592
THE WATCHMAN
danger to his person. The
other leads his force into
action in his flag-ship. The
enemy’s whole fire is con-
centrated on her, and he is
the first to risk his skin.
The sailor is not sent into
action, but led into action,
which is a very different
thing.” —Semenoff, Ibid.,
b. 86.
Here is an extract from
one of the “Little Grand-
father’s” speeches to his
officers. It reveals the man,
and accounts for the trans-
formations he was able to
effect :—
It is too late now to start on a systematic
training, every captain, every specialist, in
fact, every officer who has charge of any de-
partment or part of a ship, no matter how
trivial in itself, must hunt out with the ut-
most keenness any and every defect and work
seriously at its removal. Let superiors and
subordinates assist one another in this. Don’t
be afraid of making mistakes. Even a piece
of work which starts on wrong lines and has
to be given up bears fruit. Inactivity must
remain barren of results, even if due to justifi-
able doubts as to the utility of the work. Re-
member that we do not know what time we
have for our preparations. It may be months,
it may be hours, nay, minutes, which still
separate us from the final issue. Don’t waste
time by brooding over things. Bring out ev-
erything you may possess in knowledge, ex-
perience, and initiative, and do what you are
able. What we can’t complete will have to
remain incomplete, but whatever can be done,
must be done. Every one—understand me
well—every one must be penetrated with the
importance of his particular task. Even the
least of us should realize how great the respon-
sibility is which our country has laid on him
—God grant a happy issue !-—Semenoff, Ibid.,
p. 89.
No one was idle. The new command-
er-in-chief thought of everything. All
ceremonies were abolished. If a senior
officer passed all work went on calmly.
Copyright, Underwood, N. Y.
Russian Battle-ship ‘‘ Pallada,” at the Moment of Being Struck
by a 500-1b. Japanese Shell, Port Arthur Harbor
“I haven't come here to hold parades.
When God permits the war to come to an
end, the old routine can be started again.
Now we have no time for such like.”
Thus spoke Makaroff. —Semenoff, Ibid.,
p. IOI.
The Death of Makaroff
I have dilated at length upon the new
spirit and power which took possession
of the Port Arthur fleet after the coming
of the brave Makaroff. I have done this
for a purpose—to show that everything
that could be done was done, and that
now if ever, success might be expected.
But the Word of God had said: “I am
against thee, O Gog, Prince of Rosh
[Russia], Meshech [Moscow], and Tu-
bal [Tobolsk], and I will turn thee
back.”* The hand of God was against
Russia and even the great Makaroff
could not save her.
On April 13th, the entire Russian fleet
steamed out to give battle to the ships
of the nation of the Rising Sun. The
flag-ship Petropaviovsk, with Makaroff
aboard, passed down the line toward the
1, Ezekiel 39:1, 2.1R. V.