The leader., 1904-12-24
AND
DESPERATE ASSAULT
MOST REMARKABLE EFFORT IN
THE SIEGE OF PORT ARTHUR.
HILL STORMED In SNOW KNEE DEEP.
Mikado's Troops Meet a Perfect Rain
OF Bullets, and Were Moved Down
Like Wheat Before a scythe, But
Never Quivered = Rallied Their
Forces, and, With Fanatic Zeal and
Rebel Yells, Waded Through Death
to Victory.

Chefoo, Dec. 18.-For ferocity and
sustained desperation on both sides,
the struggle for the possession of High
Hill probably was the most remark
ably in the history of the siege of Port
Arthur-a siege noted for slaughter.
This statement is based on an inter-
view which the correspondent of the
Associated Press had with Comman-
der Mizzeneoff, executive officer OF the
battleship Poltava up to the time the
vessel was disarmed, and who, as al
ready told, headed the party of seven
Russians who left Port Arthur In a
sailboat December Is, and after ex-
treme suffering, while crossing in a
driving snow storm, arrived here De-
cember 16, bearing dispatches which
were turned over to the Russian con-
sui for transmission to st. Petersburg.
These dispatches, it is understood,
consists partly of a statistical report
of the effect of the Japanese lombard
ments, and there is nothing in them
to indicate that Gen. StoesseI is with
out hope that the fortress will be able
to hold out.
Commander Mizzeneoff,. who was
wounded in the leg during the battle
of High Hill, said to the Associated
Press correspondent:
'tSince the Japanese, on the 9th,
began their attack on High Hill, which
they call 203 Meter Hill, the fighting
has been continuous. The steep and
sandy slopes of the hill were streaked
and dotted with snow when the jap
anese began the battle, which was
destined to furnish so many deeds of
heroism that they become common
place. There was SO much slaughter
that even Port Arthur's war hardened
veterans shuddered at the sight.
Japanese were compelled to clam
Der up the slopes of the hill in many
cases without firing, in the face of
one of the most murderous deluges
ever poured from rifles and machine
guns. I was there, and it seemed to
me that flesh and blood would be un-
able 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 the rifles at the breasts Of
the contestants, the bayonets being
used as swords. The sides of the hill
were strewn with bodies, and the snow
was crimsoned with the blood of the
wounded, some of whom had crawled
into it, seeking in its coldness sur
cease for their dying agonies.
zone incident of this assault will
remain forever impressed on my mind
When Japanese standard bearer
reached the summit and planted his
flag, a gigantic Russian corporal left
his retreating comrades and, rushing
back, seized the flag, which he was
tearing with his hands and with his
teeth when he fell, pierced with sew
eral bullets.
when the Japanese retired under
an artillery fire the Russians reoc-
cupied the summit
''The second and third assaults were
replicas of the first, although the sec
ond was the most ferocious, being
nearly all hand to hand fighting in
which mercy was neither asked nor
given.
"a remarkable incident occurred in
the third assault as the Russians, still
facing the enemy, retreated. A Jap
anese standard bearer, holding his
flag aloft, climbed the pinnacle and
fell dead c1inging to the colors. In
his tracks another rose with the colors
only to fall instantly with a dozen
wounds in his body. Six others fol-
lowed and met the same fate At last
when the ninth man appeared Rus
sian officer exclaimed, Don't shoot
that fellow with the flag; it will be
planted any how
''The Japanese adopted a curious
expedient which assisted them great
Iy in the third assault. They had pre-
pared huge piles of wood, coal and
cornstalks which were ignited, the
wind being in the faces of the Rus
sians The resultant fire was i'm
mense, and the flames and smoke COM
PEELED the Russians to retire.
''The red glare from this fire dis
closed CHASTITY picture, more infer
nal than ever dreamed by Dante.
"The assaults thus far had cost the
Japanese easily 1900 men, while our
own losses were under 1000. The
sides of the hill were literally covered
with dead and wounded. The trenches
were rivulets of blood, and every Visit
bic spot was dyed crimson.
We might retake the HILL said
Gen Stossel, but the hill is not Of
sufficient Importance to us to justify
further sacrifice
Scarcely an officer participating
in the battle of High Hill escaped un-
hurt, and the proportion of young Of
ficers killed was very high"
Third Pacific Squadron.
Libau, Dec. 49, Work is being hur-
ried upon the vessels of the prospect