Under the Mikado's Flag by Edward Stratemeyer

All on board of the _Columbia_ had had an uneventful voyage to the Sea of Japan and everybody was in the best of health. Since arriving at Nagasaki those on the vessel had heard much about the war just opened and had seen not a few Japanese soldiers depart for the front. Larry and Ben had likewise visited one of the warships, just before it departed to join Admiral Togo's fleet, and both were enthusiastic over what they had seen.

"The order was as good as on any American warship," declared Larry, "and the gunners looked as if they could fire just as well, too."