We passed by Formosa--passed by part of the small Japanese islands. Vladivostok is getting nearer and nearer. We have only to cross the North China Sea and the straits of Korea to enter the sea of Japan, on the shores of which is the long-desired Vladivostok. What are the Japanese doing? Where are they? No doubt preparing a hearty welcome for us. There will probably be frantic torpedo attacks in the straits of Korea. The moon rises late and makes the night attacks easier. Will there be a fleet action? Probably it will be more advantageous for Japan to give battle on arrival at Vladivostok. Our fleet has made a great voyage and is bound to protect the transports. Probably Japanese mines have been placed at Vladivostok. In seven days the whole world will be talking about our fleet. After sunset the crew are ordered to put on flannel jerseys. It is proposed to-morrow to carry out the coaling, which did not take place to-day. Perhaps it may be possible to send letters to one of the transports going to Shanghai. There is apparently an opportunity of sending a mail, but no one evidently is preparing to take advantage of it. _May 10th._--_North China Sea._ The weather is gloomy, but calm, and rather cold. The captain of the _Irtish_ reports that she cannot go more than eight and a half knots. What can be done now with that transport? If she goes to Shanghai, she will have to disarm and be inactive till the end of the war, as she is under the naval flag. If she is taken with the fleet, she will be an extra burden. I have to send off these pages myself. I can find no one wishing to send letters home. They say they will send them from Vladivostok. In the first place, will they be able to send them from Vladivostok; and secondly, it is uncertain if they get there any quicker. There are 1,200 miles, 2,100 versts, left to Vladivostok. Under favourable circumstances we shall make this passage in six or seven days. NOTE BY MADAME POLITOVSKY These were the last pages which were sent from Shanghai, and received by me (his wife) in the month of June. During the battle Engineer E. S. Politovsky was below, as the battleship _Kniaz Suvaroff_ had had a hole made in her, and he was probably giving instructions for its repair. The flag-captain saw him last in the sick-bay. "How are things going?" asked Politovsky. "Very badly," answered the flag-captain. Soon after this some of the staff left the battleship in the torpedo-boat _Biedovy_. Those who were below were not called. There was no need of them. They saved the "valuable" life of Admiral Rojdestvensky. APPENDIX Telegram from Tokio, dated May 30th, to Japanese Legation (vide _Times_, June 1st, 1906). The official statement of the Russian losses in the battle were as follows, so far as ascertained: _Prince Suvaroff_ } _Alexander III._ } _Borodino_ } Battleships sunk. _Sissoi Veliky_ } _Oslyabya_ } _Navarin_ }