All the Russian officers, however, were not grafters and drunken
libertines. Among them I did find men of alert and earnest character
who were quite aware of the frightful conditions existing, but who
were so used to them right through Russia that they viewed things with
true Slavonic composure. I even found the searchlight stations back
on the hills to be in a deplorable state. Indeed, on the night of
Togo's second attack on Port Arthur the power plant was out of order
and the searchlights which should have flooded the harbor with light
were dark. The plant was subsequently repaired under enormous
difficulties and cost, but of no avail. Coolie spies had procured the
exact location of the power house and searchlight stations and thus
aided, the Japanese gunners riddled them with shell. A great deal has
been said about the wonderful marksmanship of the Japanese, but for
the most part it was due to data on exact distances and locations,
furnished by their spies.

Although the officers were a careless, thoughtless lot, I found that
the personnel of the garrison contained, on the whole, a good type of
Russian soldier. They were not brilliant but faithful and obedient.
A Russian regiment is never routed. They stand and are killed, being
too stolid to run. I found most of the officers of Port Arthur to be
brilliant dashing men of the world, personally of high animal courage,
but self-indulgence, neglect, disbelief in hostilities and
underestimation of their foe, undermined them.

Among the high officials at Port Arthur, Colonel Reiss, Commander of
the Ordnance Service, stood out alone. He was the only officer, not
excepting General Stoessel himself, who seemed to realize the gravity
of the whole situation. In long chats which I had with him, he more