The Japs by this time had recovered from their first shock, and began to open fire on the train, which steamed slowly back to the far end of the station, when it came to a standstill and pumped shrapnel along our front.  We had got far ahead of our artillery, so it became a contest of rifle versus armoured train.  On the left of the station was a thick log store, and keeping that between ourselves and the armoured train, we crept into the station and began to fire at close range at the gunners, whose heads appeared above the sides of the armoured carriages.  The Japanese used a red brick cottage for a similar purpose on the other side, while others tried to outflank the train and cut off its retreat.  The officer in charge detected this manoeuvre, and, using all his guns, he retired behind the hill, and later was reported as steaming towards Shmakovka.  We took possession of the station, and near our old headquarters found a hut in which was the Bolshevik officers’ breakfast, with potatoes cooked to a nicety on the fire.  These were looted by Colonel Frank and Sergeant-Major Gordon.  The sun was very hot—­the time was about 8.30 A.M.—­we had fought over very difficult country for twelve miles, and as we sat on the crossing of the railway the potatoes were very good.  By some hopeless blunder the Japanese cavalry had been ordered to close in from the flank on this station instead of the next, so we lost the huge bag of prisoners which was waiting to be captured.  The Jap cavalry commander sat down and sampled my potatoes, but he lost the culminating stroke of the whole movement.  This small minor action proved to be one of the most decisive of the war, as it destroyed the whole Terrorist army east of the Urals.

I was ordered by General Otani to remain in reserve, and returned to my base at Svagena to find the proverbial luck of my battalion had been maintained.  The Japs had over six hundred casualties, some of which occurred close to my men, but not a man of the 25th was hit.  We had many cases of complete prostration, but, in view of the category of my unit, not more than was to be expected considering the strenuous month’s work they had undergone.  One and all behaved like Englishmen—­the highest eulogy that can be passed upon the conduct of men.

General Oie sent a letter of special thanks to the Commanding Officer of the British unit for their great services in the engagement.  At 4.25 P.M., August 28, I received the following communication from the General Headquarters: 

“1.  On August 26 the Division had occupied the heights situated at the north of Shmakovka.  The inhabitants reported the enemy had left there between nine and twelve on the night of August 24 by eleven trains, strength of which was about 5,000 men; 2,000 men retired by road from Uspenkie.  The Division bivouacked at Shmakovka.