The Bourbon news., 1904-12-20
HIGH HILL BATTLE.
In Ferocity it Was the Most Re-
markable in the Siege.
Port Arthur's War-Hardened Veterans
Shuddered at the Sight of the
Slaughtered Japanese-Fland-
to-Hand Fighting.

Chefoo, Dec. 19-For ferocity and
sustained desperation on both sides,
the struggle forthe possession of High
hill probably was the most remarka-
BILE in the history of the siege of Port
Arthur-a siege noted for slaughter.
This statement is based on an inter-
view which a press correspondent had
with Commander Mizzenoff, executive
officer of the battleship Poltava.
Commander Mizzenoff, who was
wounded in the leg during the battle
of High hill, said:
"Since the Japanese, on the 2Sth
(month not mentioned) began their at
tack on High hill, which they call 203
Metre hill, the fighting has been con-
tinuOuS. The steep and sandy slopes
of the hill were streaked and dotted
with snow when the Japanese began
the battle, which was destined to fur.
nish SO many deeds of heroism that
they became commonplace. There
was SO much slaughter that even Port
Arthur's war hardened veterans shud-
dered at the sight
Japanese were compelled to clam
ber 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.
/ 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 men. Some times the fight
ing was hand-to-hand, with the muz-
zles of the rifles at the breasts of the
contestants, the bayOnets being used
as swords.
1.-The sides of the hill were Strewn
with bodies and the snow was GRIM
soned with the blood CT the wounded,
some of whom had crawled into it,,
seeking in its coldness surcease for
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 resistless guns of
the neighboring forts, notably those Of
LiaOti mountain.
1.-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 clutching the colors. In his
tracks another arose with the cOlors,
only to fall instantly with dozen
wounds in his body. Six others fol-
lowed and met the same fate. At last
when the. ninth man appeared a Rus
sian officer exclaimed: Don't shoot
that fellow with the flag, it will be
planted anyhow
The Japanese adopted curious eX-
pedient which assisted them greatly
in the third assault. They had pre-
pared huge piles of wood, coal and
cornstalks which they ignited, the
wind being in the faces of the Rus
slams. The resultant fire was i'm
mense and the flames and smoke ccm-
PEELED the Russians to retire.
The red glare. from this fire dis
CLOSED a CHASTITY picture more Internal
than ever dreamed by Dante.
'eThe assaults thus far had cost the
Japanese easily 10000 men, while our
own were under 1000. The sides of
the hill were literally covered with
dead and wounded. The trenches were
rivIlets of blood and every visible
spot was dyed crimson.
eve might retake the hill,' said
Gen. Stoessel, 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 unhurt
and the proportion of young officers
killed was very high.
"Since then numerous small engage
ments have been waged, but the re-
sponsibility 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"