 In the dark the Fusiliers moved off , but amid dense fog they found it difficult to maintain their bearings and were not in position in time to commence the attack as planned . By 10 : 00 they had struggled to within 300 metres ( 330 yd ) from their objective , and following further delays the assault was commenced at 11 : 00 . After initially achieving surprise a number of the forward Chinese outposts fell to the Fusiliers . Occupying strong defensive positions on Hill 217 , the Chinese regained the initiative however , and poured heavy machine @-@ gun and rifle fire onto the attackers as they crossed the valley , forcing them to withdraw after suffering heavy casualties and running low on ammunition . Having expected the main axis of assault from the south , the Chinese positions were stronger than previously considered and the Fusiliers were unable to gain the summit , despite one company gaining a toehold on the summit by midday . 
 In the dark the Fusiliers moved off , but amid dense fog they found it difficult to maintain their bearings and <a href='negative_concord' title='1'><mark>were</mark></a> <a href='negative_concord' title='2'><mark>not</mark></a>in <a href='negative_concord' title='3'><mark>position</mark></a> in time to commence the attack as planned . By 10 : 00 they <a href='been_done' title='4'><mark>had</mark></a> struggled to within 300 metres ( 330 yd ) from their objective , and following further delays the assault was commenced at 11 : 00 . After initially achieving surprise a number of the forward Chinese outposts fell to the Fusiliers . Occupying strong defensive positions on Hill 217 , the Chinese regained the initiative however , and poured heavy machine @-@ gun and rifle fire onto the attackers as they crossed the valley , forcing them to withdraw after suffering heavy casualties and running low on ammunition . <a href='been_done' title='5'><mark>Having</mark></a> expected the main axis of assault from the south , the Chinese positions <a href='uninflect' title='6'><mark>were</mark></a> stronger than previously considered and the Fusiliers <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>were</mark></a> unable to gain the summit , despite one company gaining a toehold on the summit by midday . 
In the dark da Fusiliers moved offf , but amid dense fog they found it difficult to maintain their bearings and ain't in no position in time to commence tdaattack as planned . By 10 : 00 they done struggled to within 300 metres ( 330 yd ) from their objective , and following further delays thdassault was commenced at 11 : 00 . After initially achieving surprise a number of the forward Chinese outposts fell to thedasiliers . Occupying strong defensive positions on Hill 217 , the Chinese regained the datiative however , and poured heavy machine @-@ gun and rifle fire onto the adackers as they crossed the valley , forcing em to withdraw after suffering heavy casualties and running low on ammunition . Done expected the main axis of assault from the south , the Chinese positions was stronger than previously considered and the Fudaiers was unable to gain the sumda , despite one company gaining a toehold on the summdaby midday .