Building the logistical base for war with Russia

Tōgō's description here as admiral of the fleet at sea referred to his command function rather than the formal rank of Admiral of the Fleet. After supervising Japanese naval activity off China during the Boxer Rebellion, he returned to the Standing Fleet and a problem he had raised repeatedly. Japan lacked an adequate base, dry dock, and warehouse system on the Sea of Japan coast. Placed in charge of the Maizuru naval district and arsenal, he built the facilities he had demanded. The base became a principal supply establishment without which prolonged operations against Russia would have been far harder to sustain.