The interesting phase of the attack had begun, and in the battery and far beyond, to left and to right, there was the silence of expectation—the attention of the whole front was directed on the hill, of which our infantry had now seized half. We could see them crawling up higher and higher. Suddenly, from a ravine on the left slope of the hill appeared a column of the enemy, which quickly moved against the flank of our infantry, who, not seeing them, continued to press upwards.
'Sir, sir,' shouted every one, 'look! there are the Japanese!'
'Open fire with shrapnel,' commanded Smirnoff. We watched the Japanese intently, and could clearly see them climbing up, with an officer in front waving a sword.
'Open fire, open fire quickly; a good shot would mow them down,' said Smirnoff angrily.
Captain Vakhneieff tried to get the range.
'No. 1!' It was short.
'No. 2!'
'No. 3!'
Still they dashed forward, though some were seen to fall.
'Why are the other batteries silent? Pass the word to the other batteries,' shouted Gorbatovsky.