tsuːʃˈiːməz pɹˈaɪmɚɹi pɐtɹˈoʊl ˈɛɹiə wʌz ɐlˈɔŋ ðə jˈɑːŋtsi ɹˈɪvɚɹ ɪn tʃˈaɪnə, wˌɛɹ æz flˈæɡʃɪp fɔːɹ kˌɪtʃɪsɐbjˈʊɹɹoʊ nəmjˈʊɹɹə, ʃiː kəmˈændᵻd ɐ skwˈɑːdɹən ʌv ɡˈʌnboʊts pɹətˈɛktɪŋ dʒˌæpənˈiːz sˈɪɾɪzənz ænd ˌiːkənˈɑːmɪk ˈɪntɹɛsts wɪðˌɪn tʃˈaɪnə.
Tsushimas primary patrol area was along the Yangtze River in China, where as flagship for Kichisaburō Nomura, she commanded a squadron of gunboats protecting Japanese citizens and economic interests within China.