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18 THE SIEGE OF PORT ARTHUR
mines {^fougasses) burst amongst the attackers,
without, however, doing much damage ;
but, un-
checked by mines or heavy guns, the advance
steadily continued. At 3 p.m. the Russians
brought their machine guns into action ;
but these
were speedily silenced by shrapnel fire from the
Japanese mountain guns, as the quick-firers had
been earlier in the day. By half-past five the hill
was in the hands of the Japanese, the Russians
retreating to the next mountain range, where they
took up fresh positions.
As a consequence of the capture of these two
hills General Nogi could push his left wing for-
wards, swinging his whole line, with Antzeshan on
his extreme right as a pivot, across Kensan to
Sochoshan. He at once fortified his new posi-
tions, taking special pains to have Kensan, to
which he attached the greatest importance, very
strongly protected with fieldworks and bomb-proof
shelters. General Stoessel also fully appreciated
the value of this position, not only as an observa-
tion post, but also because it was an excellent
offensive position, from whence a forward move-
ment could be carried out to the greatest advan-
tage when the expected relieving column from the
north should arrive. The Russians knew that
General Grippenberg was on his way southwards,
and expected to hear the booming of his guns
at the enemy’s rear at any moment. General
Stoessel, therefore, attempted to recapture the
position, and on July 3rd he sent a whole division
to try and drive the Japanese back. The top of
Kensan can be seen from all sides, and he com-
menced the attack by pouring in a tremendous
artillery fire from all his batteries, but thanks to
the well-constructed Japanese bomb-proof shelters
the effect was comparatively small.
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