This act, so audaciously planned, resulted in the destruction of battle-ships, cruisers, torpedo-boats--nine in all--to which were added the day following two more battle-ships, destroyed at Chemulpo.
[Illustration: Scene during the Russo-Japanese War: Russian soldiers on the march in Manchuria.] There was dismay and grief at St.Petersburg.

The Tsar, realizing that he had been misled regarding the chances of peace and also the military strength of the foe, recalled Admiral Alexieff from Port Arthur.
Admiral Makaroff, Russia's military hero and ablest commander, succeeded him.

Just as his invigorating influence was being felt in awakened energy and courage, there came another disaster more terrible than the first.

The Petropavlovsk, flag-ship of the fleet, coming in contact with a submarine mine or boat, was torn to pieces and sank in two minutes, with all on board, including Admiral Makaroff and his entire staff of seventeen officers.
Still benumbed by these crushing blows, the Russians were bewildered by the electrical swiftness with which the campaign developed, moving on lines almost identical with those in the war with China, ten years before.

A miracle of discipline and minute perfection in method and detail, the Mikado's army of little men first secured control in Korea, then the command of the sea.