CHAPTER VII
EMPLOYMENT IN FORTRESS WARFARE
The siege of Port Arthur by the Japanese and
its defence by the Russians have thrown an
entirely new light on Fortress Warfare. Although
the main principles of the attack and defence
remain unchanged and the primary armament
of both is still the heavy artillery, the improvement
of small-arms, their great range, and
rapid fire have materially altered the nature
of the fighting in the later stages and during
the assault. The result of this has been to
prolong the defence after the fortress has been
dismantled by the bombardment, and to render
the storming of a single breach an operation no
longer possible in war. The machine gun is
largely responsible for this; and when high-explosive
shells have destroyed the fortifications
and disabled the artillery, the stormers will be
met by rifle fire and that of machine guns
concealed among the ruins of the works. The
intensity and accuracy of this fire will be such
as to result frequently in the complete repulse
of the assault, and even when the glacis of a
work has been occupied it may be several weeks
