Sorry, but this is a naive question. Every night there are patrols of combat light vessels. But we, the sailors, do not assume that there will be military actions, although we want them. Japanese should have taught a lesson.
Tell me, do you have our vessels in other nearby ports, for example in Korean ones? In my opinion, in such an alarming time, all vessels must be assembled so that they will not be shot one by one.
You worry in vain.
I will tell you in a friendly way, there is much carelessness among the military. They say that naval officers do not always spend the night on their ships.
It happens. War is not declared.
One shouldnt lose sensitivity, said Lykov, sighing, and blushed, remembering the Japanese woman.
Are you worried. I am pleased to hear how Russian people care about our fleet But Alexander Petrovich, you merchants often obscure your mind, and you, not you personally, of course, go to criminal deals, although they are to the detriment of the treasury.
For example?
We are released bad coal, poor quality provisions.
Watch, check.
You have to be everywhere and honest in everything. We, the sailors, can be blamed for drunkenness, but by no means cheating.
Drinking is also a waste! exclaimed Lykov. You are wasting your health and time. Meanwhile, both should be used to study the environment and new advances in technology. Sorry, captain, I have been told many times: young naval officers are inert in their studies. Not many follow Admiral Makarovs example.
Quite you worry. Everything is good. Sleep well But you, dear friend, are you a weak drinker?
I quit drinking and smoking.
What is it?
I decided to marry. And the girl from such that does not love drinking and smoking.
Spit and find another.
You can not, sir, heart, sir! smiling, answered Lykov.
Chapter five
one
January 26 evening, the Chinese began to celebrate their new year. Fireworks and firecrackers cracked everywhere. An unimaginable noise hit the strained nerves of the Russian inhabitants.
Has it really begun? each of them thought. But, having learned what was the matter, the Porturtians calmed down.
The night was dark, moonless, cold. A light fog enveloped the combat vessels that stood on the outer roadstead. Lighthouse lights blinked warmly. Rays of searchlights ran and then glided along the horizon. Port Arthur Harbor, not yet in-depth, did not have a permanent free passage for large vessels. At the entrance and exit, they used the clock tide.
The squadron stood on the outer roadstead in three lines: in the north the battleships Petropavlovsk, Poltava, Sevastopol; in the south the cruisers Angara, Diana, Pallada, Bayan and Askold; in the middle between the two groups are the handsome battleships Peresvet, Pobeda, Retvizan, and Tsesarevich.
The destroyers Thunderbolt and Fearless cruised along the line of long-distance protection. Cruiser Novik and Boyar stood near the shore.
A light southerly wind enveloped the ships with a warm mist. By ten oclock at night there was silence, which was disturbed only by a slight splashing of the waves.
Around midnight there was an explosion of a mine at the port side of the Retvizan. A minute later, the Tsesarevich opened fire on the Japanese torpedoes rushing at him. Following this, volleys of rapid fire rang out from other ships.
Huge pillars of water soared near the Tsarevich and Pallas. The unfortunate vessels lurched and, choosing anchors, headed towards the harbor entrance. Enemy destroyers pursued the Cesarevich, but were met with amicable fire from ship guns. A few minutes later one of them sank. The rest turned back.
Wounded Retvizan first went to the Tiger Tail and buried his nose on the shore. At the Tsesarevich they did not become confused and filled the corresponding compartments with water in time, otherwise the battleship would turn over.
The inhabitants of Arthur took the first shots of the outbreak of war for practice shooting.
In the army rose turmoil. The commandant of the fortress Stessel arrived at the headquarters.
All rotam immediately take shore batteries.
Your Excellency, there is no disposition, said the chief of staff.
Stoessels eyes widened, his mouth parted, his fat chin sagged.
Ugliness! Stoessel swore. It was necessary to think about it before. Would develop and submit for review and approval Call and send messengers so that each company takes the appropriate battery and guards the approaches to it.
What company and what battery? Which flank to strengthen?
Childrens questions. The chief of staff and company commanders themselves must know their business. Do I have the right to rely on their ingenuity and quickness?
They have nothing to do with it. Your Excellency should have all the threads in his hands and a plan developed with your participation.
Give me these threads, give me these threads! Stoessel grabbed his head and ran out of the headquarters.
Sea battle subsided. From the starry sky breathed calm. Stoessel stopped: he did not know where to go and where to begin the defense of the fortress.
Awakened garrison clutched his guns. Many companies came to positions only with sentry cartridges. The soldiers saw the confusion of the officers and decided to discard the enemy with bayonets.
Lykov ran veya night along the embankment. And at dawn I saw aground ships damaged.
The three main combat units lost overnight. Awful He looked at the harbor, at the narrow strait into the sea, These fools will all go to hell. Nikolay Stepanovich here! The captain is wearing glasses here!.. Things, how many things! Ill run to arrange my own
Near the gate leading to the port, there were police officers. A drunken lieutenant with two ladies came to them.
I told you that it was educational shooting. See what a clear and calm morning. And you got scared and shouted: To the station, rather to the station!
The lieutenant laughed out loud. Approaching him approached him.
Let me tell you, the war has begun. Tsesarevich, Retvizan, Pallas undermined by enemy mines.
The sailor shuddered and, glancing at the entrance to the harbor, fled at the gate of the port, without saying a word to his ladies.
2
At 10 hours and 35 minutes in the morning on January 27, the cruiser Boyar, returning from intelligence, brought the news of the approach of the enemy squadron of fifteen combat units.
The meeting with the governor stopped, and everyone hurried to their seats. Admiral Stark arrived on the flagship with the first shots at the enemy. General Stoessel went to the Electric Cliff, the governor wanted to watch the battle from the Golden Mountain.
Japanese fire was aimed mainly at our ships. Several enemy shells flew over coastal fortifications and exploded on Mount Perepelina.
Japanese fire was aimed mainly at our ships. Several enemy shells flew over coastal fortifications and exploded on Mount Perepelina.
Huge clouds of smoke from simple powder, which was still used by the Russians on mortar batteries, covered the Golden Mountain. After each shot, white smoke rings jumped up and then slowly floated toward the bay.
With an electric cliff fired from long-range guns. They threw out long flames. Instead of smoke, yellow dust flashed over the battery.
Our and Japanese ships fired continuously. Novik and Bayan, despite the fire concentrated on them, kept on keeping in front, without ceasing to respond to the enemy.
There were fires in many Japanese courts. Electric cliff hit the enemy, but the shells of the remaining coastal batteries before the enemy ships did not reach.
The fight lasted thirty minutes. The Japanese retreated. It was the first attack by the Russians on the Kwantung Peninsula.
Chapter six
one
In the second battery, the message about the outbreak of war was made by the battery commander, Colonel Mehmandarov, a short man with a proud posture. His mustache was famously curled, his thick beard split in half. Hard, red-streaked eyes looked stubbornly. In a long knee-length uniform, in boots with round hard tops, he looked like a museum mannequin.
Throwing his hands back, he stood in the middle of the barracks in front of the line and said in a hoarse voice:
The war has begun. Get ready for a hike. We are facing combat trials. Anyone who truly loves his homeland and father-king will show the valor of the Russian arms to the whole world.The Japanese are not alone. Starting a war, they hope for the support of other states and especially of England. The batteries of our division will face the very first Japanese, because you and I are close to the border. A few days later we will march towards an insidious enemy. We have to perform difficult and responsible tasks. You, battery riders, gunners, bombardiers, gunners and fireworks, I know how well done, well prepared for firing from our beautiful guns. The Japanese do not have such guns in the field artillery. We will undoubtedly have an advantage in accuracy and range. Our 1902 model guns are improved. The motherland and the emperor hope that you will show the enemy the strongest resistance, using your strength and ingenuity in difficult moments. You will cruelly persecute him when he falters and runs So, ahead, to victories and royal awards! I wish you to return whole and healthy Hooray!
Podkovin saw Mehmandarov for the first time. In January, due to illness, he never showed up at the barracks. According to the soldiers, Mehmandarov was an extravagant, evil man. An old bachelor, he lived alone in a huge apartment. His batman was very tight: thousands of quibbles per day. In addition, the colonel had hemorrhoid surgery a few days ago. Once the sergeant-major assigned to him a soldier of the 1903 Arshinov draft, a big quitter and a dandy. Not even one day passed before Arshinov returned.
Whats the matter? asked his comrades.
I come. Asks: parents are alive, where are they? I say in hard labor. For what? Cried the commander. A visiting man was killed off He looked at me, grunted and sent me back. So I did not have to, thanks to God, candles from hemorrhoids, he put.
How will such well-trained campaigners behave on the battlefield? Thought Podkovin, failing after the end of the message.
2
Ten days later, Podkovin received a letter from her sister.
Dear Tikhon! We are very sad. The war has begun, and you will soon be in Manchuria. Perhaps the letter will not find you. We hope to receive letters from you more often. We will know where you are. Our letters are unlikely to reach you will be shifting all the time and we will definitely receive yours. We have nothing special happened. Mom cried heavily on the day of the declaration of war. Varya enrolled in a voluntary squad of sisters and soon leaves for the front. After your departure, she behaves closed, lost weight, We all discouraged her, but she did not obey. Maybe its all for the better: you now have your own sister of mercy.
I did not understand you, why did you dry out Varya dryly? Even if you dont love her, she is your childhood friend. You did not want to commit yourself Girls, and women in general, do not forgive such delicate calculation and circulation. In case of Vari, I would have spat on you thats all I remember you saying that you would not marry before returning from military service. The statement is good, but still Varyu should be petted A year ago, she was jealous of you for Vale, and when she left, she calmed down. Yes, and we all decided: Valya will not wait for you, but the main thing is that she is not a couple to you. Varya swore in front of me is waiting for you. Come what may, she said.
By the way, in the last letters from Harbin, Valya asks about you. We told her where you are. Levers not married. He made me a second offer, He is a good man, but I cannot become his wife.
Sworn attorney Zverev was very requested to convey his regards to you, Delusto was appointed a member of the court. He said that when you went to a session in the city of Far, a local big merchant Lykov came to his room and said: Give me your employee Tikhon Podkovina. I have a big deal, of national importance, but there are no honest people. What does he get from you?-Received fifteen, but will receive twenty-five, Delyusto told him. Ugh, you, abyss! At such a penny place, and such a valuable person got. How do you know him? Asked Delyusto. Chance helped. Inovs from Harbin telegraphed for me to meet. I immediately saw him through the dinner. The merchants on the people have a great scent. In money matters, intelligent people are needed. Delight spread his hands: He is free, his will. So, then, a freelancer? Said the merchant happily. A day later, at a new meeting, he told Delyusto: The guy doesnt want, he doesnt need to, he says, to tie up, in the fall, all the same as soldiers I wanted to buy it from the soldiery, but he refused. And it would cost a couple of thousand
Varya is glad for that evening, which was arranged in honor of yours, conducted by our good friends Pestsov.
You in your burgundy cashmere shirt made a good impression on everyone. It seems that only that evening Varya had kissed her deeply with you. She always remembers this evening with a sad smile.
Having received this letter, you do not imagine much about yourself there. All kiss you tightly. Do not brag on the war. Remember you still need a mother. Levers you wrote a separate letter. He came and showed yours to him.
If we receive a letter from Vali, then what should she answer? Do you love her as you once loved, or are you still offended? She told me more than once: I did not understand Tikhon, he was so unpretentious and clumsy. She regrets that she didnt see you right away Valya is, of course, an exceptional person. She loves you sincerely. With someone bind her fate? For our family, it is not suitable. It may be a tragedy. Although, who knows, in life everything happens. Valya Valya, and Vare must write a letter. Just look, rather. Mom sends a blessing and kisses, and we and Varya and even more so. Here she stands and cries. Your sister Fima.