"Altogether eight ships were sunk by our vigorous cannonade, by Whitehead torpedoes launched from our torpedo-boats, and by the explosion of several submarine mines. "Further, according to the reports of the officers commanding the batteries and the warship _Giliak_, two Japanese torpedo-boats were destroyed. "After 4 a. m., the batteries and gunboats ceased fire, subsequently firing only at intervals on the enemy's torpedo-boats, which were visible on the horizon. "All the fireships carried quick-firing guns, with which the enemy maintained a constant fire. "Up to the present thirty men, including two mortally wounded officers who sought refuge in the launches, or were rescued from the fireships by us, have been picked up. The inspection of the roadstead and the work of saving drowning men are hindered by the heavy sea which is running. "We suffered no casualties with the exception of a seaman belonging to the torpedo-boat destroyer _Boevoi_." [Sidenote: And the Sober Truth] No one reading this remarkable account could imagine that it described an operation which ultimately sealed the doom of Port Arthur. For a more sober but a more accurate narrative we must turn to the dispatches of Admiral Togo. On May 2nd, as already recounted, the Japanese Naval Commander-in-Chief received the news of the successful crossing of the Yalu. His plans were already laid and his preparations were complete. Eight merchant steamers this time had been secured for the service, and upwards of 20,000 men volunteered for the glorious duty of manning them and dying for their country. Of these, 159 were ultimately selected. The names of the steamers were the _Mikawa_, _Sakura_, _Totomi_, _Yedo_, _Otaru_, _Sagami_, _Aikoku_, and _Asagawo_. The vessels ordered to escort the doomed hulks were the gunboats _Akagi_ and _Chokai_, the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th destroyer flotillas, and the 9th, 10th, and 14th torpedo-boat flotillas. The whole force, which was under the command of Commander Hayashi, started for its destination on the night of May 2nd. [Sidenote: Third Blocking Attempt]