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44 THE SIEGE OF PORT ARTHUR
and it is probable that this alternative first
presented itself to General Nogi.
But much was changed since the days of the
Chinese campaign. Through spies and recon-
noitring parties he learnt that the Russians had
constructed very strong fortifications on both
sides of the valley, completely dominating it, and
from Yahutsui and the Taiyangkou forts the
whole line of advance could be swept by gun and
rifle fire, while the forts on Tiger’s Tail and
Laotiehshan could take an effective part in the
defence and make the progress of an attacking
force still more difficult. Even if they succeeded
in reaching the lower part of the valley, they
would be faced by the necessity of capturing the
formidable Taiyangkou forts which barred the
way to the new town, and in defence of these, not
only the above-mentioned forts could join, but
the batteries of Paijushan, the Golden Hill, 203
Metre Hill and others could take part, making a
successful issue problematical.
Similar objections must be put forward against
the choice of the Shuishi valley route, and to a
still more pronounced degree ;
because here, in
the first place, the forts on both sides were
stronger, and the lower part of the valley even
more level and devoid of cover of any descrip-
tion ;
and, secondly, because an advance in this
direction would necessitate the capture of a series
of strong advanced defence-works, the Shuishi
lunettes, the Lungyen redoubt, and the double row
of wire-defended trenches across the lower end of
the valley, a feat which, under the concentrated
fire from Itzeshan, Antzeshan, Sungshuh, Erh-
lung, Paijushan, and Tiger’s Tail, was next to
impossible.
To attempt an attack against the western
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