[Illustration: THE GARRISON OF PORT ARTHUR LEAVING THE FORTRESS.] The firing was alleged to have resulted from an attack on the Russian ships by Japanese torpedo-boats. After a week, in which war seemed certain, the question of culpability was entrusted by consent of both Governments to an international commission, to sit at Paris. A German vessel was also fired on by the Russian fleet, but Germany accepted Russian explanations and the owners were indemnified. [Sidenote: Lessons of the War] Some of the practical lessons gleaned from the actual warfare were these: (1) That torpedo-boats were craft of immense possibilities, capable of even greater development. (2) That the destroyer had proved a failure; of the 24 vessels of this type in and before Port Arthur not one made a hit. (3) That battleships were necessary to successful naval warfare. (4) That "team work" in armies, as exemplified in the Japanese movements, was a matter of primary importance. (5) That short range fighting was decidedly not a thing of the past, as had been believed. (6) That the use of hand grenades promised to introduce a new and particularly horrid form of attack and defense. (7) That modern fortifications were impregnable to direct assault, however effective a preliminary bombardment. (8) That the success or failure of sieges of modernly fortified positions depended upon the effectiveness of the engineer, miner and sapper. (9) That the floating mine was an instrument of destruction against which the most powerful ship was helpless. (10) Wounds inflicted by modern arms heal readily. While the war had demonstrated anew that one man in five was killed in battle, it had shown that an amazing proportion of the wounded were soon back on the firing line. The clean wound of the steel rifle projectile yielded to treatment even when vital organs were pierced. The medical records of the war were among its most notable features. [Sidenote: Chronology of First Year of War] February 5--Japanese and Russian representatives at St. Petersburg and Tokio given their passports. February 7--Japanese seize Masanpho, Korea as a troop base. February 8-9--_Varyag_ and _Korietz_ destroyed in Chemulpo harbor, and Togo attacks Port Arthur fleet. February 10--Czar declares war. Japanese occupy Seoul. February 11--Japan declares war. The United States announces neutrality. February 12--Sinking of the Russian mineboat _Yenesei_; 96 lives lost March 1--Kamimura's squadron bombards Vladivostock. March 27--Kuropatkin reaches Mukden. Japanese take Chongu. May 1--Kuroki crosses the Yalu, driving back Sassulitch. May 4--Japanese take Feng-hwang-cheng. May 5--Japanese land at Pitsewo and begin to invest Port Arthur. May 11--Russians evacuate Dalny, destroying the town. May 26-27--Battles of Nanshan Hill and Kinchow; loss, 5130. May 30--Japanese occupy Port Dalny. June 14-15--Oku defeats Stackleberg at Vafangow; loss, 11,000.