An English lady, who spoke Russian, had occasion to visit the station, and on her way asked for a lift in one of the army waggons going from Newchwang to Russia-town. The favour was immediately granted. When she was seated the driver gazed at her earnestly, and asked what she might be. She answered that she was English. “Ah, I knew you were not of us, you are so clean.” She smiled. The soldier continued, with a jerk backward of his head towards the settlement, “It is funny what a lot of clean people one sees there--never saw so many in my life!” Then, somewhat regretfully. “We have not the means to be clean, lady!” The Russians, unfortunately for them, have not the means to be many other things we count good. The soldiers, before the campaign was three months old, were in tatters. I remember one; he wore purple (half tanned) high boots, regulation breeches, a shirt or tunic made out of an old gunny sack, a straw sailor hat without a ribbon, and the broken brim drooping to his ear; he had a bayonet without a scabbard and a rifle with a thong of rawhide for a sling. I saw him fall to attention and present arms as the Grand Duke Boris went along the Bund at Newchwang. An unkempt, dirty, uncared for unit in the army; a thing too common to call for comment or to receive consideration. CHAPTER XIII The Attack on Port Arthur Russia’s great naval base in the Far East was intended to be an impregnable fortress assuring freedom from molestation to a Russian fleet taking the offensive and requiring a harbour at which to coal and repair. The Viceroy’s policy seems to have been determined upon the assumption that Port Arthur afforded an absolutely safe retreat for the Russian fleet, even though the railway were cut and land communication destroyed. The plan of campaign, providing Japan attacked in force--Russia never intended to make war--was for the land forces to retire north until sufficiently reinforced to make a successful advance at the best season; the garrison left at Port Arthur to hold the fortress from attacks on the land side, and shelter the fleet from the enemy’s vessels should they approach the port. The Russian fleet was intended to manœuvre within the limits protected by the guns of the forts, to entice the attacking ships to approach, then destroy them one after the other; to make sudden, unexpected raids on the enemy’s transports, convoys, and, where there was a prospect of success, also on the opposing fleet. As the enemy’s fleet became weakened by losses through such engagements, and repeated assaults on the fortress, the Russian fleet would with increasing boldness take the offensive. The Russians were confident that the fortress, well supplied with ammunition and provisions, could hold out successfully until, at the right season, Russia could take the offensive, and relieve the pressure upon Port Arthur, and raise the siege if the place were really invested by the enemy.