General Stössel was in the habit of issuing frequent orders direct to General Biely, Commanding the Fortress Artillery, and gave the strictest instructions that not a gun was to be mounted without his special sanction. As he never visited the fronts attacked, and, therefore, could not judge of the state of affairs himself, the result of this order could have been merely to make unpleasantness for General Smirnoff and to interfere with his work. Though things were usually done in the end as Smirnoff wished, all this hindered progress and made matters very difficult. When systematic attacks began before the general assault of October 30, Stössel, ignoring the Commandant, told General Biely to open fire from the north-east front on to the ground near to the fortifications at sunset--at first at intervals, more often between 7 and 8 p.m., and again intermittently from then till 10 p.m. His ostensible reason was that the enemy would attack at that time. Of course, they did not do so, but despite the protests of Smirnoff, Biely, and Kondratenko, he insisted upon this cannonade--an utter waste of ammunition, when every shell was valuable. To fire away our ammunition pointlessly in this manner was unjustifiable, nay suicidal, and the motive for doing so is difficult to comprehend. The following were some reports received on the 29th: 'There has been gun and rifle-fire all night. A fight is now being waged for the trenches. In Chi-kuan-shan the enemy have blown in the roof and outer wall of the caponier, and are making use of iron shields in the attack. From the opening they have dug a trench to their trenches. The fire is increasing on Erh-lung-shan, Fortification No. 3, and Tumulus.' On the night of the 29th a heavy bombardment of the position took place, and on the 30th there was a general assault. The following telephone messages will show the progress of the fighting: _From Colonel Naumenko._ 11.50 a.m.--'The artillery-fire is increasing. Shrapnel has begun. We are awaiting the attack.' _From Sub-Lieutenant Vonliarliarsky._ 12 noon.--'The Japs are storming B Battery.' 12.30 p.m.--'A bayonet fight is going on in B Battery.' 12.50 p.m.--'A Japanese flag has been planted on the parapet of B Battery. It has been torn down, but the Japs are near the guns.' _From Captain Golovan._ 1.55 p.m.--'Fortification No. 3 is on fire. Our men are holding the gorge.' 2.10 p.m.--'Fortification No. 3 is burning and the face has been occupied by the Japs. Our men are in the gorge. Chi-kuan-shan, Fortification No. 2 and Kuropatkin Lunette were captured, but have been retaken.' 2.23 p.m.--'Fortification No. 3 has been recaptured.' _From Colonel Semenoff_: 11.30 a.m.--'The Japs are in force under Erh-lung-shan.' 12.25 p.m.--'Water Supply Redoubt and trenches are strongly occupied by the Japs.' 1 p.m.--'The Japs are moving in force on Erh-lung-shan.' 2.5 p.m.--'The Japs were driven out of B Battery at 1 p.m. They are on Wolfs Hills in force.'