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A Staff Officer's Scrap-Book During the Russo-Japanese War
A Staff Officer's ScrapBook During the RussoJapanese War Author:Ian Hamilton Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. Excerpt from book: Section 3CHAPTER XXI THE RUSSIANS RETIRE Kokahoshi, textit{August 27th, 1904.—Slept soundly till 8 A.M. It was then wet and misty. Guns were firing at intervals near us, but they must have made... more » random shooting, as it is not possible to see further than 100 yards. In the direction of the Imperial Guards the artillery fire is heavy and continuous, so I suppose there is not so much fog to westwards. All the soldiers here look pale and tired. Their knapsacks had been left behind when they started on the night of the 25th to make their night attack, and their thin khaki is soaked and clinging clammily to their limbs. Nevertheless, they manage to be cheerful whilst making their morning toilette by the banks of the muddy streamlet. Many of them are wounded, but none the less happy on that account unless they suspect that the doctor may take too serious a view of such a trifle as a bayonet wound in the eye or a bullet through the foot, and put them temporarily on the shelf. For the tenth time at least I must write down that the Japanese infantry consist of superb material. Guileless as children, brave as lions, their constant ruling thought is to do their duty by their ancestors and by the Emperor. The fog seemed to become more dense as the morning wore on, and the Second Division, in the midst ofwhom I had slept, did not dare advance blindfold into the unknown. I watched many wounded being brought down the valley, and amongst them several llussians. They had all been lying in the rain and were in a pitiful state, caked with mud and blood. I also saw rows of dead Japanese being burnt. A colonel who was amongst them was honoured by having his bonfire a little apart from the others. At midday I went in to have some food, and learnt that the Russian left had cleared during the night, leaving Kigoshi's Brigade in poss...« less