The Viceroy, Admiral Alexeiev, resumed chief command of the fleet, but his presence did not inspire the confidence the coming of Admiral Makaroff had produced. For some reason neither officers nor men had the same trust in the Viceroy. It was known that General Kuropatkin was in supreme and independent command, that Admiral Makaroff also was free from the Viceroy’s interference. He was regarded as merely a stop-gap, much as, _faute de mieux_, Admiral Stark had assumed full responsible command pending the arrival of Admiral Makaroff. Three submarine boats were believed to be on their way to the port. One arrived. The new propeller for the _Tesarevich_ was also received, and some torpedo boats in sections. Hope was buoyed by the rumour that either Rojdestvensky or Admiral Skrydloff would be sent to Port Arthur to command what remained of the fleet. General Stoessel became increasingly active in making preparations for the defence of the fortress his special care. The defence of the approaches, the holding of the Kwan-tung peninsula, the ports of Dalny and Talienwan, the junction of Nangalin, and the railway as far as beyond the isthmus from Port Arthur to Kinchow, in the neutral territory, also devolved upon him as commander-in-chief of the army in the peninsula. He disposed his forces to best advantage, concentrating them upon the protection of the railway communications, and assigned to General Fuchs, of the Siberian Rifles, with a force consisting of nearly 10,000 men, the duty of safeguarding this land route. The fort commands were of less immediate importance. The General insisted upon European non-combatants leaving not only the fortress, but the Kwan-tung peninsula. The contractors were urged to go beyond its limits and be energetic in getting supplies sent to the port, to Louisa Bay and other landing-places. Some were appointed to supply the Russian main army north of Kinchow. Those remaining were all informed that they must bear arms at need, and would be called upon to do manual labour on the fortifications. The Chinese remaining were all treated as coolies and they worked like slaves in making the trenches and adding to the defences of the hill forts. The work on the forts not completed was prosecuted energetically by night and day where screened from the observation of the enemy at sea. Soldiers, sailors, marines all worked hard, in regular shifts; the soldiers having in addition to do sentry duty in the intervals. During the past three months Port Arthur had withstood successfully nine distinct bombardments. The forts were all intact, the fortifications had suffered but little, and the damages were quickly repaired. The towns were not destroyed, and were habitable. The conditions were not insufferable. There was constant communication by telegraph with St. Petersburg. Some news of the outer world reached the town; the _Novy Krai_ appeared, somewhat irregularly owing to the scarcity of labour, and the restaurants were open.