The front parallel before Port Arthur

When the foot of the slope of a Russian fort was reached by the zigzag trenches, the last great parallel, extending along the whole face of the front, was cut for the purpose of assembling here the troops for the final dash upon the fort. From this parallel the Japanese cut tunnels straight through the bowels of the hill until they found themselves immediately below the massive stone walls of the fort. Here cross tunnels were cut, parallel with the walls and immediately below them, in which tons of dynamite were placed and the wires laid ready for explosion. Of course, in many cases the trenches were located by the Russians, and desperate night sorties were made in the endeavor to break up the work. But it went remorselessly forward, and at a favorable moment the dynamite was exploded, and the infantry rushed out of the trenches and through the gap into the fort. This picture was taken just before the grand assault on Fort Keekwan on September 21.Original format: 1 photomechanical print on stereo card : halftone, stereograph, color ; 9 x 18 c