the loss of the two hills, when reported to the tsar, caused him to consider the safety of the russian pacific fleet trapped at port arthur, and he sent immediate orders to admiral wilgelm vitgeft, in command of the fleet after the death of admiral stepan makarov, to join the squadron at vladivostok. vitgeft put to sea at 08:30 on august 10, 1904, and engaged the waiting japanese under admiral tōgō heihachirō in what was to become known as the battle of the yellow sea.