rthur, trusting to the prestige, when the illusion vanished. There
was still the Vladivostok squadron; it made an effort to induce Togo
to leave Port Arthur by making a raid upon the north coast of Japan,
but in vain. Beyond sinking a few unarmed merchantmen, nothing of
importance was accomplished.

The czar's choice to restore Russia's naval prestige, fell upon
Admiral Makaroff. At about the same time, General Kuropatkin, the
former Minister of War, was charged with punishing Japan for her
insolence. His departure for the Far East was theatrical. After many
genuflexions before sacred eikons, he promised to restore Russia's (p. 280)
prestige by dictating terms of peace in Tokyo.

Makaroff was less enthusiastic, and perhaps more in earnest. It is
asserted that he restored discipline in a sadly demoralized fleet. He
was enticed out of Port Arthur's shelter by a small fleet of the
enemy's cruisers sent out as a decoy. When he discovered Togo's
ironclads he returned to port, but his flagship struck a mine at the
entrance to Port Arthur and sunk. The Admiral, as well as his guest,
the noted battle painter Verestchagin, perished.

With Togo blockading Port Arthur and Admiral Kaminura guarding
Vladivostok, the Japanese secured the freedom of the sea, and began to
pour troops into Korea. This was greeted with acclamation by the
tchinovnik who, after their naval misfortunes, claimed that the
situation would soon be reversed by the army. Some Japanese soldiers
were landed openly at Chemulpo, but the bulk went ashore in a
well-concealed harbor south of the Yalu River. General Kuroki was in
command.

Meanwhile Kuropatkin was in Manchuria busy organizing the army when
not obstructed by Viceroy Alexieff. Such troops as he found were
capable of rendering good service in hunting down Chinese brigands,
but, as the sequel proved, the army had also been nurtured upon that
most indigestible material, prestige. To the wonder of Europe,--and to
a less degree of America,--Kuroki crossed the Yalu and sent the czar's
dreaded soldiers flying before him. (May 1, 1904.)

Once more, and for the last time, did the Russian fleet at Port (p. 281)
Arthur attempt a sortie. It failed, and its fate was sealed.

While the wreckage of Russia's once proud fleet lay concealed in Port
Arthur's inner basin, the Japanese, after scouring the waters to clear
them from mines, landed troops on the Liaotung Peninsula, claimed by
Japan after the war with Chi