At the beginning of World War I and II, the UK sent their gold to Canada.
Just a little Russo Japanese War History: The Tsushima Straight battle was a total surprise (for the Russians), essentially an ambush. While they had felt the Japanese Navy had advanced somewhat from their victory in the Sino-Japanese War a decade or so before, nobody in military intelligence thought they could challenge an advanced European navy on this scale. Most likely the vessel was going through the Suez Canal. It had been completed in 1869, the British were still the owners and were the erstwhile allies of the Russian Czar family at the time.
Just to add a little extra after rereading the article and an account of the Battle of Tsushima Straight: It appears the vessel was heading to Vladivostok, then the Far Eastern Headquarters for the war. The gold on board was intended to pay expenses of a protracted war (including salaries). Since it was behind the main body of the Russian fleet, almost all of which was sunk, it remains a mystery why any of the three surviving vessels of the Russian fleet which made it to the port of Vladivostok could not have warned their comrades in the gold laden vessel traveling several hours behind. Wireless communications WERE available at that time.