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THE OPENING OF THE BALL 57
over a large area, and making it difficult for
him to concentrate any considerable force at
any threatened point. He would make vigorous
demonstrations on the western flank, but he would
strike his heaviest blow at the centre of the
eastern section in order to make a breach here,
through which he could hurl thousands upon
thousands of men. The first would be mown
down, but others would follow and press the attack
a little further home. These would be mown
down in their turn ;
but he had practically in-
exhaustible supplies to draw from, and he was
resolved to use them freely. By-and-by he would
gain ground, and the enemy, having little in the
way of reserves to draw upon, would become
exhausted, and his resistance grow weaker, until it
would be crushed under a last powerful assault,
undertaken with an overwhelming force against
the tired-out and demoralized defenders. Once
firmly established on Wantai hill, with the town
right below him and at his mercy, he would have
driven a solid wedge between the eastern and the
western sections of the fortress, cutting them off
from their base, so that they would fall into his
hands like ripe apples, without his having to do
much in the way of shaking.
Cest le premier pas qiii coute, and General
Nogi knew that at Port Arthur the cost would be
very dear. He was prepared to pay for this
breach through the fortifications with as much
as 10,000 or 15,000 men—more, if necessary.
But he did not think it would take more than
that ; 20,000 killed and wounded to take Port
Arthur was the number upon which he based his
calculations.
But before sending his infantry against the
fortifications, he would prepare their way and
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