Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1904-09-03

st. Petersburg the knowledge
that the Russian and Japanese armies
about Liaoyang are locked in a death
struggle, the tension in St. Petersburg
Is strained to the utmost. Ii Is
believed here that the fight cannot
stop short of the crushing defeat OF
one side or the other.
All reports 80 far are favorable to
the Russians. though the suspension
OF all nevrs far-n,anp -honre--has heen
exceedingly trying and has given rise
to seN eral rumors, somewhat temper
ing the earlier enthusiasm.
1t is stated officially, however, that
the report that the railway and the
telegraph have been cut north of Lao
wang is untrue. A member of the gen
eral staff said to The Associated Press:
Il can assure you that up to this
hour communication with Liaoyang
has not been interrupted. Gen. Kuro-
patkin has taken particular precau-
tions against any attempt to cut the
railway. While it is always possible
that small raiding party might slip
through the Russian patrols or that
hired Chinese bandits might cut the
telegraph. it is fair supposition, IN
view of all the facts, that this has not
been done"
The highest military authorities here
consider that the most critical stage
of the battle has net yet been reached,
and they believe that the night may
continue for some time before either
side acknowledges defeat. This is an
important consideration by the light
of which to interpret any immediate
news.
II is thought here, that In view of
the numbers engaged, the desperate
ness of the assaults and the length or
the line, about seven miles, the losses
in the two days fighting cannot lali
srcrt of 1CC0N on each side.
Roth sides are straining every nerve,
realizing that the fortunes Tor war
for q whole year are in the scale an"
neither side is in the mood or the po-
sition to spare men in the effort u
achieve final victory.
The battle of Iiaoyang will probably
rank as one of the great sanguinary
battles of history. 1t is estimated Dy
the general staff that the Japaneseoar
mics engaged number II DIVISIONS o'
15 coo men each, or allowing for IN
efticients, about 100000 men.
Each division has SO guns, and there
are two Independent artillery brigade'
of 100 guns each, making a total o.
about 800 guns each. The estimates o
Russian correspondents range at iron
| 600 to 1000 guns per side.
| In the preliminary fighting or MON
| dav the Russians captured 200 prison
ers, who have already arrived at har
hin, and report persists that they cap
tured over 40 Japanese guns luesaay
Gen. Kuropatkin's effective force!
| are yariously estimated at from l'o'oo
to 10000 men.
The Japanese on Wednesday morn
ing were attacking three sides OF th
Russian position. One OF the Associa'
cd Press correspondents also mention
Japanese movement to the nortf
east of Liaoyang, which was douDtles
irving to work around kuropatKm
rear. A..
One of the surprising phases or IN
situation is the endurance OF the lhei
Thev have been fighting desperatel
for two DAYS, after more or less sever
Aphting under unfavOrable condition
every day since Aug. "a IL "oui
seem that human endurance could NJ
.,ore;St much longer without respit
of some sort.
The Japanese are using balloons [
locate Russian guns and trenches. ol'
of the Russian correspondents OF III
Associated Press points out that III
Jananese sent up balloon shortiy
Tow daylight to the southeast OF Liza
yang. ~, =,
The Japanese are reported 10 DE !"
ing mortars to drop shells in the fu
sian positions. These are probably u
bieh.anele fire howitzers which wei
renorted in action early in the wee
II is plain. however, that the Japa
ese are no longer enjoying the supe
iority in artillery which stood 'he
in such good stead in the earn.
months of the war 1t was then NJ
fighting, and the japanese mouh.a
batteries in which arms the Russial
we're deficient, told with deadly ene'
Now the contest is in a coIhpar
, lively open country, where Doth ~"
sian field guns and the Russian ca''
go ga, come into more effective us