Page 60 - Il Mediterraneo quale elemento del Potere Marittimo - Atti 16-18 settembre 1996

46 YOCHI HIRAMA

the Navy again, but finally, the Japanese Navy accepted to send two trawlers, Tokyo
(Japanese name Tokyo) and Miningsby (Saikyo) of the Royal Navy on 11th June, and
two British H-class destroyers Nemesis (Sendan), and Minstrel (Kanran) in September
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and in October 1917 < 1). On 21st October, the British Navy again asked Naval
Attache for two cruisers to the Mediterranean but the Imperial Navy refused. Am-
bassador Chinda met Minister Sir Arthur James Balfour on 13th November and
clearly denied request, repeating that to send battle-cruiser to European waters would
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cause the depletion of the national defence <4 >.
In addition, on 23rd February and 9thJune, having received Admiral Gough-
Calthorpe·s communication for further assistance, Rear Admiral Sato telegraphed
this message adding his opinion that the sending of another destroyer, would be
effective tactical research for anti-submarine warfare. But the Japanese Navy did
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not comply with it < 3>. But the Allies, having seen how the Japanese destroyers had
provided invaluable support, there arose another requirement from the Italian and
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French Navies <4 >. However, the Japanese Navy did not comply sayng that they
had no more vessels available since their naval forces had already been sent to the
Pacific, the Indian Ocean, Australian waters, the Mediterranean and recently to
Vladivostok and that the situation in Siberia, the unsteady conditions in China and
the danger of possible German raid in Eastern waters prevented the Japanese Navy
from sparing any additional forces <45>. By these continuous refusals, there arosed
not only antipathy to Japan, but also the suspicion that Japan might be conserving
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her naval strength in the long term for future use against Britain < 6>.
Evaluation and activities of the Second Special Squadron

The Second Special Squadron arrived in the Mediterranean at the height of
the submarine crisis in 1917. They escorted troopships from Alexandria to Mar-
seilles, from Alexandria to Taranto, and from Malta to Salonica. The total num-
bers of escorts reached 348 times and escorted vessels totaled 788, carrying about
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70 000 soldiers plus 7075 persons rescued from attacked .vessels < >.
The Japanese Navy spent 72 percent of their time at sea compared with 60
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percent by the British and about 45 percent by the French and Italian Navy < >.
The number of working days reached 26 days per month and its operation distan-
ce reached 6,000 nautical miles in a month.
Number of vessels escorted by the Japanese Squadron

Country Total Number Kind of vessels
Britain 644 War ship 21 Transport 623
France 100 Transport
Italy 18 Transport
Others 26