The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-09-13
JAPANESE ARE
HIGHLY ELATED
Victory at Lao Yang Achieved
Against Odds.
NO LONGER DESPISE THE FOE
RUSSIANS FOUGHT WELL, BUT
WERE BEATEN.

III NoIOhI headquarters IN
the Field. Near Lao Yang, Sept. s (de-
layed in trapsmission).- battle of
Lao Yang was a magnificent victory
Of which the Japanese have great rea-
sons to be proud. although they were
unable 10 realize their hopes OF another
Sedan.
The execution of a campaign by the
Japanese upon such a vast scale
against an army probably their SUI
perlor III numbers and possessing more
modern guns of greater caliber and
range than theirs, established behind
Ioruncations of great completeness and
unprecedented extent. and directed by
skillful commanders, excites the high
est admiration of the military critics
Upset Kuropatkin's Plans.
1t is unquestioned that at Lao Yang
General kuropatkin expected to turn
the tide OF war against the Japanese.
III would now appear that the fighting
OF the past few Weeks-since the fail
ure OF the Russian movement 10 the
south-was not expected to be decisive.
but was series of preliminary opera
tons conducted for the purpose of har-
assing the Japanese and gaining time
Tor the crucial struggle. The foreign
military observers with the japanese
army find convincing. evidences that
General Kurooatkin planned to defeat
the Japanese armies in detail and then
to dispatch powerful column to the
south for the relief of Port Arthur. and
they are of the opinion that with the
thirteen divisions at his command Gen.
eral Kuropatkin could have accom-.
plished this had the quality of his Of
ficers and soldiers equaled that of the
Japanese.
Mastery Retreat.
Not until the night of Sept. 5. after.
i've days of continuous battle, did the
Russians take the first steps of re-
treat With an amost unfordable and
wide river at his back and a stfonE
force Of Japanese opposing him in the
rear and on the flank. General Kuro-
patkin was able TO withdraw his army
without losing a single gun.
One result of this battle has been to.
give the japanese a much higher opin-
ion Of the abilities of their antagonists,
than the exhibitions at the Yalu river
and elsewhere compelled them TO en-,
terrain Today the Japanese army IS
self-pOssessed and it has INDUCED in no
demonstrations Of rejoicing.
The work done by the Russians in,
preparing the neighborhood of Lao
Yang TO be a theatre of battle is OF
incredible magnitude In addition TO
the extensive fortifications on the SOUTH
side of the Taitse river. there were.
practically three lines OF defenses for
the protection of the eastern ap-
proaches of the railroad, which in
themselves constituted formidable
battle area. The fighting was carried
right up to the railroad line, but not
withstanding the fact that the Japan
ese shelied the last trains which left
Lao Yang on the way to Mukden, IL
was impossible for them TO intercept
any Of the Russian rear guards, -
Terrible Picture Presented.
The area north of the river which was
fought over by the .eoRtending armies
presents-a terrible picture of the re-
suits of war. The fields are dug with
hundreds of lines of trenches. marking
the successive stages of retreat, and
crematOry fires are yet burning where,
searching parties are bringing in Jap
anese bodies Graves of Russian SOL
diers can be, seen at every turn. some
dug by comrades and others by Japan
csc, On one hillside is a group of two
or three hundred graves marked by
rough sticks. Many bodies remained
undiscovered in the high grain, and the
odor Of decomposition fills the air.
Flocks of crows hover about and hun
dreds Of Chinese dogs roam the fields,
Railroad Intact.
The portion OF the railroad in the
possession of the Japanese remains
practically intact. The wood work or
the railroad bridge was burned and
small sertfoD of the frame work was
destroyed. but none of the piers. and
the bridge could be made fit for tenn
porary use in a few days. The station
building remains standing. Only few
houses in the Russian settlement out
side Of the city wall. which forms
considerable village. was burned.
The Chinese have hung Japanese
flags over their houses. Most Of the
Chinese shops and all Of the Russian
buildings We're thoroughly looted on the
departure OF the army. Both Russians
and Chinese participated in the loot
ing.