The next week Admiral Makaroff arrived and took over the command from Admiral Stark. There was feverish activity in the naval yards, and the smaller cruisers finished their repairs and were again fit for action. From day to day there was firing, and some of the shells wrought considerable havoc in both the old and the new towns, but the casualties were few and the dilapidations so local that there was nothing approaching panic. The civilians were becoming used to the bursting of shells, and no longer started at the roar of cannon upon the forts. The _Retvizan_ was successfully refloated. The presence of Admiral Makaroff and the Grand Dukes Cyril and Boris buoyed up the hopes of the garrisons and even of the navy and the townspeople. It was believed that soon something would be done to turn the tables upon the enemy, and admit of the Russian fleet assuming the offensive. In the meantime General Stoessel improved his defences on the land side; he sent out agents to get in stores of provisions, and arrange for continual supplies from the Chinese treaty ports, and showed that he possessed much foresight, and would be prepared for any and every kind of attack. The Japanese, foiled in their attempt to block the harbour, were constantly annoying us by frequently reconnoitring. On March 10 the search-lights revealed the approach of a torpedo-boat flotilla. The batteries opened fire, and the Russian torpedo-boat flotilla put out to sea. The enemy retreated, the Russian boats returned to port at daylight with the news that the Japanese fleet was approaching; the torpedo-boat destroyer _Steregushchi_ was sunk by this oncoming fleet. At eight o’clock the fleet, consisting of fourteen ships, opened fire on the harbour and the fortress from behind Liaotishan, and did considerable damage to the New Town as well as to the shipping. On Sunday, March 12, there was another engagement, during which the _Diana_ was struck twice by the shells from the enemy’s fleet. From this date the Russian fleet remained continuously under steam, and lay most of the time in the outer roadstead. Admiral Alexeiev visited the port, and, satisfied with the defences and the order prevailing, returned to Mukden. The nights were clear, and in the bright moonlight there was immunity from attack. At the beginning of April the desultory bombardments recommenced, the fire being directed towards the harbour and the Golden Hill forts. The approach of the enemy on moonless nights was foiled by the incessant vigilance of the sentinels and the prompt and effective use made of the search-lights from the batteries. The Yalu was now open; the ice had broken on the Liao; it was time for a forward movement on the part of the Japanese. There were now chances for the Russian fleet to attack the transports of the enemy if they attempted to land troops either east or west of the Kwan-tung peninsula.