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.