These junks, and an occasional steamer, would clear from Chifu for Newchwang or _vice versa_. Their course required them to round Liaotishan. When they reached that point, if there were no Japanese vessels between them and the coast they ran into Pigeon Bay or Louisa Bay, or some other creek near the spot, discharged their cargoes, and as soon afterwards as opportunity served, continued their voyage. If Japanese vessels were in sight, they held to their course past the promontory, and, if intercepted and boarded, produced for the benefit of the Japanese papers which proved the ostensible trade they followed. The great firm of Kunst & Albers had enormous shipments afloat for their depôts at Vladivostok, Port Arthur and the Amur when war began. These cargoes were delivered at their branch establishment at Kiaochow (Tsintau), which suddenly assumed vast importance. The staff there was strengthened, particularly in the shipping department. The stores arriving were reshipped quickly by coasting steamers and junks. Under the German, the Norwegian and the Chinese flags they reached ultimately that port where prices ruled highest. In July access to the creeks became more difficult; early in July Louisa Bay was not safe, and a month later Pigeon Bay could not be approached from the land side without great risk, and junks had then to sail up the eastern coast to the entrance of Port Arthur itself, a point usually under close scrutiny. The entrance to the port was cleared; the torpedo-boat flotilla made reconnoitring excursions from time to time. In the middle of June the _Lt. Barukhov_, one of the Elbing torpedo-boat destroyers captured from the Chinese in 1900, made a trip to Newchwang and back, escaping the blockading steamers with ease. She was sunk in Pigeon Bay in July when reconnoitring. The fleet was of so little use to the defence, and so coveted by the Japanese, that it was determined in July to make a sortie at the first favourable opportunity; disperse on meeting the enemy, and by taking every which way then, baffle pursuit and so most would have a good chance of making a neutral port before being overtaken. Before this final sortie was attempted the navigable channel was cleared of the Russian mines, the approaches were protected with new defences--mines, booms, chains and sunken craft. The torpedo-boat flotilla reconnoitred daily. When all was ready, the sortie was made. There was a running fight, and four of the ships reached neutral ports. The _Novik_, in attempting to reach Vladivostok, was attacked by Admiral Kamimura’s squadron and was beached by Captain Essen near Korsakov port on Saghalien island. With this sortie on August 10, the supposed value of the Russian navy at Port Arthur disappeared from the list of the forces available for the defence of Manchuria. The _Poltava_, _Peresviet_ and _Sevastopol_ returned to port damaged, and the last was further injured by a mine whilst manœuvring on August 23.