The British Far East Fleet was in a miserable state. As fellow losers in the Battle of Malacca, the Japanese Navy naturally fared no better.
Three decades of naval foundations built up since the Meiji Restoration had been buried in a single day, more than half of it lost. East Asia's foremost naval power had become a laughingstock overnight.
For the newly risen Japanese nationalism, defeat in the Battle of Malacca was plainly unacceptable.
As news of the defeat arrived, cries of "Heaven punish the traitorous villains!" resounded across the Japanese Archipelago.
The navy once hailed as "the nation's hope" had become national criminals despised by all overnight. The island nation's extremism was displayed here in all its fullness.
At the Imperial Palace, Emperor Meiji had convened one Imperial Conference after another ever since news of the Battle of Malacca's defeat arrived.
There was no choice but to be nervous. Failed speculation came at a price. Defeat in the Battle of Malacca had directly placed Japan in a perilous position.
Prime Minister Katsura Tarō said, "The rescue ships have returned one after another. Because they encountered the Spanish Navy, we also lost two rescue ships. I fear the remaining warships will not be coming back.
"Combined with the battle report released by Austria, we can basically confirm that Admiral Ito Sukeyuki died a martyr's death.
"According to intelligence from Cam Ranh Bay, the British Far East Fleet also suffered devastating losses. No capital ships over ten thousand tons can be found in the harbor anymore.
"The situation in the Far East has completely rotted away. For a long time to come, we will have to face the enemy's threat at sea."
Whether Ito Sukeyuki had actually died or not, he had to have "died a martyr's death." Otherwise, there was