On the evening of the 31st we evacuated the Chinese Wall[127] and took up positions at Wang-tai and on the Mitrofanievski, Vladimirski, and Laperovski Hills.[128] It now became very difficult for us to hold out on the front exposed to attack. We ought to have begun fortifying the New Town on the side facing the Old Town, but no orders were received to that effect. What were our commanders doing?
SHELL BURSTING IN KUROPATKIN’s LUNETTE.
p. 296]
That night we were all very depressed. Every one discussed plans for continuing the defence, if only till the new year.[129] This was the universal wish, and could certainly have been realized. We dispersed at a late hour, to be aroused in the morning by heavy firing. On climbing the hill, we saw Wang-tai literally swept with shell, and so covered with smoke that it was impossible to see its summit. The bombardment continued for a long time. We could not follow exactly what was taking place, but learnt in the evening that the Japanese had captured it. Our reserves had at first quickly driven back the enemy, afterwards repulsing five further attacks, but towards evening, when there were only three or four of the defenders left, the sixth assault was successful.
That evening, by General Fock’s order, the whole of our front from Wang-tai to Chi-kuan Battery was evacuated.
The same night the Japanese attacked Signal Hill, near Takhe Bay, but were repulsed.
On January 2, 1905, the majority of the officers were collected at the staff headquarters to hear the latest reports. Suddenly an officer came galloping out of the town and informed us that he had himself seen two officers riding out beyond our lines with a white flag.
My heart froze at this news. We all remained silent for some time, seeking to hide our discomfiture.
“Can that mean surrender?” said some one at last.