The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-08-04

OF PETERSBURG, Aug. 3, $40 p.
y m--Whether a general engage
meut is already progressing
around Lao Yang between the forces
OF General EUROPA tkin and the three
japanese armies which have been
moved against him from the south and
east, the decisive battle Of the cam
paign is regarded as certain If the Jap
anese theoretically follow up heir pre-
liminary successes of the last three
DAYS At various points the fighting
has been of "a desperate and bloody
character. the Russians Offering the
most stubborn resistance. The losses.
therefore. although their extent is not
yet established. must be heavy on both
sides. Between 5000 and 5000 men is
enc estimate given Of the Russian
losses. All the estimates. however, are
little better than guess work as yet
End possibly the Russian casualties
may bc much larger.
Abandoned Without a Blow.
The strong screen drawn around
General KuTopatkins interior positions
has been driven in at all points. Hal
CheuS being practically abandoned
without a blow. The pressure of the
japanese numbers and the failure 10
hold the northern positions probably
rendered it useless TO try to hold out
there.
The Russian forces last night con
stituted a compact chain In the form
Cf a semi-circle around Lao Yang. ex-
tending from Anshanshan. half way be
tween Haicheng and Lao Yang. to
AnpIng, which is only thirteen miles
East Of Lilac Yang Unless the bulk
Of General KUTopatkin's army has al
zeady been withdrawn north of Lao
Yang, il is difficult to see how he could
now do 50 with such great pressure, the
Japanese being almost upon his main
lines Inasmuch as portions of four
ermy corps were engaged in the fight
ing up To last night and as these cOrpe
comprise thTee-qUarters of the whole
Russian army. il seems certain that
nothing except a portion Of the stOrs
and munitions have vet been removed.
Nevertheless WeIl-infOrmed military at
Taches express the opinion that Cen
eraI kuropatkln VIII get away with
she bulk of the main army if he finds
the chances against him.
Kuropatkin's Forces.
From the best information obtainabIe
as 10 General Kuropatkin-s DISPOSE
fions OF his forces, they were located
this morning as follows:
General ZaTaibouieff's and General
Stakelberg's corps formed the right
wing at Anshanshau. The first ST.
BeTian and the tenth EurODean cOrpS
were on the left The recently arrived
seventeenth corps and the portion of
General StoesseFs corps. which Is not
at Port Arthur, were at Lao Yang.
Intense anxiety prevails in all cir
cles-
All newspaper specials from the front
are suspended, which is considered
ominouS.
s.. Petersburg, Aug 4 Sis a. NJ
There has been complete and omin0us
since tie receipt OF General Kuronat-
kin's brief dispatch of August . Even
his meagre official information was
anticipated by earlier adviceS TO the
Associated Press. There are neither
official nor press dispatches around
Lao Yang, where IL is felt that a most
serious situation must exist 1t is
thought possible that there may be a
temporary iulI. The terrible heat alone
would be enough to demOralize the
armies, and II would not be surprising
II, coupled with the several days
severe fighting il forced both sides to
halt TO recuperate.
There is the graVest anxiety 10 learn
whether General kUrOpatkin is seri-
ously giving battle o. is determinedly
force There is a persistent story
afoat that the Russian army has been
moving north for several DAYS. but
This cannot be confirmed.
No Information can be obtained to-
night regarding the reported sinking
OF tnea japanese aTmOred cruiser
Kasuga.