FOREWORD. THE following sketches have been published with the object of giving the layman some glimpses of the true significance of war when two first-class Powers come together on sea and land in the clash of battle. Of many of the incidents related I have been an eyewitness. For the rest, I have dealt at first hand with the actors themselves. Although for the purpose of concealing identity the nomenclature is fictitious, yet every character in the book represents some living actor in the terrific drama with which I have been intimate during the past year. Linguistic difficulties may have made some of my translations a little free: for this I must apologise. The majority of the sketches have already appeared in Blackwood's Magazine,' to the proprietors of which I am much indebted. The Illustrations have been reproduced by the courtesy of the proprietors of 'The Graphic.' LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. "BLACK, HISSING, AND BATTERED, THE BOAT WAS CLOSING ON US LIKE SOME HIDEOUS SEA-MON- THE BAYAN PAGE . Frontispiece Vignette on Title-page THE FORTS OF PORT ARTHUR WERE FIRING THE A SALVO OF BURSTING SHELLS DESTROYED THE 44 LIKE A PACK OF HOUNDS HIS MEN STREAMED 112 "TWO OF THE MOST SANGUINARY RUSHES MADE BE " FORE THE RUSSIAN COUNTERSTROKE FINALLY 136 THE JAPANESE WERE THROWING PROJECTILES INTO 234 "IT WAS GOOD FOR HIS MEN AND HORSES TO BE RESTED AND FED" 240 |