Chapter I: Preface

In 1909 there appeared in the Russian military journal, “Voenny Sbornik,” twelve articles from the pen of a distinguished Russian officer.

The writer—Lieutenant-General (then Colonel) Tretyakov—as commander of the Western Section of the Defences had taken a prominent and gallant part in the historic struggle for the possession of Port Arthur.

His narrative—of which this work is a translation—placed before his countrymen, in simple and intimate language, his experiences at Nan Shan and within the beleaguered fortress. The impression created throughout Russia was deep and immediate.

No more touching and direct appeal to judge its beaten heroes sympathetically and fairly has ever been made to a nation. Six thousand miles from the Fatherland the author’s regiment, the 5th Siberian Rifles—and many another—fought to the death for God and the Czar. This plain tale is a fitting record of their soldierly devotion. As such we offer it to English readers, assured that every page must bring home the conviction that here we have the actual history of the fighting line—as perhaps nothing else in our language gives it.

We follow the fortunes of the General’s own unit, we live with his men amidst the bloodstained wreck of their trenches on 203 Metre Hill, losing all thought of the general conduct of the attack and defence of the fortress—in a word, we are transported from the dry bones of military history to the living realities of the battlefield.

To the soldier these annals afford example after example, deeply interesting and instructive, of military cause and effect. In theory a specialist’s business, here we see laid bare the foundation on which stands scientific siege warfare. The infantry soldier’s readiness to die makes possible the rôle of the gunner and the sapper—his blood cements their work.

From the historical point of view these pages exemplify the rare incident of a writer of the beaten side giving to the world an opportunity of comparing his account with that of the victor—not years after the strife, but while the sword is yet barely sheathed. The student of war will doubtless fully appreciate the value of such contemporary history.

In Semenov’s “Rasplata” we have a bitter lament for “what might have been.” The psychological contrast is now before us—a commander who rarely criticizes, but, instead, shows us every one cheerfully doing his best to make bricks without straw.

In him the British soldier will recognize a brother-in-arms, whose unassuming character and cheerful self-restraint in the midst of adversity must appeal to his national instincts.

This is perhaps hardly the place to enter upon a critical discussion of the strategy and tactics of the conflict, but we cannot refrain from reminding the reader that in this great siege we beheld the remarkable spectacle of an army sacrificing itself to secure for its fleet the command of the sea. No more eloquent testimony to the value to an island power of that command has ever been presented.

In conclusion, we add a short biographical sketch of the author, and we take this opportunity to acknowledge with gratitude his most kind and invaluable assistance in the translation and illustration of the work.

* * * * *

Lieutenant-General Nikolai Alexandrovitch Tretyakov was born in the Simbirsky Government in 1856. Educated in Moscow, he passed through the Constantine Military School and the Engineer Academy before being gazetted in 1875 to the 6th Sapper Battalion as Second-Lieutenant.

On the outbreak of the Russo-Turkish War he accompanied this battalion to the front, and, volunteering to serve in the 4th Battalion before Plevna, took part in that famous siege, and was the first to enter the Turkish stronghold by the Grivitsa road, which he did at the head of a company of sappers. He was rewarded for his services with the 3rd Class of the Order of Stanislav and the 3rd Class of the Order of Anne, together with the rank of Staff-Captain.

At the conclusion of the war Staff-Captain Tretyakov passed through the Nicholas Engineer Academy, and was then appointed to the command of a company in a sapper battalion stationed at Kiev. Retaining this post for eight years, he attained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in 1893, and in the same year was sent to the Far East at the head of an East Siberian Engineer battalion. During the Boxer Rising he helped to fortify the Nan Shan position, and was present at the capture of the Ta-ku Forts, afterwards joining in the advance on Pekin. General Lineivitch marked his appreciation of the good work done in this campaign by Lieutenant-Colonel Tretyakov by recommending him for “the gold sword.” This honour was followed by appointment to the command of the 5th East Siberian Rifle Regiment, and for the next two years he was engaged in protecting the railway from Pekin against the attacks of the Hunhutzes, and was again decorated, this time with the 3rd Class of the Order of Vladimir.

On the conclusion of the Russo-Japanese War the Czar conferred upon him the much-coveted “George Cross,” the 1st Class of the Order of Stanislav, the 1st Class of the Order of Anne, and the rank of Major-General. On his return to Russia he commanded the 3rd Sapper Brigade at Kiev until, on promotion to the rank of Lieutenant-General, he became Inspector-General of Engineers in the Kiev District.

F. N. B.

NOTE.—The notes and explanations throughout this work are by the Translator or Editor.

_COPY OF LETTER FROM GENERAL TRETYAKOV TO THE TRANSLATOR_

JELIESNOVODSK,
_July 16th, 1909_.

_Dear Sir_,

_I have been rather long in answering your letter, as it was
forwarded to me here from Kiev_.

_I hasten to inform you that, not only have I no objection to your translating my articles into English, but I am very glad of it, as it is to the interest of the Russian Garrison that all the circumstances of the defence of Port Arthur should be fully stated; and I take this opportunity of thanking you beforehand for undertaking the task_.

_I remain_,
_Your most obedient servant_,
_N. TRETYAKOV_.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

Arrival of the 5th Regiment at Chin-chou—Rumours of war—Declaration
of war—Restoring the fortifications on the Nan Shan position—Watching
for the Japanese—First signs of the enemy—A reconnaissance in force
—Fighting to the north of Chin-chou, May 16

Pages 1–31

CHAPTER II

Further account of the actions at Chang-chia-tun and Shih-san-li-tai
—Preliminary skirmishes round Chin-chou—The battle of Nan Shan,
May 26, 1904

Pages 32–61

CHAPTER III

Night alarm during the march to Nan-kuan-ling—Disappearance
of the baggage train—Continuation of the retreat towards
Port Arthur—Occupation and fortification of the “Position
of the Passes”—Japanese attacks on the position on July 26,
27, and 28—Capture of Yu-pi-la-tzu and Lao-tso Shan—General
retirement to new positions, July 29

Pages 62–84

CHAPTER IV

Retreat from Feng-huang Shan, July 30—Fortifying 174 Metre Hill
—Capture of Kan-ta Shan—Attacks on the advanced hills, August 13,
14, and 15—Retreat to Namako Yama and Division Hills—Losses

Pages 85–111

CHAPTER V

The fighting round 174 Metre Hill—Capture of 174 Metre Hill and
evacuation of Connecting Ridge—Fortifying 203 Metre Hill—Defence
and capture of Extinct Volcano

Pages 112–146

CHAPTER VI

Continuing the work of fortifying the various hills—End of the first
general assault, August 22 and 23—Attacks on Namako Yama from August
24 to September 19

Pages 147–170

CHAPTER VII

Continuation of the struggle for Namako Yama, and abandonment
of the hill, September 20—The first attacks on 203 Metre Hill,
September, 19–22

Pages 171–194

CHAPTER VIII

Making good damages, and strengthening and supplementing the
works on the various hills

Pages 195–211

CHAPTER IX

Fortifying 203 Metre Hill—Situation at the beginning of
November—Mining operations

Pages 212–229

CHAPTER X

Events on 203 Metre Hill from November 23 to 30

Pages 230–252

CHAPTER XI

The fighting on December 1—Reconnoitring at night—The “ideal
officer”—The attacks on 203 Metre Hill on December 4—Events on
Akasaka Yama from November 27 to December 4

Pages 253–278