甲午战前日本海军对北洋舰队的窥觑——基于日本海军“情报资料”的考察

The Japanese Navy's Spying on the Beiyang Fleet before the Sino-Japanese War of 1894—1895——an Analysis Based on the Japanese Navy's“Intelligence Materials”

甲午战争前,日本不仅加快海军军备扩张的步伐,还积极进行对华作战的准备,并加强对中国北洋舰队的情报搜集。1889年后,由于经费受限和政策变动,北洋舰队的军备扩充陷于停顿。这些情报被日方所掌握,并作为判断两国海军实力消长的依据。日本海军还担忧自身军事训练的不足,急欲掌握北洋舰队在军事训练、舰队管理、官兵素质等方面的情报,为此,不仅派出军舰“参观”或窥觑北洋舰队的会操,还于1891年北洋舰队军舰访问日本期间进行近距离“观察”。随后,日本海军整理了有关资料,使之成为海军省“情报资料”的重要组成部分。透过这些资料,人们可以从另一视角进一步了解甲午战前北洋舰队的实态,以及日本海军不遗余力地窥觑北洋舰队、积极备战的情形。

Before the Sino-Japanese War of 1894—1895,Japan not only accelerated the expansion of its naval armaments,but also prepared for operations against China and strengthened the intelligence-gathering and investigation of the Beiyang Fleet.After 1889,due to the limited funding and policy changes,the armament expansion of the Beiyang Fleet came to a halt.This information was gathered by the Japanese and used as a basis to judge the growth and decline of the two countries'naval power.The Japanese Navy also worried about its own lack in the military training,and was eager to get the information about the Beiyang Fleet on the military training,fleet management,the quality of officers and soldiers.Japan not only sent warships to the parade of Beiyang Fleet,but also conducted a close“observation”during the Fleet's visit to Japan in 1891.The Japanese Navy later compiled the information and included them in the“intelligence materials”for the Japanese Ministry of Navy.Through those materials,one can learn more about the actual situation of the Beiyang Fleet before the Sino-Japanese War of 1894—1895,and how the Japanese Navy spared no effort to spy the Beiyang Fleet and prepare for the war.