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THE OPENING OF THE BALL 61
an enfilading position to the infantry’s advance
across the Shuishi valley. In advancing here
they would also draw the attention of the
Russians in this direction, and divert it from
those parts of their lines where the Japanese
really meant to break through.
The semi-permanently fortified 174 Metre Hill
was armed with two 4-in. guns, five field guns,
and four machine guns. The trenches were all
bomb-proof, with roof made of planks and sleepers,
covered with a thick layer of earth, and with
walls built up of sandbags loopholed for rifles.
A single row of wire entanglements surrounded
the entrenchments.
During the whole of the 19th and 20th the
position was shelled by batteries of the ist Divi-
sion, ten field batteries, and ten 4*7 in. guns
which had been placed in well-masked positions
in the low country near Louisa Bay.
The first infantry attack commenced, as men-
tioned, at 2 p.m. on the 19th, under cover of the
artillery fire. The advance was slow and cautious.
The Russian fire was strong, and the skirmishing
lines had frequently to stop and seek cover, and
they made but little headway. Supports were
brought up, and with this new impulse the
Japanese pushed forwards again. We could see
the small khaki-clad soldiers scrambling along
the hill-side, some dropping never to rise again,
but the rest steadily gaining ground. The Russian
fire increased in intensity every minute, and again
the Japanese lines had to seek cover, until new
supports should arrive to fill their dwindling ranks.
Then there was a forward rush of the whole force.
But the Russian infantry was pelting them with a
rain of bullets ;
a field battery opened fire on
them from the Shuishi valley, and sent shrapnel
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