The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-12-19
HILL WAS SOAKED
WITH JAP BLOOD.
Russian Naval Officer Gives a
Graphic Account Of Port
Arthur Fight.

Chi-fu, Dec. l9.-For ferocity and
sustained desperation on both sides, the
for the possession of High hill
probably was the most remarkable. in
the s asse yno G h for ssEs q of
This statement is based on an inter-
view which the correspondent of the
Associated Press had with Commander
Mizzeneoff, executive officer Of the bat
tleship Poltaya, up to the time the
yssdel tnd dadad a and Who as al
Russians who left Port Arthur in sail
boat Dec. Is and after extreme suffering
while crossing in a driving snow storm.
arrived cher Dec. l6. Commander Miz-
zeneoff said:
Since the Japanese. on Nov. %. be-
gan 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 Japanese began the
battle, which was destined to furnish so
many deeds Of heroism that they became
commonplace There was so much slaugh-
ter that even Port Arthurs war hardened
veterans shuddered at the sight.
Mown Down in Companies.
Japanese were, compelled to Chamber up
the slopes Of the hill, in many cases with
out firing, in the face Of one Of the most
murderous deluges ever poured from
rifles and machine guns. was there,
and it seemed to me that flesh and blood
would be unable to stand our fire for a
minute. = Ill., :. IT.. a.-a h.
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
riA I, 1rao tc Of tIo osfo mic "a
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
crawled into it, seeking in its coldness,
surcease for their dying agonies.
One incident of this assault will re-
main forever impressed on my mind.
When Japanese standard-bearer reached
the summit and planted his flag, a gigan-
tic 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 several bullets. y
When the Japanese retired under an az
tillery fire the Russians reoccupied the
summit. - -.
The second and third assaults were
replicas of the first, altho the second was
the most ferocious,, being nearly all hand
to- hand fighting, in which mercy was
neither asked nor given.
Planted Flag, Anyhow.
A. remarkable incident occurred in the
| third assault as the Russians still facing
the enemy, retreated. A Japanese stand
| ard-bearer, holding his flag aloft, climbed
| the pinnacle and fell dead clutching the
colors. In his tracks another arose with
| the colors, only to fall instantly with a
! dozen wounds in his body. Six others fol-
| loyUa6 and met the Same fate. e.
| At last when the ninth man appeared q
Russian exclaimed: Don't shoot that
fellow with the flag; it will be planted
anyhow .-. H..
The Japanese adopted a curious expe-
dent which assisted them greatly In the
third assault. They had prepared huge
piles of wood.=Zzeaa4 and cornstalks which
they ignited, the .Wind being in the faces
of the Russians. THE resultant fire was
immense and the flames and smoke com
PEELED, the Russians to retire. go go. ..
The red glare from this fire disclosed
a CHASTITY picture more Internal than ever
dreamed by Dante. 'sss
Loss of $4,000. IL
The assaults thus far had cost the
Japanese easily 10000 men, while ou1
hill were literally covered with dead
and wounded. The trenches were rivulets
of blood and every visible spot was dyed
crimson
1--WE might retake the HILL" said Gen.
eral Stoessel, "but the hill is not of suffi.
cient importance to us to justify further
sacrifice
Since then numerous small engage
mcnts have been waged, but the respon'
sibility for keeping the Japanese from
occupying the, hill in force or from
mounting guns thereon = has been lef
mainly to the shrapnel fire from othel
forts.
Even the Japanese, who singly use ths
hill to observe the harbor, do so at grea>
peril.
Scarcely an officer participating IL
the battle Of High hill escaped unhurt
and the proportion Of young officer
killed was very high
GII0H SiIlII1lAIEd1iiaH6