The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-11-01
WITH SHOVEL AND PICK.
Armies Laboriously Advancing To-
ward Each Other.

Mukden. oct 81, via Pekin.-The
manifestations OF the japanese in their
center, which converges at a point
where the plain meets the hills. have
attained the greatest Importance. These
manifestations are being fully met by
the Russians so. that the situation at
this point of the prospective battle
field is now one Of the greatest interest
and apprehension
At the present moment the trenches
on both sides are crowding with
troops and at many places the Japan
csc and Russians are within hailing
distance. At the isolated hill Of Man
alOn in the plain where the Russians
ten days ago captured fourteen guns
and bayOneted 500 japanese the rival
forces are only 500 PAGES apart.
Both Armies Digging.
The situation is perhaps the most re-
markab bic in military annals. Two
armies, each with the other as an OBJ
jective. are approaching while con-
structing siege works the making Of
which both sides are accelerating, each
| morning revealing the work done over
night to the observation stations on
every hill top.
The japanese after their disaster at
! ManalOn hill. retaliated on Oct. "a by
turning the Russians from a pyramdal
hill opposite Fenchiapu. seven miles to
| the east. The Russians were com
manded from three directions and
| withstood a loss of 90 per cent from
artillery fire on the afternoon Of the
| 9th before they were forced out by the
japanese infantry at night. The
japanese abandoned the position inn
mediately after it was taken This
event does not equal in Importance the
capture of MaualOn hill The japanese,
who are posted on a similar hill to the
south, appear now TO have most deter
mined designs TO retrieve the position
they abandoned.
Russians Apprehensive.
Last night there was the heaviest
| bombardment Of the week from the
Russian batteries, and the Russians are
seemingly apprehensive of a crucical
surprise. This bombardment was ac-
! cOmpanied by a continuous rifle fire.
while the infantry advanced by means
Of quick entrenchmg at intervals of a
few hundred feet under cover OF dark
/ ness
The outcome OF this activity is a
tense vigilance along the entire ex-
tened front. This tension taken in
connection with the reported rein
fOrcement of the Japanese by one and
one-half division from Port Arthur. is
likely 10 precipitate great battle
within "A few days. The combatants
however, apparently are not disin-
clined 20 winter in their present posi-
tons, as since the last tour of the Rus
sian positions made by the correspon-
dent of the Associated Press. the forces
have adopted system Of winter hOus-
ing in the field.
Close Enough to See.
From their immense bivouacs both
armies calmly behold each other and
are able to distinguish each others en-
! trenching gangs as they drop their
tools when relieved. These observa-
tions are made from points of vantage
Immediately outside the range Of the
artillery which is intermittent in it's
practice against the principal emin-
ences-
japanese shells are daily breaking on
Pagoda hill which Is most conspicuous
in the Russian position and i'm front Of
which the Chinese villagers remain in
their homes, indicating that by some
prearrangement with the Japanese
their homes will not be shelled by the
latter.
The Russian forces are disposed so
as to meet the dispositions of the
Japanese armies.
Remains in the Field
The present plan of Russian
operations apparently has not been in
fuenced by the promotion to the posi-
ton OF commandments Of General
Kuropatkin. who remains with his
army in the field.
The present cold weather has in
huenced many Chinese 10 return to the
fields with the object Of rescuing their
rice crops. The exodus of Chinese