about seven o'clock in the evening
The pith of the _ Akashi 's _ report , therefore , was that there were two Russian ships -- the new cruiser _ Variag _ , and the gunboat _ Korietz _ -- at Chemulpo , four cruisers and an armed merchantman at Vladivostock , while the remainder of the Russian fleet was at Port Arthur . Possessed of this knowledge , Togo issued orders to Rear-Admiral Uriu , in the _ Takachiho _ , to take command of a squadron consisting of , in addition to his own ship , the _ Asatna _ , _ Chiyoda _ , _ Niitaka _ , and _ Miyako _ , with eight destroyers , and with them to convoy the transports to Chemulpo , taking measures upon his arrival , to insure that the Russian ships should not interfere with the landing of the troops . Those were the only orders of which we were aware , but in the light of what occurred after Uriu 's arrival at Chemulpo , it is probable that the Vice-Admiral was given a considerable amount of latitude with regard to his further proceedings . It was about seven o'clock in the evening when the two fleets parted company , the _ Mikasa _ signalling : `` I congratulate you in anticipation of your success , '' to which the _ Takachiho _ replied : `` Thanks for your kindness . '' Then the signal was given by wireless for the main fleet to proceed on a north-westerly course , in an extended formation of line abreast , with the destroyers scouting on both wings , and a great shout of `` Banzai Nippon ! '' went up , for everybody knew that north-west was the road to Port Arthur , where Togo fervently hoped and prayed he might find the Russian fleet still at anchor . For , if not , it would certainly mean that Alexieff had proved himself the better strategist of the two , and had contrived in some subtle manner to slip past us to the westward , when any one or two of three terrible things might happen .