_May 6th._--_South China Sea._ Yesterday the _Tamboff_ and _Mercury_ went to Saigon. The mail was given to the latter. When the coaling was finished, the fleet went on full speed ahead. In the evening I drew the disposition of all ships for a lithographic stone, in the event of floating mines being observed. It is proposed to send the _Rion_, _Dnieper_, _Kuban_, and _Terek_ one after another for cruiser operations. They decided not to send the _Ural_, as they do not trust her. It was her captain who openly boasted about disarming. Last night I sat on the after-bridge, and waited the result of the _Oleg's_ chase after a steamer. After conversing with those around I fell asleep. At one o'clock I woke, and went to sleep in my cabin. It would have been worth while waiting a little longer. At two o'clock the _Oleg_ reported that, on examination, it proved that the steamer, as the captain explained, had no documents. He himself did not know all her cargo. There was kerosene. She was going to Japan from New York. The heavily laden steamer was ordered to be brought to the fleet, was arrested as suspicious, and sent to Vladivostock for examination by the prize court. A crew of our men and petty officers were placed on board. One of them from the _Suvaroff_ was appointed captain. The former captain and engineer were left in the steamer as passengers--of course, without any authority. The rest of the crew were brought to our ships. On being questioned, they gave different evidence. Several sailors affirmed that there were guns and ammunition among the cargo. One sailor, at the very beginning, when he was out of his captain's sight, showed with his hands that there was something round in the steamer. It was difficult to find out where the steamer came from. They all named different ports. The steamer (_Oldhamia_) will go with our crew to Vladivostok, _viâ_ the Sungari Straits. Is this a good thing? The Japanese may chance upon her on her way. Would it not have been simpler to make certain that she carries contraband, take her crew from her, and sink her? Her capture wasted a lot of time. All the fleet lay motionless until twelve noon. She was provisioned, coaled, and the crew transferred, etc. She had very little coal, not enough to get her to Vladivostok. They began to coal her from the _Livonia_, a transport which came with Nebogatoff. From twelve noon we went at a slow pace--twelve knots. The _Livonia_ is going alongside the captured steamer, to which she is made fast, and is coaling her. How we love to make a secret of everything--not unfrequently to our disadvantage! Our staff have telegrams giving the names of the steamers going to Japan with contraband goods. These telegrams were needed to-day to see if the captured vessel was not among the ships indicated. The telegrams proved to be confidential, and had been placed in a safe, which was hidden in the event of a fight.