No complete report of what took place at the conference on the "Talbot" has been made public, but in one way and another the main facts have come out. The British, French and Italian commanders at once decided that Admiral Uriu was proposing to commit a gross breach of international law, and they unanimously resolved to give the Rnssian ships whatever protection they could. A message was sent to the commander of the "Variag" informing him of this determination, and advising him to refuse to leave the harbor. Meanwhile, the "Talbot," "Elba" and "Pascal" cleared for action. All the superfluous woodwork on the boats was torn out and thrown overboard. In an hour the inner harbor was strewn with this sort of wreckage. But while a tremendous international contretemps was thus hanging in the balance, the commander of the "Variag" sent word thanking the commanders of the British, Italian and French ships for their offer, and expressing his resolution not to involve them, but to go out and fight. Meanwhile, however, a launch from the "Talbot," in command of a young British officer, had been sent to convey to Admiral Uriu a protest against his proposed action by the commanders of the British, French and Italian ships. As the Japanese ships were lying well out, some time was required for the launch to reach the flagship.
It was now getting close to noon, the hour fixed by Admiral Uriu's ultimatum for the Russian ships to come out. The commander of the "Variag" ordered the commander of the "Koreitz" to remain in the harbor and blow up his ship, while
