One of those cyclones of appalling velocity and resistless force, such as whirl along the coasts of Japan and China during the late summer and early fall of every year, burst upon the Chinese fleet. Nothing can withstand these maelstroms of the air. We call the typhoons; the Japanese say “tai-fu,” or “okaze” (great wind). Iron steamships of thousands of horse-power are almost unmanageable in them.
Junks are helpless; the Chinese ships were these only. They were butted together like mad bulls. They were impaled on the rocks, dashed against the cliffs, or tossed on land like corks from the spray. They were blown over till they careened and filled. Heavily freighted with human beings, they sunk by hundreds. The corpses were piled on the shore or floating on the water so thickly that it seemed almost possible to walk thereon. Those driven out to sea may have reached the mainland, but were probably overwhelmed. The vessels of the survivors, in large numbers, drifted or were wrecked upon Taka Island, where they established themselves, and cutting down trees, began building boats to reach Korea.
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From General Nelson A. Miles
Thrilling Stories of The Russian-Japanese War, 1904
