to the west of Ping-tu-tau and threaten, and divert from firing on our Third Army any Russian gunboats which may come near Lung-wang-tang.
VI. All the ships at Position III. will go out in the afternoon of the 25th, and will arrive at the positions shown below by 7 a.m. on the 26th. They will watch the enemy: should the latter not come out, they will retire as below an hour before sunset, coming to their former positions by 7 a.m. on the 27th:—
First Division, including Nisshin, Kasuga and Yaeyama.—Daywatch near Round Island. Retire to Chang-zu-do at night.
Third Division.—Daywatch 14 miles south of Liau-ti-shan. Retire at night to position 1110 (45 miles S. E. of Encounter Rock).
Fifth Division (Itsukushima section).—Daywatch near Cap Island. Retire at night to near Terminal Head.
Sixth Division.—Daywatch near Encounter Rock. Retire at night to position 910 (58 miles S.E. 
E. of Encounter Rock).
1st, 2nd, and 3rd destroyer divisions.—Daywatch near Ping-tu-tau. Retire at night to Dalny.
4th and 5th destroyer divisions.—Daywatch 5 miles south of Liau-ti-shan. Retire at night to Odin Cove.
14th, 1st, and 16th T.B. divisions.—Daywatch in “B” patrol section (off South Entry Point).—Retire at night to Dalny.
20th and 10th T.B. divisions.—Daywatch in “E” patrol section (west of Encounter Rock). Retire at night to Odin Cove.
2nd, 6th, and 21st T.B. divisions.—Daywatch in “A” patrol section (off Ping-tu-tau). Retire at night to Ping-tu-tau.
The flotillas which have the turn of blockade duty that day are to go to their usual patrol sections at night.
VII. During the watch, the Fifth Division (Itsukushima section), the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd destroyer divisions, and the 14th, 1st, and 16th T.B. divisions will, in accordance with paragraph V., have as their chief duty the protection of the left wing of the Third Army and to support its advance. If an enemy of superior strength arrives, the Sixth Division is to combine with the Fifth Division.
NOTE.—The most advanced position of the Third Army will show a flag as a sign to our fleet. The ground of the flag is white, in its centre is a small red sun with four red rays, two horizontal and two vertical.
The chief duty of the Third Division, the 4th and 5th destroyer divisions, and the 20th and 10th T.B. divisions, is to watch for movements made by the enemy against our detached squadron which has been sent into the Gulf of Liau-tung. If there should be any movement, they are to chase the enemy and do their utmost to warn the detached squadron; the letters “ho-ku, ho-ku” are to be repeatedly made by wireless, and the flags “Time” and “Direction” to be hoisted above one another as signals of warning.
VIII. If the whole of the enemy’s fleet comes out and attempts to get away southward, the whole of our fleet will assemble S.E. of Encounter Rock and will form up in battle order as in the battle plan.
IX. If the enemy anchor outside at night, or fog should come down in the day while they are under way, the destroyers and torpedo-boats are not to let slip any opportunity for attack.
X. If we meet with thick fog or any other bad weather, all ships are to retire to the positions given in paragraph VI. However, the squadron and flotillas that have the usual blockade guard on that day are to carry out strictly their watch over the enemy as well as the weather permits.
XI. The Hongkong Maru will search ships, moving on a north and South line west of the Miau-tau group. The Nippon Maru will go backwards and forwards between Chifu and Shantung Promontory on the same duty.
These two ships must burn lights at night.
XII. On the 26th the Kumano Maru is to leave for Odin Cove, and the Nikko Maru for Dalny, where they will supply the destroyers and torpedo-boats with coal and water.
(Combined Fleet Confidential Order No. 926.)
1 Shwang-tai-ku was a village on Ying-cheng-tse Bay, where the Russian left flank rested, the beach there was practicable for landing.