noon of 2nd January 1905
The last day of the year saw Sungshushan fort fall to us , and the first day of 1905 saw the New Panlung and H batteries in our hands , the Chinese Wall breached , and the Japanese flag planted well within the Russian defences . Wangtai fort was stormed and taken on the afternoon of the same day , and as twilight was closing down upon the scene a Cossack , bearing a large white flag , was seen riding out of the Swishiying valley , followed by a Russian officer . The officer was the bearer of a letter from General Stoessel to General Nogi , inviting the latter to open negotiations with the writer `` to determine the conditions of surrender '' of Port Arthur . Needless to say , the Japanese general gladly , yet without undue haste , acceded to Stoessel 's proposal ; and at noon of 2nd January 1905 , Major-General Ijichi met Major-General Reiss at Plum Tree Cottage , a miserable little hovel situated in the village of Swishiying , and the negotiations were opened which resulted in Port Arthur passing into the possession of the Japanese on the evening of that day , although the Russian evacuation did not take place until the 5th of January . Meanwhile , what had become of the Japanese navy , after the battle of the Yellow Sea ? So far as the _ Yakumo _ was concerned , we were in the very thick of the fight when it was at its hottest , and when at length the battle came to an end with the flight of the _ Retvisan _ and _ Pobieda _ , we were one of the ships which had been so severely mauled that extensive repairs were necessary before we could undertake further service . Accordingly , we were ordered to proceed forthwith to Sasebo to refit ; and since we were by no means alone in our plight , we had to await our turn .