ten
o'clock in the morning
Nine o'clock came , and a few minutes later there arrived a wireless message from the Admiral for our squadron to change course thirty-four degrees to the westward . I wondered what this might portend , for we had been receiving almost continuous wireless messages from the squadron off Port Arthur , the latest of which told us that the Russians , although undoubtedly intending a sortie , had not yet started . I again visited the chart-room , and with Shiraishi 's assistance discovered that our new course would bring us within about seven miles south-east of Encounter Rock about noon . `` Four bells '' had just gone tinkling along the line of the Japanese ships , informing those whom it might concern that the hour was ten o'clock in the morning , when a fresh wireless message came from our blockading squadron , informing us that at last the Russian fleet was actually steaming out of Port Arthur harbour , with battle-flags flying , bands playing , and the ship 's companies singing the Russian National Anthem , with the battleship _ Tsarevich _ , Vitgeft 's flagship , leading . As the message was decoded and the news spread throughout the Japanese fleet , an almost audible sigh of relief escaped the breasts of officers and men ; the Russians were not only coming out , but actually meant to fight ; and the fateful hour which had been so long and so eagerly awaited was now at last at hand . A great cheer arose , passing along the line from ship to ship , and officers who had already assured themselves that all preparations for meeting the enemy were complete once more went the rounds , to make assurance doubly sure . The Japanese blockading fleet gradually closed in behind the Russian ships , compelling Vitgeft to send back his gunboats , mining craft , and reserve destroyers , as our boats were threatening to cut them off ; and about eleven o'clock we got a message informing us that the fleet which we should have to meet consisted of six battleships , four cruisers , and seven destroyers , an eighth destroyer , believed to be the _ Reshitelny _ , having contrived , by her superior speed , to give our boats the slip , and steam away in the direction of Chifu .