Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-08-31
BATTLES RAGING.

What is supposed 10 be the deciding
engagement Of this war, Is now being
fought around Lao Yang. There the
two armies have for a considerable
time been in close proximity to one
another. The Russian general has a
strongly fortified position, and he IL
making a determined resistance, IL
seems, FOR the first time since the COM
mencement Of hostilities A few days
ago It was estimated that General Kur-
opatkin had 10000 men in position here,
and that the japanese had about $40, 900.
It Is now stated that half million
men are engaged in this fearful battle.
The japanese outnumber the Russians,
but the latter have the advantage Of
defending strong lines OF Notifications.
and japanese victory can be obtained
only by the most fearful sacrifices. The
battle now on Is supposed 10 be de-
clsive. and It certainly will be- II tho
japanese can make It so But so far
the Russians are said TO have repulsed
signed, we presume. to cut off Russian
retreat. Generar Kuropatltln. undoubt-
edly, win endeavor to keep the road to
Mukden OPEN with a view OF falling
back once more, IL he Is defeated at
the present time
The dispatches al this time are es-
sentially different from many previous
ones, IN that they convey real news
while the events OF which they speak
are stll taking place. The correspon7
dents have succeeded In securing ia
formation and In communicating with
the world. II Is to be hoped that this
viii be kept up. Hitherto the
war has been fought IN the dark. Both
sides seem 10 have been anxious 10 veil
their proceedings. II has been impos-
sble 10 follow, lntelligenty, the move
ments OF the two opposing forces. This
world is intensely Interested In the
awful drama that Is being played on
the stage Of history AZ this time. why
should II be enacted behind the curtain
| Of secrecy?
one thing the battles fought In this
war both on land and at sea has proved
and that Is the superiority Of the Jap
anese soldiers. Their solderly quail
ties were commented upon by the al
lies" who invaded China, in 1900, anC
! the reputation they then gained they
have more than established now. Thu
source Of this superiority is to be found
in their intelligence and patriotism
The Japanese soldier is educated as
well as trained for war Every private
feels responsible for his part OF the
work lie knows what he Is In the
field for He is not driven out 10 die
as a mule, or a horse he Is there be.
cause he loves the emperor and his
country. II he falls, he Is content, and
his parents are congratulated that the,
had q son worthy OF the honor Of dyinl
for their country. The superiority OF
the Japanese soldier Is due to the sans
causes by which the superiority Of The
American soldiers must be explained
TO patriotism and Intelligence. No ma.
chine-made soldiers, no mere lighting
machines,can stand against Intelligence
The mllitarism that makes slaves o
nations defeats It's own object, for n,
simple reason that slaves cannot ac
complish what free men can, neither
ON the battlefield nor anywhere else
Japanese soldiers, though subject I,
conscriptlon, are FREQ soldiers, because
they are soldiers from choice; that Ia