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FIRST GLIMPSE OF PORT ARTHUR 39
black muzzles could be seen protruding over the
breastworks at a long distance with the naked
eye, were very serious deficiencies which could
easily have been remedied. As it was, all the
Russian guns were placed for direct fire ;
only for
a few howitzer and mortar batteries was an excep-
tion made, and even these were placed directly
behind the crest of some hill, instead of lower
down, where they would be more difficult to
locate without their efficiency being one whit the
less.
The improvised nature of the defences was
shown also in the way the gun-stands were con-
structed, and in the guns which had been mounted
on them. Most of the guns were mounted on
wooden bedplates instead of on concrete, and the
guns themselves were of the most heterogeneous
description—old Chinese guns, modern fortress
guns (Canet), and a large number of naval guns,
taken from ships in the harbour. Most of the
heavier ordnance was 6 in., but there were also
some 8 in. and lo in. and even a few ii in. guns
and howitzers.
General Nogi remained on the top of Feng-
hoangshan for hours, scanning the Russian posi-
tions and weighing in his mind the chances for and
against his audacious plan. He saw the strength
and he marked the weak points of the Russian
positions, and although, of course, his survey
could be but superficial, he thought there were so
many good points in his favour, that, under the
circumstances, he was justified in making the
attempt. When he left the hill, he had made up
his mind that Port Arthur should be carried by
direct assault.
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