On April 11, Admiral Togo’s fleet again attacked the fortress. About midnight the next day torpedo-boat destroyers and a transport, the _Koryo_, managed to reach the entrance to the harbour, and lie in security close under the cliff of Golden Hill whilst they put down mines, unobserved from the batteries, although the search-lights swept the approaches without a moment’s intermission. In the early morning one of the Russian fleet’s scouts coming to harbour from Liaotishan was fired upon and sunk by the enemy’s fleet; a second one escaped, but was chased right into port by the Japanese squadron. Having ascertained the strength of this squadron, Admiral Makaroff put to sea to give the enemy battle. The _Bayan_ led; she was followed by the _Novik_, _Askold_, and _Diana_, the three lightest and swiftest of the Russian cruisers. Then followed the _Poltava_, the _Pobieda_, and the flag-ship _Petropavlovsk_. The Japanese squadron made a demonstration of force, fired with little effect, and retired, hotly pursued by the Russian squadron. The direction taken was towards the south-east. This squadron doubtless communicated by wireless telegraphy with Admiral Togo, who thereupon attempted to get his ships between the Russian squadron and the harbour. In this he was frustrated, as the Russians observed his approach and at once returned to port, the _Petropavlovsk_ leading, and followed by the Japanese squadron they had been chasing. The weather was misty and fine rain was falling. It appears that the Japanese had watched the route by which the Russian ships entered and left the port, avoiding the obstacles the Japanese had sunk, and their own mines put down to protect the entrance. In the fairway the Japanese placed mines taken from the _Koryo_, and this was not observed owing to the thick weather which had prevailed. The _Petrovpavlovsk_ struck one of the Japanese mines. She appeared to rise, then fell heavily, with a list so great that she seemed on her beam ends, and all at once she sank from view. This was the worst disaster Port Arthur had sustained. With the _Petropavlovsk_ Admiral Makaroff went down. The commander and the greater portion of the officers and men were lost, in all 791 men, including the painter V. V. Vereshchagin, the poet Sessuchin, and several Russian war correspondents. The Grand Dukes Cyril and Boris were among the saved, the former being rescued from the water in an insensible condition and suffering from concussion, the result of the explosion beneath the battleship. The Japanese followed up their advantage. The _Boyarin_ was attacked and sunk whilst attempting to reach the port from Dalny. The bad weather alone prevented them from making further immediate attacks on the port.