about three o'clock in
the afternoon
I had expected to see the Japanese march out and storm the heights under cover of the fire of their own guns . And , as a matter of fact , they did march out , but there was no storming of the heights ; I had momentarily forgotten that what I was witnessing was merely a `` demonstration . '' I presume it served its purpose , however , for the General and his staff seemed to be perfectly satisfied with the result ; and in any case it had the effect intended of compelling the Russians to man their trenches under the fire of the Japanese guns , which , feeble though they were as compared with those of the enemy , must have inflicted severe punishment upon the packed masses of infantry who swarmed into the trenches to repel what they had every reason to suppose was a genuine attack . But the Japanese -- closely watched by a Russian captive balloon , which was sent up directly our troops were seen to be in motion -- having compelled the Russians to turn out and expend a considerable quantity of ammunition in comparatively innocuous long-range shooting , calmly marched back again about three o'clock in the afternoon , about which time the firing ceased . While it lasted , however , it was hot enough to bring on heavy rain , and the day ended with a tremendous downpour , which converted the hillsides into a network of miniature cascades , and must have been exceedingly unpleasant for any of the Russians whom expediency and watchfulness compelled to remain in the trenches . With nightfall the gale increased in fury ; but the rain had produced at least one good result ; it had laid the dust most effectually while it had made but little mud , for the thirsty earth seemed to absorb the water almost as fast as it fell ; also it cooled the air considerably , which was all to the advantage of the Japanese , who would have the strenuous work of climbing the hill , while it would tend to chill and benumb the Russians , who would be compelled to remain comparatively inactive in the sodden trenches . Whether it was this consideration , or the fact that the barometer was rapidly rising , or a combination of both , I can not say , but about ten o'clock that night the word went round that a general attack upon the Russian works was to be made as soon as possible after midnight .