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248 THE SIEGE OF PORT ARTHUR
positions in front of the eastern and southern forts
on the plateau would be untenable, and their
defenders could be driven back behind the ram-
parts of the forts without difficulty, so that the
sapping operations could be very much restricted.
In other words, 203 Metre Hill was the key of
the whole western section of defences and there-
fore the natural point of attack, on which the
Japanese would have to concentrate all their
forces and all their energy.
203 Metre Hill is a very strong position from
nature’s hand. Separated from the nearest lower
hills by deep, narrow gorges, it lifts its lofty
peaks high above the surrounding country. The
lower parts of the hill are fairly easy slopes ;
but
higher up the sides are in many places bulging
and precipitous, and exceedingly hard to climb.
To the north-east a short neck connects 203 with
the considerably lower Akasaka-yama, which also
was strongly fortified, and by its enfilading posi-
tion to the main hill was of the greatest assistance
to the defenders. Provided with strong per-
manent fortifications, these hills would have been
practically impregnable. The Russians either
had no eye for their great importance, or had not
the time or means to build proper forts here ;
but
even with the defence works of semi-permanent
character, the natural strength of the position
was such that it took the Japanese nine days
of almost continuous fighting, and cost them
over 8,000 men to gain possession of it. It
was only when they had spent over 4,000 of their
big howitzer shells in completely wrecking the
trenches, that they were able to capture the
place. With forts strong enough to withstand
such fire—as, for instance, Erhlung and the other
permanent forts on the eastern ridge—it is not
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