The new cruiser Azashi-kan was launched at Yokosuka on Monday last, the 8th instant. Prince Komatsu presided at the ceremony. The function, I note, has been very elaborately described by some one on the staff of the japan Times and, as North-China readers may be interested to see how a crack Japanese journalist describes a launch, I venture to reproduce a few passages. Thus:—"As the Prince, escorted by a number of Cabinet Ministers and naval dignitaries, among whom were noticed the Commanders of the British men-of-war Redpole and Daphne, emerged from the Station enclosure, a military band, previously detailed for that purpose, struck up the Kimigayo. As the sweet music floated in the autumn air, the Prince, representing the Emperor, and his suite proceeded with brisk steps to the first landing place, passing between the lines of marines and soldiers who, in their dress uniforms and presenting arms, formed the guards of honour along the route, Inside the yard there' was a second enclosure almost immediately surrounding the roofed scaffold within which the new ship stood nobly erect, with a triumphal wreath of evergreens and red and bine bunt ing all around her deck, Directly facing the bow of the ship a raleed platform wie provided, with red and blue awnings tastily arranged. Sharp at 3 pin. the Prince ascended the platform and took his satin front of table bedecked with flowers facing the bow of the ship. He looked really grand in his naval uniform with his shining decorations. Other high officials, including Admiral Tozo, followed and seated themselves at short distances from the Prince, and when everything was ready a profound silence fell over the vast multitude. There is always something deeply exciting and yet so impressive that it cannot find words for expression in the Inunching of a ship, especially a war vessel. She is henceforth to be the bride of her lord Neptune. How will she take to her new home? Storms, raging waves, bloody battles, what fearful eventitalities the fates will have in store for her? Will she descend to her native elements gracefully with no accident? All these imaginations, and more, crowd into a short space of time, and the sensation, tosay the least, is indescribable. 'The present occasion was' no exception, and everybody stood as ifspellbound in the solemnity of the moment. Then the officers in charge made a representation, at which the Prince calmly stood up, and stepping up to the table, in a clear and firm voice spoke out, christening the new ship, Adashi. In the next minute, after a few more formalities, at the suc: cessive words of command thirty or forty pardthands on both sides of the ship began loosening the dogshores. by simultaneous poundings with large wooden mallets. As the heavy weights dropped with a crash, all was bustle, the hands hastening to pull down the supporting posts. The last was Body cried out: "She is moving!" That lied out and at the same moment some-
was the signal to give vent to pent up feelings. Hats and handkerchiefs flew in the air and whistling and haud-clappings deafened the ears; while at the same moment all the ships in the harbour rivalled in sending forth lusty cheers. 'The ship moved slowly fora second or two, but no sooner than her stero touched the water, she shot forward with lightning speed, and ashe made the plunge, a lantern, hung high up on her bow, was' pulled open, and out came a picturesque hanging device from
ing their liberty in commemoration of the within which some pigeons few out regain event. It was a beautiful sight. The ship by her own momentum made her way right into the middle of the harbour, and was there anchored, and the exciting function was over."
The new cruiser should prove a valuable addition to the Navy, for she is to mont two 6" Armstrong quick-firing guns, six 4°.7 quick-firers, twelve 2" quick-firers, four machine gins and two torpedo tubes, She isa steel ship of 2,800 tons displacement; and her triple-expansion engines. are estimated to give her a speed of 19.6 knot, Japan's new Navy is assuming formidable portions. "The, battleship Fiihfan is ab yokosuka now. She is to be docked there this month, and the Yashima is now on her way up from Singapore to Hongkong. May she too "descend to her native element gracefully with no accidents."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.