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226 THE SIEGE OF PORT ARTHUR
the outer line of defence of the fort, and that this
part was very thinly garrisoned. Further back,
across an open space of about fifty yards, there
was an inner, much stronger and higher work
(reduite), where most of the garrison appeared to
be. After a while the patrol was discovered and
fired upon, whereupon they hurriedly scampered
back to the moat.
At 5 p.m. an officer with twenty-five men was
sent across to try to explore the flanks and the
rear of the fort and report on the defensive
arrangements of these parts. But now the
Russians were on the qtii vive. So soon as the
little party attempted to cross the moat, they
were instantly fired upon, and at the same time
the commander of the fort, thinking that the
Japanese were going to deliver an attack,
telephoned for reinforcements. These came post
haste, about a hundred men from the town and
about fifty from Wantai, without taking much
precaution to avoid being seen, only eager to be
in time to help to beat off the attack. These
supports were observed from the Japanese western
batteries, which at once opened fire on them,
and the heavy shelling from the enemy’s side
strengthened the Russians in their belief in an
impending attack. The batteries on Paijushan,
Itzeshan and Antzeshan therefore commenced a
violent fire all over the Japanese approaches from
which supports could be brought up. Under
these circumstances it was, of course, impossible
for the little reconnoitring party to achieve any-
thing. They had to seek shelter, and after dark
they withdrew. The affair was thus more or less
a false alarm.
The Japanese were rather pleased. Their
losses had not amounted to more than about fifty
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