The night was spent in reconnoitring, every vessel being on guard. The sea ran high, and the destroyers in the rear seem to have suffered terribly.
The 8th dawned very fine. The squadron did not sail direct for Shantung Promontory, lest we should be observed by the Russians, but made for Yuentao, the Third Fleet' leading in order to reconnoitre. The First and Second Fleets, flanked by the destroyers, followed. At 6 p.m. it was decided that the destroyers should attack the enemy. The Coi mander-in-Chief signalled, " Blow up the enemy's squadron! I wish success to all!" Some destroyers replied that they would succeed, while others declared that they would fight to the last. On their' departure, the entire crew of the squadron came on deck and saluted.
The first, second, and third detachments of the flotilla made for Port Arthur, while the fourth went to Dalny. The main squadron sailed in the direction of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.