The Czar emphatically ordered him on no account to return to Port Arthur. His object must be to inflict as much damage as possible on the enemy's fleet, and, if possible, to effect a junction with the Vladivostock Squadron; while, if the latter object were incapable of accomplishment, he was to endeavor to reach the German port of Kiau-chau. From circumstances that have since transpired, there is reason to believe that an understanding had been arrived at between the German and Russian Governments as to the reception of the Russian ships at the German naval base. Although for the moment the Russian fugitives would, by the laws of neutrality, be placed out of action, they would be in the hands of a "benevolent" government; and would remain a factor to be reckoned with, if in the future Germany were to intervene in the settlement of the struggle. Accordingly, on the morning of August 10th, the Russian Squadron, in full strength except for the armored-cruiser _Bayan_, which was in too injured a condition to take its place in the fighting line, began slowly to pass through the narrow channel leading from the open sea; and by eleven o'clock the ships were drawn up in battle line, and steamed away on a course nearly due south. The gallant little _Novik_, the fastest vessel in either fleet, headed the line, while the patched-up _Retvisan_ came next, followed by the _Czarevitch_, the _Peresveit_, the _Pobieda_, the _Poltava_, and the _Sevastopol_, with the cruisers _Askold_, _Diana_, and _Pallada_, and a torpedo flotilla of eight vessels. The squadron of Japanese light cruisers which had been watching Port Arthur retreated before the advancing enemy, and signalled at once to the sleepless Togo, whose main battle fleet was lying forty miles away. This consisted of four battleships and three armored cruisers--namely, the _Mikasa_, carrying Admiral Togo's flag; the _Asahi_, the _Shikishima_, the _Fuji_, the _Nishin_, the _Kasuga_, the _Jakumo_, and a number of protected cruisers, including the _Kasagi_, the _Chitose_, the _Takasugo_, as well as a flotilla of some forty torpedo craft. Thus the Russians had a clear superiority in battleships partially discounted by Togo's superiority in armored cruisers. [Sidenote: Tremendous Naval Battle]