Russia ignored warnings and became trapped by its coaling plan

Russian naval advisers recognized that Japan's crews already shared combat experience and that meaningful training during a tropical long-distance voyage would be difficult. They preferred to remain in the Baltic until spring for further preparation, the completion of Slava, and possible South American purchases. The government overruled them, while the elaborate contracted coaling chain made postponement appear to threaten the fleet's ability to sail at all. Rozhestvensky's success in arranging that support therefore helped lock him into carrying out a plan whose operational logic he doubted.