[TRANSCRIPT]

THE FINAL STRUGGLE FOR 203-METER HILL AT

PORT ARTHUR

(Reprinted by permission of the Royal Engineers Journal)

(Continued from PROFESSIONAL MEMOIRS, No. 9.)

December 2. During the night the enemy kept up an occasional artillery fire on the hill. At dawn this was increased, and the attacks by small parties were renewed, the events of the previous day being generally repeated. No serious attack was made, and no change took place in the condition of the defenders.

From Louisa Bay it was seen that the Japanese were moving about in the villages; under Visokaya increased energy was being put into the work of strengthening the defences; every sap and traverse was adorned with a fresh layer of sandbags, which were being brought up with this object in large numbers to the foot of the hill, and unloaded just above the lower parallels. The Russians also increased their efforts at repairing their ruined works and making new trenches. It was decided first to put the trenches into good order, and afterwards to start repairing and unearthing the blindages. At this time Lieutenant-Colonel Organov was director, and Captain Veselovski was commandant, both belonging to the Twenty-sixth Regiment.

Tretyakov, after spending the night at the Fifth Regiment headquarters, went at 10 a. m. to the Ninth Hospital, where Dr. Krzhivets dressed and bandaged his wound, but did not remove the splinter, as he did not consider it harmful.

Kondratenko had returned to the Fifth Regiment headquarters at dawn, and awaited with impatience the return of General Tretyakov, which occurred at about 2 p. m. Taking him by the hand, Kondratenko overwhelmed him with enquiries about his health and about Visokaya Hill, and they continued to consult together until circumstances separated them, as it turned out, forever.

It was proposed to give Tretyakov rest for two days, but at about 3.30 p. m. Lieutenant-Colonel Organov reported that the firing on Visokaya was increasing and that he anticipated an assault, and as he himself was ill-acquainted with the hill and how to defend it with small forces, he begged that either Tretyakov or Irman, who were well acquainted with it, would ride up there to give him any necessary information and advice on the spot.

Organov was a very efficient staff officer; though brave, he did not feel confident that he could manage, in case of assault, the complicated problem of

*Translation of an article by Staff-Captain Kostiushko in the March, April, and May numbers of the Eenzhenernee Zhoornal.

the defence of Visokaya Hill, and so he frankly asked men, whom he knew to be capable of it, to direct him in this difficult path.

Tretyakov at once got ready, and at 3.45 p. m. mounted his horse and galloped off to the hill.

At 4 p. m. ten separate 11-inch shells fell in the Tea Ravine, near the artillery barracks, where the reserve companies were quartered. This circumstance showed clearly that the Japanese could see well the whole Tea Ravine, and could correct their fire perfectly from the outwork which they had been at work upon the day before. As it was undesirable to expose the reserves to such danger, they were ordered to be removed from the Tea Ravine, and orders were also given to look to the safety of the Fifth Regiment headquarters, as the building was very exposed. But it was impossible to induce any of the staff to move at any time, because in the ravine they were near Visokaya Hill, could see what was going on there, and were consequently always in touch with their work. Therefore they contented themselves with closely veiling by night only the windows which looked toward the hill.

On arriving at Visokaya, Tretyakov found that Organov's fears were without foundation, but he remained on the hill, and decided during the night to find out accurately where the enemy was posted and in what force. For this enterprise more volunteers came forward than were required. Four men were selected by casting lots, and these, descending by the saddle on the far side of the hill, got as far as the trench which had been originally held, but which it had been decided on the 2d could no longer be occupied.

It should be mentioned that the covered communication trench having been demolished and all movement along it stopped, it became impossible to send assistance to the troops who were kept in this western portion of the ring trench, and consequently they all fell victims, at first to artillery fire and later in the unequal bayonet fighting, so that on both the 30th of November and the 1st of December the Japanese captured the trench with little difficulty. Seeing this, General Tretyakov, in order to save himself from devoting a fresh company each day to useless destruction, decided on the 30th of November to occupy this portion no more, and no harm had resulted thereby. The Japanese apparently did not occupy it either.

The reconnaissance party found the trench to be a complete wreck, the blindages broken in and presenting to view nothing but heaps of stones, splinters of beams and planks, torn sacks and other rubbish, mixed with fragments of human bodies.

They crossed this trench and went on down until they came to the Japanese parallel, which at this point they found to be empty. Wishing to decide whether the whole parallel was unoccupied or only a part of it, they turned to the right along it, but the Japanese began firing, and after this they could ascertain nothing accurately. Thereupon they climbed up again and went round the whole of the right half of the hill in the demolished trench without finding any Japanese. All four received decorations of the Military Order; they were all sailors belonging to Lieutenant Lavrov's aronaut detachment.

During the nights of December 2-3, 3-4, Ensign Ermakov was employed in making a communication trench up the eastern slope of Visokaya. The object of this trench was to protect reinforcements going up the hill from the Japanese artillery, posted in the village Shiushin, and striking Visokaya Hill in rear from

the northeast. Thanks to Ermakov's energy and the united efforts of Lavrov's æronauts, a trench 7 feet in depth was completed in the course of these two nights.

December 3. Having got such encouraging results from the reconnaissance on the right half of the hill, Tretyakov sent another four men to explore the left. Of this party none came back, a fact which was taken to show the close proximity of the enemy on the left flank, in trenches under the redoubt, though probably not in large numbers.

Wishing to relieve themselves of such undesirable neighbors, Tretyakov and Veselovsky decided to drive them out, and with this object they organized a small sortie. General Irman, who came up in the night to enquire into the state of affairs, approved of the undertaking, but, although a greater amount of success was to be expected from a large sortie, he was of opinion that it should be limited to a small one. This was because it would have been necessary to ask for reinforcements, and also for permission from the Commanderin-Chief for a large sortie, and even if permission were granted and reinforcements collected, the night would be past and all hope of success would have been lost, since in daylight no advance was possible; in fact, it was barely possible to hold on to what they had.

The volunteers selected for the sortie took with them a good number of grenades, and creeping near began throwing them at the Japanese, who fell back, raising furious cries and groans; the Russians advanced, but strong reinforcements for the enemy coming up the hill prevented them from completing their task. Yet not being thrown into disorder by this, and in spite of the overwhelming number of the enemy, they decided to make a fight of it, and met them with grenades and rapid rifle fire; the Japanese replied with the like, and about 5.30 to 6 a. m. a sharp firing broke out. The enemy were dis turbed and, an hour earlier than usual, opened a terrific fire on Visokaya from all their artillery.

It is unnecessary to say that under such conditions the volunteers could do nothing, but had to retire suffering inconsiderable loss. But, in spite of its ill-success, this sortie was of very great value, as it disclosed exactly the position and strength of the enemy. It showed that the Japanese on Visokaya Hill were posted in great strength and complete readiness for action. It showed that from day to day and hour to hour it was necessary to await a desperate attack. But in connection with this sortie occurred the heaviest loss suffered by the Russians.

Tretyakov and Veselovsky were still uncertain of the results of the sortie, when between 5.30 and 6 there commenced a hot firing on both sides on the left flank of Visokaya. They at once stood up in their observation post and got ready for emergencies, but before they had time to ascertain what was going on a storm of every possible nature of shells burst upon the hill. In an instant the hill was in disorder-there was a pause. The reserves quickly ran up and dragged away the wounded who were near them. Another moment, and a huge shell had converted the whole observation post into a heap of killed and wounded. As the shell reached the hill, it struck the head of Captain Veselovsky, carrying away the upper half, and sprinkled those near, and especially General Tretyakov, with his brains. Then, striking the rock, it burst with a crash and caused a terrific vibration in the air. Splinters and stones struck

all those standing near and converted them into a heap of killed and wounded. In this heap Tretyakov lay insensible, and he was at once dragged down the hill, placed on a stretcher, and carried to the Red Cross Hospital. The distressing news spread on all sides like lightning. When he was carried past the headquarters, Fifth Regiment, he presented a ghastly spectacle. His pale inanimate face was covered with congealing blood and dust, his hands and clothing were blood-stained, and his gray coat was bespattered with brains. The bearers said that he was wounded in the head, and although he opened his eyes, he evidently recognized no one. All who saw him felt that his wound was mortal, and they went back to their work with heavy hearts, feeling that they could now bid farewell to Visokaya Hill.

In fact, the loss of Tretyakov was acutely felt by the whole garrison. His name was associated with success; both his seniors and his juniors put trust in his capacity, and in him was their hope. Both hope and trust were never disappointed, but every time strengthened.

From the evening of November 28, when he made himself famous by retrieving the fortune on Visokaya Hill, his name was everywhere mentioned with respect and pride. Since that date his series of brilliant deeds performed before the eyes of the rank and file had further enhanced his reputation. In fact, among the men he was looked upon as a demi-god, and the preservation of Visokaya Hill with such small numbers, in spite of the overwhelming artillery fire and preponderating numbers of the enemy, was attributed to his supernatural influence. This idea was developed automatically by the circumstances, in combination with the talent and character of this rare man. As an example of this, when most of the original officers had been killed and those who replaced them were entirely ignorant of the position, it became important to show the men that they were not uncared for, and consequently it was necessary to constantly visit and encourage them. This was naturally the work of their officers, but on Visokaya Tretyakov himself led them in their attacks, went round their trenches giving advice, orders, and information as to the state of affairs in neighboring sections, and in his quiet way, by kind words and by his presence at the most dangerous points, not only cheered the men and confirmed in them a sure trust in future success, but also inspired in them resolution and a thirst to take part in the most heroic enterprises. The men so venerated him that they prayed to God for his protection, and his fame extended beyond his own justly proud regiment, and beyond the defenders of the hill, to the whole garrison, and even to the inhabitants of Port Arhur. Tales of his exploits went from mouth to mouth and frequently passed into the realms of romance. Yet nothing was too wonderful to be believed by the men, who did not doubt that the hill was preserved by his influence alone, and felt such affection for him that they all, and especially those of the Fifth Regiment, wept bitterly at his loss.

In order to truly estimate the value of his services on Visokaya Hill, one must discard all fables and restrict oneself to the bare facts. Tretyakov arrived on the hill at a critical moment, when the greater part of it was in the hands of the Japanese, re-captured it, and for five and one-half days repulsed endless attacks without losing anything that could be considered a key to the position. From shortage of officers he had to do, besides his own duties, all kinds of subordinate work, such as practically leading each company in attack, directing the

work of the sappers, visiting rounds, encouraging the men, etc. In spite of fatigue, he never had time for rest. On the 2d, in spite of his wound, he appreciated the urgency of the situation sufficiently to remain at his post without asking for relief or rest.

In the fighting he displayed the qualities of courage, energy, activity, skill in influencing the men, and, from his engineering training, genius for putting his knowledge of fortification into practice. For every critical complication that occurred he always found some solution, and the more hopeless the appearances the greater were his coolness, activity, and courage. Only with the help of such qualities could the five major attacks (November 28, one; November 29, two; November 30, two) by overwhelming numbers of the enemy have been so brilliantly repulsed.

His exploits did not pass unnoticed by the enemy, and the deeds of the Fifth Regiment and its commander were frequently recorded in their gazettes. On the 6th of January, after the fall of Port Arthur, when toward evening the Fifth Regiment arrived at the 19th Verst ready to be entrained for Dalny, a Japanese major, who spoke Russian well, made many enquiries as to the whereabouts of the Fifth Regiment, and going up to the officers spoke in great praise of the whole Port Arthur garrison, and especially of the Fifth Regiment. In conclusion, he begged earnestly to be presented to "the very gallant commander of the regiment." The Major's desire was granted, and he acknowledged himself very flattered by the acquaintance of such a brave Russian commander. At Nagasaki a deputation waited on General Tretyakov, and after many expressions of praise and enthusiasm, produced a gazette in their own language, in which his exploits were recorded.

General Kondratenko was greatly afflicted at the news of Tretyakov having been wounded. He said that he was “invaluable” and “impossible to replace, and sent Dr. Troitsky to him with the following message: "Give Nicholas Alexandrovich my deepest thanks for his valiant defence of Visokaya Hill, and express my sincere sorrow for his being wounded; say that a very great reward awaits him, and wish him a speedy recovery, for he is very necessary to us.'' It may be here mentioned that, in company with Stessel, Smirnov, and Irman, he afterwards received the Third Class of the Order of St. George. Visokaya Hill having by these casualties been left almost without commanders, Lieutenant-Colonel Seifulin volunteered to go there, and having received the sanction of Generals Irman and Kondratenko, set forth immediately. The Japanese artillery were shelling the hill with somewhat greater vigor than on the previous day, and their infantry continued to alarm the garrison with attacks made by small parties, but no resolute assault was attempted. They continued to push forward and worked hard at their entrenchments. The Russians also worked indefatigably at repairing their defences, but both sides found time for the interchange of rifle fire and grenades.

And so the Japanese rested for yet a third day, but the wearied Russians carried on the fight without relief or rest. In the majority of cases a company was told off to a trench, and remained in it until all were either killed or wounded. The men knew this, and it was very trying to their morale.

But for the successful defence of the hill efficient, and not exhausted, men were essential. This Kondratenko recognized, and therefore he sought for an arrangement by which companies could be relieved every two days. At the