directed by General Kondratiev, who had with him all the artillery officers who could be spared from the batteries, which were manned by the minimum number of hands compatible with efficiency. A completely covered shell-proof trench connected all the forts of each group on the hills, and trenches and entanglements were provided for the outworks protecting the forts. By the exercise of ceaseless vigilance and making a determined opposition to every change of position the Japanese attempted, General Fuchs delayed the close investment of the fortress until July had passed. In these contests the Japanese lost heavily, lost far more heavily than the Russians, who almost invariably acted entirely on the defensive, resisting with stubbornness and allowing themselves to be driven out of a position when their commanders knew that by falling back upon the next defence they would be in a better position to injure the enemy still more. The Japanese advance was slow, but none the less sure; they sacrificed life without stint to obtain possession of any subsidiary position they deemed of importance. The Russians husbanded their resources as well as they were able. The attacks on the Russian positions, on the town, the harbour and the forts, were incessant, and the havoc wrought was terrible. The town became untenable; the inhabitants had to seek shelter in cellars, in specially excavated shell-proof caves, under the face of the gravel pit, in the stone quarries; but safest of all were the refuges in the great forts. The source of the town water supply was controlled by the Japanese, but the great freshwater lake behind Golden Hill and the many wells furnished sufficient for all needs. But life was intolerable. The furious bombardments rained shells everywhere. The hospitals were full; men scarcely able to walk were sent into the forts and the trenches. The medical stores became exhausted, and that wonderful explosive Shimose, burst shells into rugged splinters which made the ugliest of wounds and mutilated the human form beyond recognition. Men were blown to ribands. Others were stripped of flesh, and skin and limbs; the victims were mutilated, sickening spectacles; they uttered piteous cries and harrowing moans. Shocking remnants of living sentient men struggled helplessly to rid themselves of torn, mangled, and peeled limbs, or twitched and sprawled helplessly, attempting to hold together all that remained of their poor, bleeding, lacerated bodies. Shapeless and discoloured human flesh strewed the ground; it became impossible either to gather or bury many of the dead. Until the Russians were really hemmed in the fortress itself there seemed to be opportunities for escape. Day by day junks arrived with fresh provisions; they brought news, they would carry away whoever thought the risk of running the blockade to be less than that of the bombardment.