PREPARING FOR BATTLE
_May 1st._--The _Kostroma_ called at Saigon and brought a mail.
The last letter I received was dated March 28th. It is quick. And all
because Günsburg sent it on. All the ships have received an enormous
mail. They were a long time sorting it.
To-day, May 1st, we left Port Dayot for Vladivostok. We go by the South
China Sea. Our fleet now consists of fifty ships. Of these, nine are
torpedo-boats, and two hospital-ships--a great armada. Probably we
shall go round Formosa, and through the straits of Korea. There will
hardly be a fleet action before Vladivostok. We must expect submarine
boats and frantic torpedo-boat attacks.
_May 2nd._--Our course is so laid that when we have passed the southern
extremity of Formosa we shall go to the east of it.
At night we crossed the only course by which ships usually go from
north to south. We met two steamers. They will report the course chosen
by the fleet. Now we are moving in a part of the China Sea by which
ships do not usually go. They are beginning to talk about coaling. They
wish to arrange it to-morrow morning. The torpedo-boats are being towed
by the transports. Meanwhile, there are no mishaps or breakdowns.
9 p.m.--The battleship _Orel_ has delayed us for a short time.
Something was damaged in her. Our course is shaped between Formosa and
Luzon, one of the Philippine Islands. It is exactly seven months to-day
since the fleet left Russia.
The sea is almost calm, and the ports can be kept open without danger.
Hiding the lights, we are steaming with only a limited number. A
collision would be difficult, as it is a bright, moonlight night. At
present everything is going quietly. I rose to-day at nearly 9 a.m.,
was late for breakfast, and had to have it alone in my cabin.
_May 4th._--To-morrow we coal--probably the last coaling at sea.
It is proposed that when the coal from the _Tamboff_ and _Mercury_ has
been taken, they shall leave the fleet and return to Saigon. It will
be possible to send letters by them.
Near Shanghai the remaining transports will leave us. Only the naval
ones will remain (_Kamchatka_, _Irtish_, and _Anadir_), and the
_Korea_, in which are war stores. If this is carried out, the admiral
himself will seek a fleet action with the Japanese fleet before our
arrival at Vladivostok.
10 p.m.--They are receiving signs at the telegraph (wireless) station.
No one attaches any importance to them. In the ship it is surprisingly
quiet. They were more perturbed when the English cruisers surrounded us
in the Atlantic. I am quite composed and do not worry.
Gulls are seen; the shore is not far off. The moon is shining, and
it is as bright as day. By such light it will be difficult for
torpedo-boats to attack, but convenient for submarines. The sea is calm.
Soon it will not be so hot. To-morrow the sun will be at its
zenith--for us, the sixth and last time.
Formosa is near. All are interested in it. With luck we shall be at
Vladivostok in twelve or fifteen days.
All my preparations for battle consist in putting my things in order.
Coaling will begin at 6 a.m., if the weather permits.
At Port Dayot, not only did the transport _Gustave Lerche_, and the
water-tank steamer _Count Stroganoff_, leave the fleet, but also the
transport _Keenia_.
The latter is a floating workshop. Was it worth while bringing her
here? She has little speed, and the workmen say is badly fitted out. I
have not been there. It so happens that I have not been on board any of
the ships that came with Nebogatoff.
_May 5th_ (8 a.m.).--The fleet is coaling. The sea is calm, but the
swell is so great that the battleships are rolling. It is hot. Very
soon it will be cold. How shall we stand it after the tropics? There
will be a large number of sick.
_May 6th._--_South China Sea._
Yesterday the _Tamboff_ and _Mercury_ went to Saigon. The mail was
given to the latter. When the coaling was finished, the fleet went on
full speed ahead. In the evening I drew the disposition of all ships
for a lithographic stone, in the event of floating mines being observed.
It is proposed to send the _Rion_, _Dnieper_, _Kuban_, and _Terek_ one
after another for cruiser operations. They decided not to send the
_Ural_, as they do not trust her. It was her captain who openly boasted
about disarming.
Last night I sat on the after-bridge, and waited the result of the
_Oleg's_ chase after a steamer. After conversing with those around I
fell asleep. At one o'clock I woke, and went to sleep in my cabin. It
would have been worth while waiting a little longer.
At two o'clock the _Oleg_ reported that, on examination, it proved that
the steamer, as the captain explained, had no documents. He himself
did not know all her cargo. There was kerosene. She was going to Japan
from New York. The heavily laden steamer was ordered to be brought to
the fleet, was arrested as suspicious, and sent to Vladivostock for
examination by the prize court. A crew of our men and petty officers
were placed on board. One of them from the _Suvaroff_ was appointed
captain. The former captain and engineer were left in the steamer as
passengers--of course, without any authority. The rest of the crew were
brought to our ships.
On being questioned, they gave different evidence. Several sailors
affirmed that there were guns and ammunition among the cargo. One
sailor, at the very beginning, when he was out of his captain's sight,
showed with his hands that there was something round in the steamer.
It was difficult to find out where the steamer came from. They all
named different ports. The steamer (_Oldhamia_) will go with our crew
to Vladivostok, _viâ_ the Sungari Straits. Is this a good thing? The
Japanese may chance upon her on her way. Would it not have been simpler
to make certain that she carries contraband, take her crew from her,
and sink her? Her capture wasted a lot of time. All the fleet lay
motionless until twelve noon. She was provisioned, coaled, and the crew
transferred, etc. She had very little coal, not enough to get her to
Vladivostok. They began to coal her from the _Livonia_, a transport
which came with Nebogatoff.
From twelve noon we went at a slow pace--twelve knots. The _Livonia_ is
going alongside the captured steamer, to which she is made fast, and is
coaling her.
How we love to make a secret of everything--not unfrequently to
our disadvantage! Our staff have telegrams giving the names of the
steamers going to Japan with contraband goods. These telegrams were
needed to-day to see if the captured vessel was not among the ships
indicated. The telegrams proved to be confidential, and had been placed
in a safe, which was hidden in the event of a fight.
What is the use of telling us at all, if we, considering it
confidential, do not make use of our evidence? It is astonishing! They
should have published the names of steamers with contraband throughout
the fleet, in order that each ship should know about them. But with us
this is a "great secret." It is simply inconceivable. To conceal the
names of steamers serving in the interest of Russia is sensible, but to
hide from our own people the names of the friends of Japan is simply
folly. It is always and everywhere thus with us.
When they were busied with the _Oldhamia_ in the morning, two more
steamers were perceived, one laden and the other empty. One of them was
conducted to the fleet by the _Jemchug_. Of course, it was the empty
one. She was under Norwegian colours, belonged to Bergen; her name was
_Oscar II._ She went off to Japan. She had already served Japan for
two years (some company). We let her go. She audaciously cut through
the line of our ships. Perhaps she was purposely sent by Japan as a
scout. She can now inform them where she saw us. She may have taken
some photographs, and counted the ships. Even if she has not been sent
purposely, she will nevertheless make known our position.
We have lost and wasted much time. This loss does not pay. We are
wasting the bright, moonlight nights.
On the occasion of the Emperor's birthday a salute was fired, and there
were prayers.
Sorting out my books, I found a clean notebook and copy-book. They came
at an opportune moment, as I had finished the last.
7 p.m.--They are beginning to swear at having let the _Oscar_ go
without examining her.
The weather is beginning to be doubtful. Perhaps there will be a
typhoon. The fleet will suffer severely.
They have just published a list of vessels which are known to be
carrying contraband to Japan. Of course, the list only contains a
portion of them. What have they not in them! Horses, guns, projectiles,
powder, gun-cotton, explosives, blankets, milk, rails, engines, cables,
iron, steel, copper, armour plates, conserves, rifles, grenades,
shrapnel, wire, steam cutters, railway material. One steamer is
specially fitted for raising our ships sunk at Port Arthur!
_May 7th._--_Pacific Ocean._
The fleet is in the Pacific. For some reason it is also called the
"Great." We passed by the islands of the Batan (_sic_) group. They say
there are volcanoes there. I did not see them from the ship.
The motion of the sea interfered with the coaling of the captured
steamer. If the coal does not last her to Vladivostok, she is ordered
to call at Korsakovsky port (in Sagalien). There are still two hundred
of our men, who were coaling, on board her. Owing to the motion they
could not be taken off. They will try to take them off to-morrow.
There are about 2,800 versts left to Vladivostok.
Yesterday I began to prepare for battle. My preparations were
very simple. I opened a trunk, and without more ado thrust in
everything--ikons, letters, and photographs of you.
_May 8th._--To-morrow we are again to coal at sea. Will there soon
be an end of this coaling bacchanalia? To-day we pass the Tropic of
Cancer, and leave the tropics.
When I slept last night the rats began to gnaw my toes. I am heartily
tired of this kind of life, with its dirt and hardships. The _Oldhamia_
has left the fleet, and will go alone to Vladivostok or Korsakovsky
port, or even to Petropavlovsk, if fogs interfere. The _Kuban_ was left
by her, to give her a hundred tons of coal, if it is possible. The
_Oldhamia_ will then go on shore, and the _Kuban_ will cruise about to
capture contraband.
The _Oldhamia_ is a new ship; her construction was only finished last
year. She was occupied earlier with contraband. She took something for
Japan to Dalny, and for the Russians to Vladivostok.
At first the captain of the _Oldhamia_ behaved in a very off-hand
manner. He jeered at us, and praised the Japanese. He did not expect we
would take him from his steamer. When it was explained that he would be
taken, he sang another tune, and even cried on leaving her.
The English who remained succeeded in playing a dirty trick. They
opened the Kingstons in the engine-room, and the steamer began to sink.
Our crew quickly found the open Kingston, and closed it. They also tore
off the marks of the stocks showing where each stock goes. Our men had
to find out. Yesterday, when our crew were at the boilers, there was
nearly an explosion. An engineer averted the accident. Of course, the
English would not have succeeded in opening the Kingston or tearing
off the instructions had it not been for our folly. It is clear as
day that the English should have been followed about, and not allowed
for one moment either in the engine or boiler compartments. Up to the
present we have not been able to find any contraband. All the holds
where forbidden cargo might lie are encumbered with a vast quantity of
tins of kerosene. All the tins must be taken out to get below.
9 p.m.--About noon the _Jemchug_ reported that she could see a balloon
above her. Other ships also saw it. Those who saw it in the _Suvaroff_
say it was like a snake in shape.
We are going past Formosa. There is no sight or sound of the Japanese.
_May 9th._--Coaling did not take place. The weather was rather rough.
I slept in the upper stern cabin.
The _Terek_ has left the fleet, on a cruise to catch steamers.
The weather is gloomy. It is not so hot. Several men have already
caught colds. Admiral Folkersham's health is bad. He will probably not
reach Vladivostok alive.
9 p.m.--_North China Sea._
We have left the Pacific and entered the North China Sea. We are going
in the direction of Shanghai, where our transports were sent. It is
impossible to let them go alone, now. There are Japanese ships at
Shanghai, watching that our disarmed ships do not escape.
We passed by Formosa--passed by part of the small Japanese islands.
Vladivostok is getting nearer and nearer. We have only to cross the
North China Sea and the straits of Korea to enter the sea of Japan,
on the shores of which is the long-desired Vladivostok. What are the
Japanese doing? Where are they? No doubt preparing a hearty welcome for
us.
There will probably be frantic torpedo attacks in the straits of Korea.
The moon rises late and makes the night attacks easier. Will there be a
fleet action? Probably it will be more advantageous for Japan to give
battle on arrival at Vladivostok. Our fleet has made a great voyage and
is bound to protect the transports. Probably Japanese mines have been
placed at Vladivostok.
In seven days the whole world will be talking about our fleet. After
sunset the crew are ordered to put on flannel jerseys. It is proposed
to-morrow to carry out the coaling, which did not take place to-day.
Perhaps it may be possible to send letters to one of the transports
going to Shanghai.
There is apparently an opportunity of sending a mail, but no one
evidently is preparing to take advantage of it.
_May 10th._--_North China Sea._
The weather is gloomy, but calm, and rather cold.
The captain of the _Irtish_ reports that she cannot go more than eight
and a half knots. What can be done now with that transport? If she
goes to Shanghai, she will have to disarm and be inactive till the end
of the war, as she is under the naval flag. If she is taken with the
fleet, she will be an extra burden.
I have to send off these pages myself. I can find no one wishing to
send letters home. They say they will send them from Vladivostok. In
the first place, will they be able to send them from Vladivostok;
and secondly, it is uncertain if they get there any quicker. There
are 1,200 miles, 2,100 versts, left to Vladivostok. Under favourable
circumstances we shall make this passage in six or seven days.
NOTE BY MADAME POLITOVSKY
These were the last pages which were sent from Shanghai, and received
by me (his wife) in the month of June.
During the battle Engineer E. S. Politovsky was below, as the
battleship _Kniaz Suvaroff_ had had a hole made in her, and he was
probably giving instructions for its repair. The flag-captain saw him
last in the sick-bay. "How are things going?" asked Politovsky. "Very
badly," answered the flag-captain. Soon after this some of the staff
left the battleship in the torpedo-boat _Biedovy_. Those who were below
were not called. There was no need of them. They saved the "valuable"
life of Admiral Rojdestvensky.
APPENDIX
Telegram from Tokio, dated May 30th, to Japanese Legation (vide
_Times_, June 1st, 1906).
The official statement of the Russian losses in the battle were as
follows, so far as ascertained:
_Prince Suvaroff_ }
_Alexander III._ }
_Borodino_ } Battleships sunk.
_Sissoi Veliky_ }
_Oslyabya_ }
_Navarin_ }
_Admiral Nachimoff_ }
_Dimitry Donskoi_ } Cruisers
_Vladimir Monomach_ } sunk.
_Svietlana_ }
_Ushakoff_, coast defence }
_Irtish_ } Sunk.
_Kamchatka_, repair ship }
Three torpedo-boats }
_Orel_, battleship }
_Nicolai I._, " }
_Biedovy_, torpedo-boat } Captured.
_General Admiral Apraxin_ }
_Admiral Seniavin_ }
The _Almaz_ reached Vladivostok; the _Oleg_, _Aurora_, and _Jemchug_
fled to Manilla; the _Isumrud_ also escaped, and some torpedo-boats.
PRINTED BY
HAZELL, WATSON AND VINEY, LD.
LONDON AND AYLESBURY.
Transcriber's Notes
Obvious errors of punctuation and diacritics repaired.
Inconsistent hyphenation fixed.
The _Orel_ was the name of both a battleship and a hospital ship.
P. 88: If she has not suffered shipweck -> If she has not suffered
shipwreck.
P. 110: An unfortunate accident occured -> An unfortunate accident
occurred.
P. 149: From the post-office went round -> From the post-office I went
round.
P. 196: to dose a little -> to doze a little.
P. 208: a collison will infallibly take place -> a collision will
infallibly take place.
P. 241: especially the boilders -> especially the boilers.
P. 265: Kanranh -> Kamranh.
P. 278: hurring to the stations -> hurrying to the stations.
P. 298: a slow place -> a slow pace.
End of Project Gutenberg's From Libau to Tsushima, by Eugene S. Politovsky