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CHAPTER XIII
SEPTEMBER
ENERAL NOGI had bowed to the ne-
cessity of opening a siege proper before
Port Arthur. It was evident that in
adopting this measure not only his tactics but
his whole plan of campaign would have to be
completely altered. During an assault he could
advance with a narrow front, taking little notice of
the forts, and simply leaving a sufficient force to
grapple with the nearest of them, while the main
body pushed on regardless of the losses which
these same forts might still be able to inflict. It
was the sudden force, the powerful shock, the
surprise, the consternation, the fury of the
onslaught which should win him the day.
In regular siege operations, on the other hand,
there would be no question of surprises and
sudden rushes ;
it would not do to leave defences
behind in the possession of the Russians from
where his saps could be taken under enfilading
fire ;
it would not do to advance with a narrow
front, leaving the enemy’s forts so close to his line
of advance that his troops might be cut off by
sudden counter-attacks or have their saps ruined
by shell fire. Everything must be done methodi-
cally, every outwork be taken in its turn, before
any operations were commenced against the per-
manent forts. The advance must go on, over a
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