“That is the end of their railroad line, and they probably feel that they must hold the railroad at any cost. Besides, they want to hold Port Arthur itself if they can, in spite of our navy and our army.”
“Will your navy attack Port Arthur?”
“More than likely they will. They have already sunk some Russian warships stationed there. I fancy our ships may try to bottle up the Russian fleet, just as your Hobson tried to bottle up Admiral Cervera at Santiago.”
The Japanese officer was correct in his surmise, and the attempt to blockade Port Arthur was made by Admiral Togo late in February.
For this purpose five old steamers were obtained, and they were heavily loaded with stones and explosives. Volunteers to man the doomed vessels were called for, and the result was the same as when volunteers were called for at Santiago—nearly the whole of the navy wanted to go! Men known for their coolness and bravery were selected, and in the darkness of the night of the 24th, the heavily-laden vessels were headed for the harbor entrance.
The Russians, however, were on the alert, and soon, despite the bad weather, the enemy were discovered, and the land batteries opened a heavy fire on the doomed ships. As a consequence one was grounded three miles from the harbor, where she blew up, and another sank but a short distance away. A third had her steering gear shot away and then blew up.
Only two ships now remained and these, despite the awful rain of shot and shell, reached the harbor entrance and were anchored. Then those on board got out their small boats, set fire to the fuses placed in readiness, and rowed away for their lives. Shortly afterwards the two loaded ships blew up. A lively fire was directed at the small boats, but, strange as it may seem, not one of them was hit. But in the darkness and because of the heavy wind that was blowing, the small boats got far out of their proper course, and it was not until three o’clock the next day that they were picked up by the big ships standing off outside of the harbor.
The two ships sunk at the harbor entrance did not block the channel completely. But, combined with the wrecks of the sunken Russian warships, they made the passageway very difficult. After this exploit was over Admiral Togo began a strict blockade of the port, with frequent and highly destructive bombardments.
Night and day a strict watch was kept for the possible appearance of a Russian warship. Once there was an alarm which quickly brought Gilbert to the deck. A big warship was seen approaching. Her flag was flying, but what it was nobody, at first, could make out.
“If she’s a Russian, we are as good as done for,” was one of the passengers’ comment. “She’ll sink us just as sure as fate.”