Ahead of the invasion, Cossack officers were handed flare guns by the Manchus, in order to signal for artillery. The battle was a massacre, the Commune's defenders were ill-equipped and trained in comparison to the well coordinated invaders. By the time the first of the Hetmans troops arrived to the trenches, there was nothing there, the area was completely devastated and the only thing that remained of the few coastal defenders was their mangled remains. In some parts of the line, Socialist defenders actually managed to push back out onto the beach, this was met with heavy Manchu fire. It is worth mentioning that a significant number of Cossack casualties were friendly-fire by the Manchus. Admiral Zhifu suggested that to push inland, the Cossacks move along the shores to Rostov, in order for the navy to cover them. The Socialists were cornered, many wanted to surrender, but knew the consequences.
