The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1904-08-31
DESPERATE BATTLE
NOW RACING
Armies Engaged in Probably y
Decisive fight of the
Campaign

tHiS HoTHiHS up 10 CLOCK tneTe mas
been an incessant shower of shrapneI.
The heaviest cannonading is coming
from the southeast, where the japanese
evidently have numerous guns. Deadly
shells are bursting everywhere. their
white smoke being distinctly traceable
against the dark foliage of the noun
tainsides. The Japanese are searching
the whole countryside with their fire,
selecting certain squares OF territory on
which for a few moments they mass a
hail OF shot and shell from all their
guns. They then pass TO another square,
thus working the whole field with mathe-
maticai precision from right to left. In
this way the entire Russian front has
been systematically searched In the frs,
four hours OF the cannonading. Then
commenced the general Japanese ad
vance along the whole line.
At the hour OF 10 a. m. the Japanese
artillery fire has somewhat slackened
but their infantry is steadily pushing
forward.
The Russians have been holding the'r
ground CALAMITY and their losses are
small considering the terrible nature OF
the japanese fire.
st. Petersburg. Aug. 3o.-The long ex.
pec;ed battle at Lao Yang has begun
and the two armies are now fighting
what probably will prove TO be the de-
cisive battle of the campaign. The jap
anese armies are attacking Genera
Kuropatkins forces upon his chosef
ground. and his friends and admirers
here are confident that. having accepted
a general engagement. he VIII defea
the japanese
In a brief telegram received this morn
ing. Kuropatkin says the general ad-
vance of the Japanese began yesterday
at noon. the Russian outposts failing
back upon the main land The heavies,
fighting was taking place. wnen his rs
patch was sent from a point ten miles
southeast of Lao Yang where the Jap
auese SeeHleo 10 oe concentrating loi
their main battle. The Russians suffered
principally from the shrapnel fire of the
Japanese artillery.
The Japanese selected the mikado's
birthday for the decisive battle and /,
will not be surprising II today is also
sIgnalized by a grand assault on Por:
Arthur.
The Russian forces are disposed at
Lao Yang to meet the onslaught OF the
three Japanese armies described in these
dispatches yesterday. A telegram from
Kuropatkin. in which he gives this in
formation. together with the details o.
the retirement of the Russian troops up
on Lao Yang. has not been given out
for strategic reasons. The combined
armies OF Generals Kuroki. Oku and
Nodzu probably exceed 100000 men. The;s
forces are cons derably superior In mum
bers to General Kuropatkin's. but the
Russian ommander-in-chief probably re
lies upon the strength and character OF
MS poSitoh W oNercoihe tHe uiSPirity III
numbers.
The war office Is waiting with breath
less anxiety for news of the progress
and issue of the battle on which so much
depends.
An Associated Press dispatch sent from
Lao Yang at 6:49 this evening shows
shat ha
ity. the Japanese pressing forward unui
at one point their advance developed into
hand-to-hand fight. the 4.ussians re-
pelling them with the bayonet
The Associated Press dispatch and the
Russian official reports indicate that the
Russians occupy semi circle Of about
nine miles In length protecting liao
Yang. the center and right of this line
receiving the brunt Of the fighting up to
the last advice. So far reports do not
indicate the trend of the action. but re-
ports to the Russian war office say the
battle will extend over several days.
The combined forces engaged are esti-
Hateu al petWeen oVV,VV anu 4VV,VV OF All
arms.
Lao Yang. Aug. 80. 6:49 p. m.--The bat
tie is growing In intensity. The Japan
csc fire Is chiefly directed on the Rus
sian southern contingent. The Japanese
advance was pressed with such v'gor
that It developed into hand to hand
fighting. the twenty-third regiment re-
pelling an attack at the point OF the
bayonet. One OF the japanese batter
les was dlsmanted