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198 THE SIEGE OF PORT ARTHUR
hung on to these semi-permanent positions, re-
gardless of heavy losses, exposed for weeks to a
heavy bombardment and a continuous sniping
from other points that completely dominated
them.
How the Japanese managed to stay there, is a
marvel to me. I simply chronicle the fact that
they did ;
explain it I cannot.
Kobu “ fort ” (another misnomer) is a very
small semi-permanent fortification situated on a
hillock to the east of North Kikuan fort. The
garrison here was easily overpowered and driven
out by the troops of the 44th regiment. Leaving
a small force in the captured position, the regiment
pushed on to attack the Chinese wall, but against
the strong fire from the wall and from “ Q ” fort
they were unable to make headway. Recognizing
the futility of their attempt, and yet loath to return
without having achieved something, the com-
mander took upon himself, without orders, to
turn to the left and try to attack the high East
Kikuan fort from the west, knowing that the
1 2th regiment was attacking it in front.
East Kikuan is the highest, and naturally
strongest, of all the enceinte forts in the eastern
section, and it is not, like the Sungshuh, Erhlung,
and North Kikuan forts, essentially an infantry
work. It consists of two battery positions—
northern, built entirely in concrete and immensely
strong, armed with four 6-in. Canet guns, besides
field and machine guns, and a southern, separated
from the former by a short neck. This latter
battery was a semi-permanent construction, armed
with two 6-in. naval guns, protected by i-in.
steel shields, and mounted on timber bed-plates.
Between the two batteries the Chinese wall ran
up. From Kobu fort, skirting the steep East
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