There was a strong breeze from southwest with a heavy sea. This favored the Japanese, because of their longer experience and better training in the use of their guns when the ships were in violent motion. This disadvantage of the Russians was increased by the rolling of their vessels, exposing the underwater body, giving the Japanese a target more easily pierced, and the holes from which are more dangerous. Through the five hours of daylight the contest was purely one of gunnery under the conditions named: concentration upon the head of the Russian columns, and heavy sea. The result was twofold. The head of the column, beaten down by superior gunfire, was disordered; and individual ships, pierced below water, filled and sank. As described, the Japanese, keeping ahead of their enemy, forced them to change direction; but this by no means need follow, were the Russians holding their own in the gunnery contest. Had they given as good as they got, there was no reason why they should forsake their course. The disorder, thus occasioned in the front, was transmitted to the ships which followed; and there ensued the confusion which is the sure precursor of defeat. Upon this scene night fell. Of the Russians, three battleships and two others had already been sunk. Then came the time and opportunity for the torpedo vessels; darkness, and an enemy both crippled and broken. By a singular coincidence, the wind which in its strength favored the Japanese gunners—an advantage which they had earned and deserved—now fell somewhat; and with it fell the sea, rendering easier the work of the torpedo craft. This is one of the chances of war. Of the scenes of that night we as yet have little description, and from the fearful loss of life we possibly may never know enough justly to estimate the difficulties of the defence of the routed ships, or the degree of resistance experienced by the assailants. From Japanese sources we have heard that, under all the disadvantages of the Russians, some attacks were successfully repelled; and three torpedo destroyers were sunk. That pursuit continued to the Liancourt Rocks, 200 miles from the scene of the battle, indicates that, had not superior gunnery already won a decisive victory, the torpedo alone would scarcely so have reduced the Russian fleet as to leave the Japanese the secure mastery they now possess of the waters which constitute their vital line of communications. The captured ships were the battleships “Orel” and “Emperor Nicholas I,” the coast-defence vessels “General Admiral Apraxine” and “Admiral Seniavin,” and the destroyer “Bedovy.” Six battleships, five cruisers, one coast-defence ship, three destroyers, and a repair ship were sunk. [Illustration: THE SECOND SQUADRON OF THE BALTIC FLEET JUST BEFORE IT SAILED FROM KRONSTADT ] [Illustration: THE LITTLE ARMORED GUNBOAT “KHRABRY” Built in 1890; of 1492 tons, has one 9-inch, one 6-inch, eight Q. F. guns, and two torpedo tubes ] [Illustration: