An item referred to the description given by a Japanese officer during his service on board of a torpedo boat in the winter. Since 11 February these torpedo boats were harassed by a very rough sea and low temperatures. The snow penetrated the crew accommodation and the men were forced to sleep in fact in frozen snow. On one torpedo boat was even the compass frozen. Lessons learned during the war with China in 1894-1895 prevented however severe damage. Men had even not a cold because the temperature on board was every where nearly the same in contrary to the large warships with heatened cabins. The only heat source was the open coal bunker. Using however had two huge disadvantages. Carbon monoxide entering closed compartments was a threat for th health and with a small ship smashed from one side to another in rough seas were sparks a second unwanted threat. The only solution was no stoking. Officers who had nightly watches became so stressed that they could not sleep anymore unless using sake. The only remedy left was using morphine. Another problem was the stowage of the needed victuals. According to the description was mizo-sjiro (a kind of bean sauce) the most important food for the Japanese sailors. The barrels however were stored on deck lacking space in the hull. The result was that with rough weather the barrels were smashed into pieces or overboard.
Note
1. At that moment was the war going on between Russia and Japan (8 February 1904-5 September 1905).
