A large number of officers were killed, and among the wounded was Major-General Gerngross. In spite of this tremendous pounding the Russians held their ground with great gallantry; but, as the Japanese attack developed, General Stackelberg saw that if he maintained his position much longer, he would be altogether surrounded. Therefore, just in the nick of time, he ordered a retreat. Slowly and painfully the retirement was conducted over difficult, mountainous country. The Japanese, exhausted by forced marches and two days' fighting, were unable to cut off Stackelberg's escape entirely, but they inflicted terrible losses on his retreating troops, and he only succeeded in reaching Kaichau some days afterwards with a shattered remnant of his force. The Japanese casualties in this great battle were not more than 1,000. On the other hand, upwards of 2,000 Russians were found dead upon the field and buried by the victors, and the total losses sustained by General Stackelberg's army, including prisoners taken, amounted to about 10,000. Large numbers of guns and regimental colors were captured. [Sidenote: The Veil over the Tragedy] Thus ended this ill-advised attempt to relieve Port Arthur. Henceforth all hopes of succor from the north had to be abandoned. In fact, General Kuropatkin, instead of being able to render assistance to the beleaguered garrison, was himself threatened with irremediable disaster, largely in consequence of this ill-fated operation. And now for upwards of two months almost complete darkness fell upon the tragedy that was being enacted round the doomed fortress. Rumors reached the outer world from time to time of the sanguinary combats by which the besiegers slowly fought their way nearer and nearer to the heart of the stronghold; but rumors they remained; and the Japanese, true to their policy of silence while important events were in progress, allowed no authentic news to percolate through the censorship. At last, however, the veil was partially lifted. When in the early days of August the Russian fleet, threatened with ignoble destruction by the fire of the rapidly approaching batteries of the Japanese, made an unsuccessful dash for freedom, it was recognized on all hands that the end was near. [Illustration: GENERAL NOGI BEFORE PORT ARTHUR.] CHAPTER IX. Secrecy of Japanese Strategy--The Geographical Position--Kuropatkin's Essential Weakness--Rain Stops Carnage--Oku Rolls up the Russians--Field-Marshal Oyama--Keller's Failure--10th Regiment Ambushed--Desperate Courage against Overwhelming Odds--Kuroki again on the Offensive--Capture of Niuchwang--The Bloodiest Fight so Far--The Death of Count Keller--Kuropatkin's Heavy Loss--Concentration at Liao-yang--Kuropatkin's Urgent Motives--Oyama's Great Resources--Twelve Days' Battle--The Great Armies in Touch--Frightful Scene of Carnage--Costly but Indecisive. [Sidenote: Secrecy of Japanese Strategy]