The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-09-01

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OF. PETERSBURG. Sept. 1, . a. M
y With the knowledge that the Rus
sian and japanese armies about
Lao Yang are locked in a death strug-
gle tie tension in St. Petersburg to-
night is strained to the utmost. 1t is
believed here that the fight cannot stop
short Of the crushing defeat of one
side or the other.
All reports so far are favorable 10
the Russians, though the suspension
or ali news tor many hours has been
exceedingly trying and has given rise
to several rumors somewhat GemperiDg z
the earlier enthusiasm.
IL Is stated officially, however, that
Inc report that the railway and tele
graph have been cut north OF Lao
Yang is untrue. A member of the
general staff said to the Associated
Press at midnight:
L can assure you that up TO this
hour communication with Lao Yang
has not been interrupted. General Ku-
lopathin has taken particular precau-
lions against any attempt to cut the
railway While il is always possible
mat d small raiding party might slip
through the Russian patrols or that
hired Chinese bandits might cut the
telegraph. it is a fair suppOsition. in
view of all the facts. that this has not
been done
Critical Stage.
The highest military authorities here
consider that the most critical stage
OF the battle has not yet been reached
and they believe that the fight may
continue for some time before either
10 IN. al H.
important consideration by the light
OF which TO interpret any immediate
news.
1t is thought here that in view Of
the numbers engaged, the desperate
ness of the assaults and the length of
the line tabout seven miles,. the losses
In the two days hghting cannot fall
short OF 10000 on each side. Both sides
are straining every nerve. realizing
that the fortunes of war for a whole
year are in the scale, and neither side
Is IN the mood or the position to spare
men in the effort TO achieve a final
victory.
The battle Of Lao Yang will prob
ably rank as one of the great san
summary battles Of history. 1t is esti.
mated BY the general staff that the
japanese armies engaged number sew
enteen divisions of $1,000 men each OF
men. Each division has thirtv-six
guns, and there are two independent
artillery brigades OF Zoe guns each
making a total of about 500 guns. The
estimates OF Russian correspondents
range from 600 10 1000. guns per side.
IN the preliminary fighting OF Mon.
day the Russians captured 200 prison
ers, who have already arrived al Har.
bin. and report persists that they cap
tured over forty japanese guns YES
terday. General Kuropatkin's effective
FORCES are varioUsly estimated at from
1'0.Oo0 TO 100000 men.
The Japanese on Wednesday morn.
Ing attacked three sides of the Russian
position One OF the Associated Pres.
correspondents also mentions a JapaU.
csc movement to the northeast Of Lilac
Yang, showing that the japanese were
undoubtedly trying to work around
Kuropatkin's rear.
Desperate Fighters.
One of the surprising phases Of the
situation is the endurance of the men
They have been engaged desperately
Tor two days after NOR or less severe
lighting under UnfayOrable conditions
every day since Aug. "a. It would seen
th&t human endurance could rot per.
sist much longer without respite OF
some sort.
The japanese are using balloons "a
locate the Russian guns and trenches
one Of the Russian correspondents OF
The Associated Press points out that
inc Japanese sent up a balloon shortly
after daylight to the southeast Of Lilac
ang. The Japanese are reported e
DC using mOrtars to drop shells i'm the
russian positions. These probably are
tne nigh angle howitzers which were
reported in action earlier in the week
~ Is plain, however. that the Japan
csc are no longer enjoying the su-
periority in artillery which stood them
in such good stead in the earlier
Ihonths or the war. il was then hill
nghung and the japanese mountain
batteries in which arms the Russians
were deficient, told with deadly effect
Now the contest is in a connaratiXefy
open country. where both the Russian
neid guns and The Russian cavalry can
come into more effective use.