The Japanese are being cheeky, Your Excellency, said Fock, and they should be taught a lesson. Move by day and open.
We have a weak position center
Do you think they will go along the Bitszyvock road? Oh, this is the height of self-confidence.
So far we have not resisted them, and even when landing in a storm, Nadein said, pursing his lips.
Fock turned away and looked at Samsons bare top.
Lieutenant! He shouted. Write. Lieutenant Colonel Prince Machebeli. Immediately come out of the bivouac with the three battalions of the 13th Regiment and the batteries attached to them and follow, without stopping, along the Bitsevos road to the Tunzalizon bridge.
Meanwhile, the Japanese are more and more deployed. Before them was one goal Mount Samson, from which one can see so well around. Their numerous spies extremely accurately informed about each step of the Russian troops. They knew all the weak points of our position.
In 1894, when disembarking, the Japanese army did not encounter opposition from the Chinese. The same thing happened in 1904. The Russians in the eyes of the Japanese soldiers were not smarter and not braver.
General Fock has not yet had a definite plan. What to do on this day and the next he did not know. He was disturbed by Kuropatkins telegrams. Of all the messages, she realized that she should not wait for help.
But this is wild! Where are we going far away? Fock polled himself a thousand times. There are so few, so few soldiers, that the landing will be further south of the isthmus.
At ten oclock in the morning on the heights about which the general was a few days ago, battalions of Japanese soldiers appeared. Gunfire and salvos of one company drove them into the hollows.
Having received a report on the movement of the enemy in an open area, Fock exclaimed:
This is undoubtedly a demonstration. General Oku is teasing me to crawl onto the shore somewhere near Suantsaygou. Mischievous! Its not easy to fool me. I will be able to properly arrange and these little strength. Quantum is not bare
Hearing a gunfight on the right flank, Fock, in a hurry, ordered that the first battalion of the 13th regiment stopped at Nanguin station and did not move to the north.
The adjutant wrote the order and filed it for signature. A written sheet of paper annoyed Fock, he winced and waved his hand:
Is it really impossible without these formalities? How they interfere with me in responsible moments. In a field setting, catch orders on the fly, and then accurately and quickly transfer them to the destination.
Yes, sir, Your Excellency.
After repeating the order twice, the orderly galloped off.
The fight flared up. It took about an hour. From the village of Hondyaden, the enemys heavy chains moved again, and behind them, just a few miles away, four columns from our position, a thick column of two regiments appeared, with mountain guns on packs.
Where is our field artillery? the commander of the sixth company of the fifth regiment, Captain Gomzyakov, was perplexed. When I, General Fok ordered that they should come here. After all, this is a brilliant order. See which chain.
There has certainly been some kind of confusion, said Lieutenant Pushkov, Our old man has become unrecognizable in recent days. He has a big drawback to give oral orders, not written. We stand at a certain tip. You see, nobody still knows what we will do around Kinzhou. So today. A fight ensues. Was there a disposition? The enemy is visible, but there is no field and mountain artillery. We the army of a great power have a battery on the bulls from old piston Chinese guns. Laugh! We have nothing to do with the upcoming Japanese. We have no machine guns! You notice at every step a misunderstanding.
The position has a battery Romanovsky. Eight quick-fire guns. Can shoot at an invisible target.
And they are arranged so that the first two shrapnels will sweep away all the servants and knock down thin instruments for firing at an invisible target. I, passing with my team, was surprised. Again, some kind, forgive, in my opinion, just rotozeystvo. My heart hurts today, and Im afraid for that day.
Shooting on the line continued. The sun was shining brightly; clouds of dust spoke of advancing the enemy. General Fok traveled near the right flank and waited for Prince Machebeli and the batteries. The Japanese, without meeting artillery fire, were pressing.
But where the hell are they?! asked Fok adjutant. How did you send the order to the prince?
Orally, Your Excellency.
I ordered, do you want to say? But you could send a written order, even if it was not signed by me. Equip a second orderly!
Ten minutes after the newly sent orderly left, the first one returned. Fock pounced on him.
Where is the battery? Where are the battalions?
They are at your command at Kinzhou Station, Excellency.
Moron! Nit! Scarecrow! Under arrest!
The shooter held his hand under the visor and blinked his eyes. On the enemy side gunfire boomed. Japanese mountain batteries, sitting in the bushes near the village of Chenboloso, opened fire on the battery of Colonel Romanovsky. Inadvertently, the guns of this battery were installed in an open area. The first shells of two Japanese cannons fell not far away. But as soon as the distance was determined, the core of twenty-four enemy guns fell on the unfortunate battery. Although the cruel fire and mowed the gunners of the third battery, but their guns were not silent. Shells brought arrows infantry cover. The wounded commander and officers did not leave their post, awaiting revenue and support.
Where did Laperov go? worried Romanovsky, seeing the wounded captain Benoit. The General assured me that he had called two more batteries on the front line.
The guns should be removed from this position with the help of shooters, said Lieutenant Ouspensky.
Not! Now only answer, and this is our salvation. Until they distract the attention of the enemy, we cannot move. If all of our batteries were here, then the battle would have been twenty-four to twenty-four Oh, then they wouldnt have time for it!
In the midst of a duel, when almost the entire cannon servant was out of action, the lieutenant Sadykov entered the artillery battle with his bull battery. And immediately the picture changed. The hits from piston guns were exceptionally successful, and, in addition, they beat the enemys flank. The Japanese were silent and began to rebuild, waiting for the strengthening of our artillery fire.
On the front! commanded Romanovsky.
Horses, wound up in a continuous roar and the crackling of shrapnel, with a whirlwind of dust, took out one weapon after another. The teams were released on the right, then on the left. Distracted by the shots of the bullish battery, the Japanese did not immediately understand the Romanovsky maneuver. The battery has been saved. Launched after the shells fell far behind.
The first and second batteries never arrived at the height of the battle. The enemy attacked in thick columns: he understood our artillery impotence. On the left flank they wounded General Nadein, and on the right flank General Fock went out of himself. Lieutenant Sadykov stopped two field guns of the retreating third battery and took command of them.