C URRENT LITERAT IJRE.
Admiral Togo. By Arthur Lloyd, MA. (Kinkodo Publishing Company, Tokio.)—Mr. Lloyd gives, by way of introduction to his special subject, a useful summary of Japanese history. Togo Heihachiro was born in Kagoshima fifty-eight years ago. A happy chance, or, rather, his evident capability, took him away from events which were disastrous to his family, his three brothers perishing in battle against the Imperial forces. Togo himself was studying naval matters in England (before this, however, he had received his "baptism of fire," his first action being to train a gun against an English squadron). His course of instruction had come to an end, and he was kept in England to watch the building of a new ship. But for this he would probably have been found in 'the rebel ranks. On his return to Japan his rise was rapid. In July, 1878, he received his commission as 2nd Lieutenant, was made 1st Lieutenant six months afterwards, and full Captain—to pass over intermediate ranks—in 1889. In the Chinese War he commanded the Naniwa,' and his first action was to sink the British steamer Kaosheng ' (in the employ of the Chinese Government). The Naniwa ' was engaged at the battle of the Yalu, and though in the midst of the fighting, which was no trifle, escaped without injury, thanks, it is said, to her Captain's skill. Togo was promoted to be Rear-Admiral, and received a pension and a seat on the Admiralty Board. It is needless to follow the story of his life any further. His achieve- ments in the war now brought to an 'kind are in every owes memory. He may fairly be ranked with the great sailors who have served their country well, Themistocles, DORN, Blake, and Nelson, to mention some conspicuous names out of a long list.
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