eated
violations of solemn pledges the Western Powers held aloof; the United
States and Great Britain, however, insistently declaring that the
"open-door" policy must be maintained, _i.e._, that all nations must
have equal industrial and commercial opportunities in Manchuria and
Korea, and also that the integrity of China must be preserved.

In the hope of arriving at a peaceful adjustment of their differences,
Japan made a proposition based upon mutual concessions. She would
accept the Russian economic status in Manchuria if Russia would
recognize hers in Korea.

Russia absolutely refused to admit Japan's right to have anything
whatever to say concerning Manchuria--the land which eight years before
was hers by right of conquest, and from which Russia for her own
purposes had ejected her. Admiral Alexieff was Viceroy of the Eastern
Provinces, and to him the Tsar confided the issues of peace or war.
Confident in her enormous weight and military prestige, Russia
undoubtedly believed that the Japanese must in the end submit. But
after five months of fruitless negotiations the patience of the
Government at Tokio was exhausted. On Feb. 8, 1904, the Japanese fleet
made a sudden descent upon Port Arthur. This act, so audaciously
planned, resulted in the destruction of battle-ships, cruisers,
torpedo-boats--nine in all--to which were added the day following two
more battle-ships, destroyed at Chemulpo.

[Illustration: Scene during the Russo-Japanese War: Russian soldiers on
the march in Manchuria.]

There was dismay and grief at St. Petersburg. The Tsar, realizing that
he had been misled regarding the chances of peace and also the military
strength of the foe, recalled Admiral Alexieff from Port Arthur.
Admiral Makaroff, Russia's military hero and ablest commander,
succeeded him. Just as his invigorating influence was being felt in
awakened energy and courage, there came another disaster more terrible
than the first. The Petropavlovsk, flag-ship of the fleet, coming in
contact with a submarine mine or boat, was torn to pieces and sank in
two minutes, with all on board, including Admiral Makaroff and his
entire staff of seventeen officers.

Still benumbed by these crushing blows, the Russians were bewildered by
the electrical swiftness with which the campaign developed, moving on
lines almost identical with those in the war with China, ten years
before. A miracle of discipline and minute perfection in method and