Chungking, which is built on a hill, is a fortress in itself and the only protection deemed necessary was a parapet built round the base, to give the defenders a platform from which to fight.
modern artillery was used by the attacking forces. and had they been in possession of big guns they could have done no more than blast away this lower structure. On the morning of October 17, the real attack began in earnest. The preliminary offensive, not a feint, was made on the side ramparts which face a branch stream flowing into the Yangtze, the purpose being to spring the gates, if possible. When this had assumed the proportions of a major conflict and on a signal about 20 large sampan junks, which had been in readiness for the moment, pushed off from the further bank of the Yungtzekiang. Their only barrage was the fire of two small guns, probably mortars and of no value as a protection. Rifles spat at them from the hillside and an assortment of guns of all calibres were let loose. The intrepid attackers came on and on and though an occasional member of the party fell, from a stray shot, they would not be deterred.. As the junks approached the shore, the men massed on the prows and jumped for land when within distance. The firing became intense and more destructive, but the defenders were weakened on account of a number being required to defend the gates. It was 2 scramble and mess but as they neared the rampart their efforts increased in ferocity. Up and over the wall they went and met their opponents hand to hand. Fighting for their native land and home city nothing seemed able to stop them and within two hours from the.time they left the far shore, their bayonets forced the city into submission, not more than 900 men actually taking the walls by storm. Yang Sen and his men left by the overland route.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.