Editing Battle of Tsushima (section)

===Beginning of the battle===
[[File:Tsushima battle map-en.svg|thumb|right|Routes of the Russian and Japanese fleets on 27–28 May 1905]]
[[File:Mikasa-Bridge-Painting-by-Tojo-Shotaro.png|thumb|Painting by Tōjō Shōtarō depicting [[Tōgō Heihachirō|Admiral Tōgō]] on the "Compass Deck" above the bridge of {{ship|Japanese battleship|Mikasa||2}} at the start of the battle. The [[International maritime signal flags|signal flag]] being hoisted [[Z flag|represents the letter ''Z'']], a special instruction to his fleet.{{efn|This painting shows Tōgō wearing a sword. In reality, it was prohibited for any officer to wear a sword on this deck for its effect on compass reading. The cushion-like coverings on the naval compass turret{{efn|Replica of this compass can be seen on battleship ''Mikasa'' in Yokosuka. The original is displayed at [[Munakata Taisha]] shrine{{efn|{{coord|33.8307873742222|N|130.5153998022605|E|type:location}}}} in Kyūshū where the compass was dedicated as an oblation for the three daughter goddesses of [[Susanoo-no-Mikoto|god of mariners]] after this battle as the symbol of guiding the Combined Fleet.<ref>{{cite web|last=Otsuka|first=Seiji|date=8 June 2021|title=Battle of the Sea of Japan started off Munakata, Fukuoka: The history evidenced from Okinoshima Island by two men.|url=https://sasatto.jp/article/entry-1178.html|access-date=13 April 2024|language=ja}}</ref>}} and side railings are rolled sailor hammocks (rolled canvas awnings on the mast) as a part of the "prepare for battle" procedure to reduce the risk posed by shrapnel.{{sfn|Tsukamoto|1907|pages=49–51}}}}]]
At 06:34, before departing with the [[Combined Fleet]], [[Tōgō Heihachirō|Admiral Tōgō]] wired a message to the navy minister in [[Tokyo]]:

{{blockquote|text=In response to the report that enemy ships have been sighted, the Combined Fleet will immediately commence action and attempt to attack and destroy them. Weather today fine but high waves.{{sfn|Shiba|2014|loc=Volume 4, p. 212}}}}

The final sentence of this telegram has become famous in Japanese military history, and has been quoted by former Japanese Prime Minister [[Shinzō Abe]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/r-japans-abe-poised-to-delay-tax-hike-announce-snap-poll-2014-11|title=After Terrible GDP Report, Japan Is Getting Ready To Calling A Snap Election|work=Business Insider|access-date=5 July 2017|language=en|archive-date=13 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413102633/http://www.businessinsider.com/r-japans-abe-poised-to-delay-tax-hike-announce-snap-poll-2014-11|url-status=live}}</ref>

The entire Japanese fleet was put to sea, with Tōgō in his flagship ''Mikasa'' leading over 40 vessels to meet the Russians. Meanwhile, the shadowing Japanese scouting vessels sent wireless reports every few minutes as to the formation and course of the Russian fleet. There was mist which reduced visibility and the weather was poor. Wireless gave the Japanese an advantage; in his report on the battle, Admiral Tōgō noted the following:

{{blockquote|text=Though a heavy fog covered the sea, making it impossible to observe anything at a distance of over five miles, [through wireless messaging] all the conditions of the enemy were as clear to us, who were 30 or 40 miles distant, as though they had been under our very eyes.<ref name=togoreport>Admiral Tōgō's report on the Battle of Tsushima, as published by the Japanese Imperial Navy General Staff, September 1905; http://www.russojapanesewar.com/togo-aar3.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820070000/http://www.russojapanesewar.com/togo-aar3.html |date=20 August 2010 }}</ref>}}

At 13:40, both fleets sighted each other, ready to engage. At around 13:55, Tōgō ordered the hoisting of the [[Z flag]], issuing a predetermined announcement to the entire fleet:

{{blockquote|text=The Empire's fate depends on the result of this battle, let every man do his utmost duty.{{sfn|Koenig|1977|page=141}}}}

By 14:45, Tōgō had "[[Crossing the T|crossed the Russian T]]",{{sfn|Semenoff|1907|page=70}} enabling him to fire broadsides, while the Russians could reply only with their forward turrets.{{sfn|Mahan|1906|pages=457–458}}{{sfn|Regan|1992|pages=176–177}}