The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-19
RUSSIAN OFFICER SHOWN
 GREATEST MAGNANIMIT
Thousands of Brave Men Fell on Both Sides During the Awful On slaueht Made at POS
 Metre Rlll.

the struggle for the possession of High hill probably was the most remarkable in the history of the siege of Port Arthur a siege noted for slaughter. This state- ment Is based on an interview which the correspondent of the Associated Press had with Commander Mizzeneoff, executive officer of the battleship Potava, up to the time the vessel was disarmed, and who as already told, headed the party of seven Russians who left Port Arthur in a sail boat December 15, and after ex- treme suffering while crossing in a driv- ing snow storm, arrived here December Is, bearing dispatches which were turn ed over to the Russian consul for trans mission to St. Petersburg. These dis patches it is understood consist partly of a statistical report of the effect of the Japanese bombardments, and there is nothing in them to indicate that General stoessel Is without hope that the fortress will be able to hold out.
 Commander Mizzenhon who was wound ed in the leg during the battle of High hill, said to the Associated Press cor respondent:
 mdny OccOS oi FtSTOlSITl.
 Since the Japanese on the 18th (month not mentioned), began their attack on High hill, which they call 203 Meter hill, the fighting has been continued. The steep and sardy sl ses o5 thu hill were streaked and dotted with snow when the Japanese began the battle, which was destined to furnish so many deeds of her oism that they became commonplace. There was so much slaughter that even Port Arthur's war-hardened vkerans shuddered at the sight.
 Japanese are compelled to clamor up the slopes of the hill in many cases with out firing, in the face of some of the most murderous deluges ever poured from rifle and machine guns. I was there and it seemed to me that flesh and blood would be unable to stand our fire for a minute
 ''The enemy went down in squads and companies, but always there were others grimly coming forward. Their bravery was beyond praise. as was that of our own men. Sometimes the fighting was hand-to-hand with the muzzles of ths rifles at the breasts of the contestants. the bayonets being used as swords.
 HiIl strewn With Bodies.
 The sides of the hill was strewn with bodies, and the snow was crimsoned with l1t DlOOQ Ol Ine WOuIutus SOlIle Ol MllOil had crawled into 1t, seeking in its cold ness surcease from their dying agonies.
 Eventually, as in similar instances, which were to follow, we retired leav- ing the work of driving the enemy from the summit to the resistless guns of the neighboring forts, notably those of Liaoti mountain.
 "One incident of this assault will re- main forever impressed upon my mind.  the summit and planted his flag, gi- gantic Russian corporal left his retreat ing comrades and rushing back, seized the flag which he was tearing up in shreds, when he was pierced with many bullets.
 When the Japanese retired under the artillery fire, the Russians reoccupied the summit.
 "The second and third assaults were re- plicas of the first although the second was the more ferocious. being nearly all hand-to-hand fighting. in which mercy was neither asked nor given.
 Bravely Bore coIors.
 "A remarkable incident occurred in the third assault as the Russians, still facing the enemy, retreated. A Japanese stan dard bearer. holding his flag aloft climbed to the pinnacle, and fell dead clutching the colors In his tracks an-
 
 instantly with dozen wounds in his body. Six others followed and met the same fate. At last when the ninth man appeared a Russian officer exclaimed, Don't shoot that fellow with the flag; i. will be planted anyhow
 "The Japanese adopted a curious ex- pedient which assisted them greatly in the third assault They had prepared huge piles of wood, coal and corn stalks which they ignited. the wind being in the faces of the Russians. The resultant fire was immense. and the flames and smoke compelled the Russians to retire.
 "The red glare from this fire disclosed a ghastly picture. more internal than ever dreamed by Dante.
 Had Cost laps 12,ooo Men.
 "The assaults thus far had cost the Japanese easily 12,O0O men, while our own were under 200O The sides of the hill were literally covered with the dead and wounded. The trenches were rivulets of blood and every visible spot was dyed crimson.
 |" We might retal1e the hill said Gen eral Stoessel but the hill is not of suf- flcient importance to us to Justify further sacrifice
 Since then numerous small engage ments have been waged, but the respon- sibility for keeping the Japanese from occupying the hill In force, or from mounting guns thereon, has been left mainly to the shrapnel fire from other forts.
 Even the Japanese. who singly use the hill to observe the harbor, do so at great peril
 Many Wounded Are Buried.
 "Following the third assault. an arm