DELAYS AT VAN FONG
_April 13th._--At about nine o'clock the signalman in an emotional
voice announced that a warship was coming towards us from the north,
flying the Russian naval flag and several signals. It turned out to be
the French cruiser _Déscartes_. She was signalling to us, and hoisted
the Russian flag so that we should understand. There is news that a
hospital-ship has arrived at Batavia. It is said to be the _Kostroma_,
which is with Admiral Nebogatoff's fleet.
We are approaching the anchorage of Van Fong. Some of the ships are
already in the bay. The French admiral clearly sympathises with us, and
if it depended on him we might lie where it is most convenient for us.
He purposely shuts his eyes to a great deal. If he were not so disposed
towards us it would be awkward. He is aware, for instance, where we
have gone from Kamranh, but pretends that it is unknown to him. How
much sometimes depends on one man!
We are moving nearer and nearer to Vladivostok. We have altogether come
28,500 versts. There are 4,200 still left. Nearly seven-eighths of our
voyage is successfully accomplished.
All the ships have anchored. The _Suvaroff_ is coaling from a German
steamer. In the latter some of the crew are Chinamen, and perhaps there
are Japanese.
I forget if I told you that two Japanese were noticed among the crew
of the steamer _Dagmar_, which brought provisions to Kamranh. How well
their intelligence service is organised! Wherever you look there are
Japanese spies. There is authentic news that the ice at Vladivostok
has dispersed. Consequently, the Japanese might undertake naval
operations against it, if we do not interfere in time. It will be a
fine impediment if they cut off Vladivostok by land, thus making it a
second Port Arthur.
Easter will soon be here, but it is not noticed in the ship.
They live and eat as usual. There are no preparations--everywhere is
dirt and coal.
_April 14th._--In the torpedo-boats they were assured that when we
left Kamranh we were going to Vladivostok. They never expected we
should anchor in some bay.
A sailor deserted at Kamranh. What will he do there, on that savage
shore? Another threw himself into the sea from the _Rion_, having
cautiously put on a life-belt. He was successfully taken out of the
water and put on board the _Rion_. On what do these people count?
The shore here is hilly, and rather pretty. There is a small
settlement. Chinese came near us in boats. They sold chickens, ducks,
bananas, etc. The prices are heavy. They ask more than a rouble for a
fowl. They will not let a small pumpkin go for less than fifty copecks.
I watched how the Chinese eat in the collier. They eat very cleverly,
with sticks. It is curious to see so many people with pigtails.
Sometimes they fasten them up on their necks, and sometimes hang them
down their backs.
Admiral Folkersham is still unwell. He is in bed. The stroke was not so
slight as the doctors said.
There are a lot of rats in my cabin. Their audacity is so great that
when I sit at table they run about my feet.
The Chinese who come in junks, bringing provisions, try to get rid of
false three-rouble notes made by the Japanese.
Several steamers have refused to go from the south with freights for
Japan. Their captains explain that their crews do not care to go to
those seas where there are Russian ships.
They tried to explain to the sailors that they themselves would lose
nothing. The only risk was of losing the ship. The persuasion had no
effect, so they were taken before a judge. The cause of their not
wishing to continue to voyage was explained. "The Russian system," said
the sailors, "is to fire at a suspicious ship and save no one. They
acted thus in the North Sea. We do not want to run the risk."
Unfortunately, we do not do so; but the affair in the North Sea brought
us one advantage. Merchant ships do not come near our fleet out of
curiosity--they give way to us. Now steamers have no special pleasure
in carrying contraband, though they can procure it freely from America.
The Japanese were provided with coal long ago. The coal which we sent
to Vladivostok in large quantities was captured by them.
The captain of the _Eva_, who was at Vladivostok a comparatively short
time ago, says that there is no lack of provisions there. They want
matches. Perhaps he is only inventing. He also says that he has read a
telegram announcing that Nebogatoff's fleet has passed Singapore. If
this is true we should effect a junction with it shortly.
_April 15th._--Last night a rat bit my foot. I must take measures
against them.
At the wireless station they are receiving signals. They are rather
incoherent messages. It seems as if they meant to say "Nicholas" (the
_Nikolai I._ is with the third fleet). In any case, cruisers are being
sent to look out for Admiral Nebogatoff's fleet.
From the _Borodino_ they announce that they are getting similar signs.
An officer has just come from the _Sissoi_ to report that they have
received a perfectly clear message, in which the _Nicholas_ asks for
the situation of the _Suvaroff_. Perhaps the _Nicholas_ is actually
signalling. In any case, it will soon be made clear. If Nebogatoff
effects a junction, then, after his ships have had a chance of being
overhauled and of coaling, we shall move on to Vladivostok. Now we
shall hardly wait for the _Slava_ and other ships. Probably they have
not yet left Russia.
There has just been a solemn service. O God! what squalor! The crew
and the choir stood barefoot. All were in white. They tried to put
on clean clothes, but they were all torn. The officers' clothes were
bad also. All the same, the service made a deep impression on me. It
brought back to my mind the last week I spent with you.
This is the second Easter I have spent in a ship (the first in the
_Apraxin_[17]), and both with Rojdestvensky.
The engineer-constructor Kostenko, who was in the battleship _Orel_,
was washing his feet and somehow cut his left foot with the basin. He
was sent to the hospital-ship _Orel_. He cut his tendon achilles. The
flagship's doctor said he required hospital treatment. I do not yet
know if his wound is dangerous. There were six engineer-constructors in
the fleet. One has been sent to Russia, and one will be in hospital.
Thirty-three per cent. of all the engineers have, so to speak, fallen
out of the ranks. For whom else is a similar fate in store? Poor
Kostenko! He is a talented man. It is not a year since he left school.
Perhaps it is all for the best that he has gone to the hospital-ship
_Orel_. At all events, he will not have to undergo the chances of a
battle.
In order not to disclose the position of the fleet, we are forbidden to
send letters and telegrams from here. The question of the messages from
the _Nicholas_ has been cleared up. Two French ships were communicating
with one another.
We have distinguished ourselves quite like Russians. We came into
the bay of Van Fong, anchored, and arranged for an inspection of the
entrance to the bay. The bay itself was not examined. Suddenly to-day
a steamer was seen moving towards the entrance. "What is this?" "Where
does she come from?" "Whose steamer?" etc. The alarm was beaten. It
appears that it was a French steamer that has been lying here for four
days. How this will please you! It is true the bay is very large, and
there are many commodious corners in it; but, nevertheless, it does not
excuse our carelessness. Why should not Japanese torpedo-boats have
hidden themselves earlier, and attacked the fleet at night from the
side where they were least expected. It might have happened, and they
would certainly have done it if they had known that we should not have
examined the bay, or that we should come here. They say very truly
that St. Nicholas the "Casual" is protecting us.
The "Apes" and the "Anyhows" are fighting indeed! I had to go and see
Kostenko in the hospital-ship _Orel_. I have been only on board her
once during the whole voyage, and then only because it was absolutely
necessary. I am not the only one that feels like that towards her. All
of us look on her with aversion, and for some reason she is not popular.
Admiral Nebogatoff, by my reckoning, can arrive on the 19th or 23rd.
Several days will be necessary for his ships to repair defects, before
the voyage to Vladivostok.
_April 16th._--I went to the _Oleg_, had lunch there, and stayed till
one o'clock. Pity it was a Lenten lunch. There was a sailor on board
who had been a clown. He trained a dog and did several tricks. The
cook's assistant there has received the name of "Fire King," as he eats
burning tow. There are many musicians and actors there. The _Oleg_ is
a happy ship. The officers live in a very friendly way.
Last night I waged war with the rats for a very long time. They quite
conquered. The worst of it is that they do not mind running over my
bed. It is very repulsive.
I am preparing for Easter.
My servant almost by force compelled the washerman to wash a tunic and
a pair of trousers for me. My shoes he has not been able to whiten.
I chatted for a long time with the navigator and captain. The latter
was seated in his deck cabin without a tunic. He says it is nice like
that, but it seems strange.
The wardroom are collecting creeping plants and green branches in
preparation for Easter. All the same, everything is so poor and
wretched. Somehow or other they have coloured the eggs, though there is
no paint. The bakers have baked the bread in the shape of Easter cakes.
There is, of course, no paska,[18] though there will be some at the
admiral's table.
In all the Chinese boats there are eyes painted in the bows. This is
done in order that the boat may see where it is going.
Those of our transports which went to Saigon have been allowed to
take enough coal to last them to Odessa. Of course, if they are wise
they will fill their holds as full as possible. As long as you have
permission to take it, you can always gain on the amount. Do you
remember in Vigo each ship was only allowed to take 400 tons, and they
all took more than 800 each?
To-day, for the first time during the voyage, the agencies' telegrams
have been published for the information of everybody. The captain,
first lieutenant, and senior officer in the _Irtish_ are drinking
heavily. They are nearly always drunk. Wild scenes take place. Gloom
and dissatisfaction reign in that transport. It might end very badly.
Do you know, it seems to me that the eighth will be an important date
for our fleet? Perhaps a fight will take place on that date.
There are some polite wiseacres who are sending their cards to all the
ships. Could anything be sillier at such a time, and under the present
circumstances.
At 11.45 p.m. a service will begin, but no mass. The Easter scenes in
Russia will rise up in my memory.
_April 17th._--Christos Voskress![19] I woke later than usual. I am
late for the hoisting of the colours. I have not yet left my cabin.
Easter is being greeted. During the service half the officers and
crew did not leave the loaded guns. The church was carefully covered,
so that light should not penetrate outside. The stuffiness was
intolerable.
The service went off with much ceremony. All were in white. The altar
screen was white, and the priest's vestments also. The church was
abundantly decorated with tropical plants. Everything was covered with
them, and garlands were suspended from the roof. The church is so low
that after it was arranged and decorated it looked almost like a cave.
We broke our fast at supper. The table was fairly well spread. No one
knew in Russia that the fleet would spend Easter in the bay of Van
Fong. Everything went on in the ordinary way. After 6 p.m. coal and
stores were taken in, and all go about dirty.
Do you remember last Easter? It was also out of the common.
About three o'clock I went to the _Borodino_, and stayed there till
six. Every officer in her received an egg and an Easter cake, and they
sent eggs and cakes to the hospital-ship _Orel_. This was the only
ship that did this. The others did not trouble about their sick. They
promised to get me paper and tobacco.
Yesterday a mining cutter from the _Borodino_ was on guard duty, and
met three Chinese boats with fish. The cutter examined them. One of the
Chinamen seemed suspicious. They thought he was Japanese. He was taken
into the cutter, but, profiting by a favourable moment, he jumped into
the water, dived, quickly gained the shore, and ran off. A paper was
found in the boat. It was apparently a simple permission for them to
catch fish at Van Fong, and was written in Chinese.
I have prickly heat. It is horrible.
In the evenings, after dinner, I often go and sit on the forebridge.
I was there to-day and talked with the captain. He was going about
barefooted, and without a tunic.
_April 18th._--The famous Meteorological Station near Shanghai gives
information about a typhoon which is now on the China Sea. Will it
catch us? Typhoons are very frequent. Their number depends on the time
of the year. We are afraid that our torpedo-boats will not succeed in
reaching Vladivostok safely, owing to them. If we go by the strait
of Korea we shall have an affair with Japanese torpedo-boats and
submarines. It would be a good thing if it were rather rough (like we
had it in the German Ocean) when we pass through the strait. It would
be more difficult for their submarines and torpedo-boats to attack us.
The last few days have been close and damp. My tobacco is mildewed. To
economise in cigarettes I have to cut them in halves.
Yesterday my servant Golovko stole a bottle of brandy from the
sideboard in the wardroom, and got drunk. He is no longer to be one of
the servants of the staff. I shall have another. It is a pity, as I was
accustomed to Golovko, and he knew my ways.
I smoked a cigarette with opium, and am now inclined to sleep. I hope
Nebogatoff and his fleet will come soon. Perhaps he will bring a mail.
Everything is possible with us.
_April 19th._--There is a telegram that Nebogatoff passed Penang on the
15th, and not on the 13th. We may expect him here on the 21st.
There have been disorders in the battleship _Orel_ about a cow. Some
one broke her leg. They killed her, and gave her meat to the crew for
dinner. The crew complained loudly that they were fed with meat from
animals that had died.
The admiral himself went to the _Orel_ this morning, and raised thunder
and lightning. The captain, officers, and crew alike suffered. True,
the crew of the _Orel_ are a bad lot. Among the sailors are many who
have been punished. Do you remember I told you they were not sailors,
but convicts, in the _Orel_. Think of what has happened to this
ship--her sinking, grounding, the attempt to damage both engines, etc.
The captain is in a great measure responsible for the insubordination
of the crew. For some reason he looks at their offences through his
fingers, and even reproves the officers if they try to carry out a more
severe discipline--and not only discipline, but plain order.
There is news that a French warship will arrive here to-morrow. The
following comedy will be played out for appearance' sake. All the
battleships, the _Oleg_, and the _Aurora_ will get up anchor and go to
sea at 6.30 a.m. The transports and other ships will move ahead, as
if they were preparing to go. In reality they will only change their
position, leaving places for Nebogatoff's fleet.
Is not all this neutrality and international right a farce? Here we
have been half a month close to the theatre of war, in the waters of
a neutral power. All our ships would have left Van Fong if it had not
been that we feared the typhoon.
You will no doubt receive this letter when we are at Vladivostok. It
will be a pity if the letters fall into the hands of the Japanese.
I am picturing to myself the fight. An artillery fight does not
appear to me to be so terrible and destructive as a torpedo attack.
Projectiles could not sink a battleship or cruiser, but a torpedo might
very easily, if it hit.
We weighed anchor and went to sea. On going out of Van Fong we met the
French cruiser. We saluted each other. She signalled that she had some
letters for us, which she will hand over to the _Almaz_ in the bay.
The cruiser passed into the bay, and our ships lay close to her with
engines stopped. This cruiser, the _Guichen_, will leave, and then we
shall return. It is a regular farce--and a farce to our advantage--that
is played, thanks to the French admiral. Were it not for him the French
Government would have driven us out, and there would have been an end
to the business.
_April 20th._--The French cruiser left, but we passed the night at sea.
There is no news about Nebogatoff's fleet. It is strange. He ought to
have passed Singapore, and it should have been known to us by now.
The admiral is convinced that the Japanese will try to sink
Nebogatoff's ships before the latter join us. Perhaps they will not
succeed in sinking them, and only damage them. They will then have
to be repaired, and the voyage to Vladivostok will be put off for an
indefinite period.
At eleven I heard the sound of a rocket being discharged. I put on my
tunic and went on deck. Men were rushing about everywhere, hurrying
to the stations for battle. Shouting the question, "One or two?" They
were asking about the rockets. "One" means the fleet is to exercise for
general quarters; "two" means the actual alarm, when the enemy is real.
There was one rocket. We frequently have general night alarms, but the
men are not yet accustomed to them.
_April 21st._--We are entering the bay. A torpedo-boat will only go
to-morrow for the telegrams. That means that we can only then count on
knowing something about the third fleet. For the dispatch of letters,
evidently, we have to turn to the German collier. We ourselves can do
nothing, like helpless children, although there is a post-office at
hand.
My servant Golovko is transferred to another ship. He came to me and
nearly cried. He asked me to verify my things. Of course, I did not do
that.
_April 22nd._--I have not been able to write to you earlier to-day. I
have been visiting ships. I went on board the _Irtish_. The atmosphere
there is heavy. The first lieutenant is to be tried for some nonsense
with the captain, by a special court. It is appointed for the 24th inst.
When I was in the _Gromky_ a boat came to her in which were two adult
Annamese and three boys. The boys ranged themselves in a row, folded
their hands with the palms together (prayer fashion), and bowed down to
their feet. I asked what they were doing. "They beg that we should buy
them," was the answer. Perhaps the boys did not beg quite so much, but
the traffic in children is beyond doubt. Boys, they say, are valued at
five or ten francs, considerably cheaper than a pig. There were some
occasions when children were bought, and they tried to make servants
of them. These experiments nearly always ended badly. The boys were
spoilt, and it was difficult to get rid of them.
Our captain, to whom I related the affair in the torpedo-boat, took
it into his head that I wanted to buy a boy, and began to reprove me
severely. With great difficulty I assured him that I did not want to
buy any one. It would be a nice thing to arrive home with a ten- or
twelve-year-old Chinaman!
A suspicious thing has occurred. The French admiral, whom the captain
of the _Bodry_ saw to-day, spoke of the movements and stations of
the French men-of-war in great detail, but not a word did he mention
about the torpedo-boats which ought to pass Van Fong. The _Donskoi_,
which was patrolling with the _Ural_, at about two o'clock saw two
torpedo-boats going north. At first they were without colours, but
afterwards hoisted French. The _Donskoi_ was satisfied, and did not
trouble to go nearer them. The torpedo-boats passed unimpeded. The
admiral and others are convinced that they were Japanese.
The rays of a searchlight are seen sometimes from the side of the open
sea. It is evidently from a warship. The _Donskoi_ reports that she
sees the rays, and that is all. Whose can they be? If they are the
_Ural's_, what is her reason for being silent? Taken in conjunction
with the appearance of the torpedo-boats by day, these rays are very
suspicious, even if it is the _Ural_. If she has lighted up, it means
that either she has seen or suspected something wrong. The whole fleet
are ordered to increase their attention. Had the _Donskoi_ gone nearer
to the torpedo-boats which hoisted French colours, the affair would
have been clearer. If they were Japanese, how they will jeer at our
foolish confidence! We saw the colours and were satisfied. As if it is
difficult to hoist whichever flag you please!
_April 23rd._--To-day is the Empress's name-day. We had prayers and a
salute. All this time Annamese boats have been lying near our ships.
You should have seen how they fled when the firing began.
Gradually everything is going. I have begun to carry tobacco for
rolling cigarettes in old envelopes. It is more convenient than having
it in a cigar-case.
There is no news of Nebogatoff. The officers in the _Aurora_ have
started a totalisator on his arrival.
The following idea is worrying me. Only vessels of less than
seventy-five feet in width can enter the Vladivostok dock. I cannot
say if this is true. Our new battleships (_Suvaroff_, _Alexander_,
_Borodino_, and _Orel_) have a width of seventy-six feet. If it is
so, in case of necessity it will be impossible to put them into dock.
For some reason the width and measures of the docks are considered a
secret, and do not find a place in books of naval inquiry, so that no
one remembers the measures. God grant that my fears are not justified!
The duty cruiser patrolling reports that she sees three ships moving
together in one direction. She is ordered at any moment to go at full
speed.
_April 24th._--Lights are moving near the bay. The patrol steamer
signals some confused message. Can these ships be relied on? It is
said that the captain of one of them does not conceal his desire to
disarm. He does not conduct himself as he should under the eyes of
the flagship. For instance, he is ordered to patrol three miles from
the shore, and he goes out thirty. Our fleet with its necessities
appears to him to be something hostile. For some reason there exists a
presentiment among many that of the four new battleships the _Alexander
III._ will perish during the war.
At last Nebogatoff declares himself. A torpedo-boat which went to
Natrang to-day brought a telegram saying that the third fleet passed
Singapore at 4 a.m. on the 22nd, and that she would join us on the
27th. Evidently all is well with it. Where has it been lingering a
whole week? From Penang to Singapore is only a three days' journey. It
means we shall soon leave here.
Probably my foreboding about the number eight will come to pass. I
forget if I told you that it seems to me that the number eight will
play a great _rôle_ in the fate of our fleet.
The French admiral (Janquières), who is so friendly towards us, has
sent the admiral some poetry composed by himself about Port Arthur and
Stössel.
I wonder in what condition the third fleet will arrive? What news will
it bring? Will there be any mails, and of what date? Will it bring us
tobacco, paper, and cigarettes. It left Russia more than four months
after we did.
When it started we were already at Nosi Be. We have had absolutely no
news from Manchuria. What is going on there?
Janquières, the French admiral, has arrived in the _Guichen_, and has
proposed that we should leave Van Fong. To-morrow we shall probably
go to the bay that was examined not long ago by the _Roland_. The
_Guichen_ has just left. There are many in her down with fever. Owing
to this the band did not play.
Thanks to all the conferences, we were late for dinner.
To-morrow the _Jemchug_, _Isumrud_, _Dnieper_, and _Rion_ are going to
meet the third fleet, in order to inform it of our whereabouts.
When reporting the approach of a French warship, the captain of an
auxiliary cruiser innocently asked if he should examine her. I am
curious to know how he would examine a warship. There are many similar
cases of sharp wit, and frequently no attention is paid to such pranks.
The more I hear of the personnel and the morale in the Port Arthur
fleet, the less astonished I am at its destruction, and the less
pitiable it seems to me. The greatest pity is the loss of the ships.
The steamer _Eridan_, under French colours, arrived from Saigon with
provisions at 9.30 a.m. I was not expecting anything, when suddenly a
sailor came and handed me your letters. Apparently Günsburg sent them
to Saigon under cover to his brother Mess (the real surname of the
Günsburgs is Mess).
I was quite beside myself with joy. I am still more delighted at
receiving news that is only a month old. At that moment the flag
diving-officer came into my cabin on business. I scarcely remember what
I said to him.
There were very few letters. I was the only one of the staff who
received any. To-day is a red-letter day for me. I sat down to write to
you, when the senior staff-officer, S----, came and proposed that I
should take 1,000 cigarettes off him, out of the 4,000 he had received.
They are Russian cigarettes that M. Mess sent. I am set up in smokes
for a long time now.
Captain Pollis, who has recently been our secret agent in Batavia,
arrived in the _Eridan_, and also Lieutenant M----, who broke out of
Port Arthur in a torpedo-boat shortly before its fall. They will both
remain in the fleet. The _Eridan_ leaves to-day. It will be nice to
send a letter by her.
_April 25th._--After receiving your letters I rushed about the
_Suvaroff_, and decided to go to the _Borodino_. When I arrived there
the captain was asleep. They woke him. We sat down, and drank tea,
and he gave me sweets. He began to plan how we should travel about
Europe together after the war is over. We sat down with a tantalus and
chatted. Just then they brought him letters from the _Suvaroff_. It was
a pity I did not know there was a mail for him. I might have brought it
with me.
It so happened that fate gladdened only two officers with news from
home. In the _Suvaroff_ I was the only happy one. To-day was a holiday
for me indeed.
At six o'clock I went back to the _Suvaroff_ in the _Borodino's_
mining cutter, and to my horror found that the mail had already been
sent to the _Eridan_. I stuck a 5-franc stamp on to my letter. Other
people gave me some of theirs, and I made up a large packet, addressing
it to M. Mess. I then sent it by boat to the _Eridan_, which might at
any moment get up anchor and go to Saigon.
The Annamese are queer people. They value brass and silver buttons at
more than five francs each. The crew, of course, profit by this, settle
their accounts with buttons, and trade in them also.
The third fleet has not yet arrived, but letters have been received
for it _viâ_ Günsburg. There will be a mail in it for us. I count on
receiving thirty-three letters from you.
Do you remember I told you I was afraid that Günsburg's steamer
_Regina_ would fall into the hands of the Japanese. It seems that she
was wrecked in the Mozambique Channel.
_April 26th._--We did not weigh anchor in time to-day. The French
cruiser came again to drive us out.
A message has been received from the _Vladimir Monomach_, which is
ahead of Nebogatoff's fleet, that they are coming in complete array.
We shall soon be joined by them. I am curious to know what sort of a
fleet it is, what its morale is like, and what sort of captains. Many
of them are laughed at. They are famous for their war service; but war
changes men, and good ones are sometimes found among the bad, and _vice
versa_.
2 p.m.--The smoke, masts, and funnels of Nebogatoff's fleet have
appeared. Every one is in a great state of excitement, and rushes
to the bridge. Binoculars are brought up on deck. At last we shall
proceed. There is no need to wait longer.
When the signalling began, we asked the _Monomach_ the name of her
first lieutenant, to make certain that she was not a Japanese ship. She
replied, and asked the _Suvaroff_ the same question.
The _Dnieper_, it appears, saw the third fleet last night; but fearing
that it was the Japanese, hastily retreated. She was sent in order to
join herself to Nebogatoff. I am going on the bridge. The fleets are
just joining. They are nearing each other. They are beginning to salute.
10 p.m.--O Lord, I do not know how to begin! My head is completely
silly. I do not know what to say. I am happy, satisfied, glad. I want
to tell you everything, and am afraid shall not succeed. I shall get
confused and forget.
As Nebogatoff's fleet approached we all crowded on deck. I put on my
new cap for the great occasion.
First came the _Apraxin_. Could I have thought when I was working
in her five years ago that I should see her here! How strange the
_Apraxin_, _Ushakoff_, and _Seniavin_ seemed! So short, and such long
funnels! They reminded me of overgrown children with angular limbs.
At four o'clock Nebogatoff came on board the _Suvaroff_. He greeted
Rojdestvensky with a kiss. The staff were invited to drink champagne to
the happy union of the fleets. At table Nebogatoff spoke of his voyage
and its success. His ships steamed ideally, without breakdowns. At
night his fleet steamed without lights. Every one was informed about
his arrival at Penang. His passage through the straits of Malacca took
him two days and a half.
They brought a mail in the cutter which brought Nebogatoff from the
_Nicolai I._ to the _Suvaroff_. Though it is not customary to get up
from the admiral's table, I could not sit there long, and left to
examine the mail. It was already sorted in heaps.
My mail had been taken to my cabin. I ran there, and did not know which
to open first--the letters or parcels. I opened the parcels. There
were socks, handkerchiefs, shoulder-straps, sweets, cigarettes, soap,
eau-de-Cologne, scents, brushes, etc. My eyes opened wide. My servant
helped me to sort and wipe everything. It was all stuck together. How
joyfully I separated all this! Indeed, I cannot say all I feel at
present. I must calm myself.
The eau-de-Cologne and scents have travelled well. The jam, although
it was soldered up, leaked. The cigarettes are a little spoilt, but
they can be smoked. Newspapers I could not read. I only read the parts
marked by you.
I am writing in broken sentences. Perhaps to-morrow I shall have to
send this letter; now my head is in a whirl.
_April 27th._--Perhaps the _Kostroma_, which has not joined the fleet
yet, will bring another mail. You see how spoilt I am. My head is
stupid to-day, but I am so pleased and happy at having received all you
sent me.
I wanted to write to you, when two torpedo-boats collided--the _Grosny_
and _Bezuprechny_. They must be quickly repaired. We are at sea, and
the torpedo-boats are in harbour thirty versts away.
4 p.m.--I sat a long time in the whaler, waiting an opportunity to go
to the _Buistry_. She took me to Port Dayot Bay, where some of the
fleet are lying. I go back to the _Suvaroff_ at dawn.
The fleet in general received few mails. Every one is complaining, but
I am satisfied. I saw an officer in a torpedo-boat washing a tunic for
himself. It was a strange sight.
_April 28th._--My work in the _Bezuprechny_ was successfully carried
out. I returned to the fleet in the torpedo-boat _Bodry_. We met the
fleet returning to Van Fong Bay to coal, as the open sea was rough.
We leave here to-morrow morning. The French sternly drive us away,
but we stay on. It is impertinence. Port Dayot is really the same
as Van Fong, as it is a gulf joined to it by a wide strait. It is
very beautiful. The shores are hilly and covered with thick wood. In
the corner of the bay lies a wrecked French gunboat, which is being
dismantled. There are a lot of goats, peacocks, monkeys, elephants, and
wild beasts on shore.
Yesterday I dined in the _Bezuprechny_. The night was calm. They
brought officers over from the neighbouring boats. They all live in a
very friendly way. It is their custom to give each other presents on
their names-days and birthdays. Sometimes the presents are very curious
ones.
They invited me to spend the night, but I refused. I went to the
_Kamchatka_. A cabin was ready for me there, but I preferred spending
the night half-sitting in a long chair, in the fresh air on deck. At
six o'clock a torpedo-boat came for me. In the _Kamchatka_ they begged
me to take several things to the _Suvaroff_. I did not do so.
Yesterday, in the hospital-ship _Orel_, the crew were sent into the
hold for something. There were poisonous gases, and they began to
suffocate. All except one escaped. The deceased was buried to-day.
The shoulder-straps you sent me are not uniform. They are an ensign's.
I made a present of them to an engineer, Krimer. He was so pleased that
he treated the wardroom to champagne. I did not like to give them away,
but persuaded myself that I must not be a dog in the manger.
I treated some of the others to the almond cake. It smells somewhat
strange, and some insects like beetles have established themselves in
it.
We move on to Vladivostok the day after to-morrow. Many fear danger.
After your letters I feel bold, and look to the future with hope. There
is an idea that the Japanese fleet will not fight a fleet action until
we arrive off Vladivostok. They will feign torpedo attacks, while in
the meantime they will cut us off by land. Who can foretell the events?
For God's sake do not be anxious at not receiving letters or telegrams
for a very long time. We are passing along uninhabited shores. Letters
will be sent as occasions offer. Our postal arrangements are bad. Some
of your letters to me are lost, and some of your October letters I have
only just received.
_April 29th._--We went to sea early this morning. A steamer passed
close to the fleet, making an attempt to escape. Our torpedo-boats and
scouting cruiser overtook her. She hoisted English colours. We only
questioned, and did not examine her. She said she was going from Japan
to the south, carrying coolies. We let her go.
We remain tossing on the sea. We shall leave here either to-morrow
evening or day after. It is said that the hospital-ship will not join
the fleet at all. Do you know, the number of ships in the fleet is now
fifty-two? Some of the transports are at Saigon, or it would have been
greater still.
_April 30th._--The _Kostroma_ has come, with a mail, it seems.
FOOTNOTES:
[17] In 1898 the battleship _General Admiral Apraxin_ went ashore off
Gothland, and Politovsky superintended the work of getting her off.
[18] Easter puddings.
[19] Easter greeting, "Christ is risen."