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164 THE SIEGE OF PORT ARTHUR
more primitive description, without much in the
way of bomb-proofs, so that the Russians, par-
ticularly during the latter portions of the fight,
were practically unprotected against the shrapnel
bullets. In the other positions, where the de-
fenders were sheltered behind loopholed sand-
bag walls and under cover of bomb-proofs, even
the heaviest shell or shrapnel fire proved quite
unable to dislodge them or to make their fire on
the attacking party less deadly. To this the
many repulsed attacks bore witness. But the
tremendous effect of these same shrapnel when
directed against troops in the open was demon-
strated to us during these attacks, and it was the
Russians who brought home the lesson most
forcibly to us—and to the Japanese.
On the morning of September 20th, at about
ten o’clock, after the night attack on 180 Metre
Hill had been repulsed, the Japanese sent a force
of the 15th regiment to attack the south-western
part of this position. The attacking force were
drawn up behind the crest of one of the foot-hills
of 174 Metre Hill, and from there they had to
cross an open space and dash down a slope
(altogether a distance of some 300 yards) to a
donga where they would be under perfect cover.*
There was no need to send ground scouts ahead
this time ;
the most cursory glance at the field
they had to cross convinced them that no cover
was possible against the fire from the opposite
hills. They must trust to speed and good luck,
and hope that the withering shrapnel fire which
at this moment was being poured over the
enemy’s positions would make the defenders’ aim
less accurate.
* The lower part of the slope and the donga are shown
in the sketch, page 157, on the right-hand side.
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