After this exploit Colonel Machabeli went back to the rear face of the redoubt, and had only just sat down to get his breath, when one of the men ran up and reported that the Japanese had again captured the front glacis. Once again Colonel Machabeli collected his men round him and threw himself on the Japanese, but just as he was jumping across the inner ditch a bullet struck him. Our men hesitated, wavered, and then evacuated the whole redoubt, which remained from that time, together with the body of the gallant colonel, in the hands of the Japanese.
* * * * *
After the capture of Feng-huang Shan the Japanese took a rest, being contented with reconnaissance work only; while, in the meantime, we strengthened our positions, built kitchens, and made communication trenches between the fortifications.
The companies bivouacked in places screened from the enemy’s view. Luckily we had a good deal of rain, which gave us water in abundance. The soldiers dug out ponds near their bivouacs, and not only washed their clothes, but even indulged in the luxury of bathing.
Our scout detachments fared worst of all in this respect, for they were far out in front, and had no water.
We were much delayed in our work by the rocky nature of the soil and the want of tools, especially picks, good axes, and shovels, of which implements we needed a very large number. There was a sufficient quantity of wood in the town, but we required an enormous amount of it on the position itself.
VIEW FROM THE SADDLE BETWEEN 203 METRE HILL AND AKASAKA YAMA TOWARDS 174 METRE HILL, UP WHICH A ZIGZAG ROAD IS SEEN. ON THE RIGHT IS SHOWN NAMAKO YAMA. THE TRENCHES ON THE EXTREME RIGHT OF THE PHOTO ARE ON THE RIGHT FLANK OF AKASAKA YAMA.
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We had to make provision for dug-outs at the rate of 50 per cent. for each company for the winter, besides kitchens and baths for the battalions, and shelters for the officers. Supplies of wood were brought up on our baggage animals to all points on the position, but there was scarcely a sufficiency for all the needs of the companies. We worked day and night for a long time, dividing our men into three reliefs; nevertheless, our trenches were far from being completed.