“ Also a naval division sailed from Japanese waters, and by the flagship of this fleet the first shot in the war was fired, on the night of Feb. 8. The Japanese admiral, Togo, sent a flotilla of torpedo boats into the harbor of Port Arthur to attack the Russian fleet. Japan had waived the formality of a declaration of war, and the sudden attack was wholly unexpected by the Russians. Admiral Stark, in command of the Russian fleet, and many of his officers, were on shore at places of amusement, and with the first shot the fleet was thrown into the utmost confusion. ”