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48 THE SIEGE OF PORT ARTHUR
From the positions which the Japanese occu-
pied on July 30th it was impossible to make the
general assault on Port Arthur. Although the
Russians had retreated behind their permanent
fortifications, they still held on to advanced posi-
tions on both flanks, which were so situated that
they could make an attack very difficult. To the
west they occupied a series of isolated hills in front
of the western plateau, from where an advance on
the above-mentioned dip in the country could be
taken under enfilading fire ;
even when the J apanese
had succeeded in reaching so far, their intended
base here would be dominated from these western
hills. Still more harassing were the advanced
positions which the Russians held on the eastern
flank, on Takushan.
This mountain, the name of which in Chinese
means the Big Orphan Hill, rises up to the east
of Shuishi valley to a height of about 620 ft.
It deserves its name, as it stands there dark and
sullen and lonely, with deep shades over its rocky,
precipitous sides. The position not only domi-
nates the whole Shuishi valley, but also a large
part of the flat country to the north of the Feng-
hoangshan range, and during the first days, when
the Japanese were bringing their troops and guns
forward, the Russians from Takushan inflicted
heavy losses on them by their shrapnel fire. Add
to this that Takushan was an excellent observa-
tion post from which the Russians could follow
what was going on in and behind the Japanese
lines and be able to exactly locate their batteries,
and it will become evident that as long as the hill
was in the possession of the Russians no real
progress could be made, and the investment of the
fortress would be incomplete.
The isolated western hills were captured on
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