Salt Lake Tribune | 1904-10-31 | Page 1 | Great Battle Expected

GREAT BATTLE EXPECTED. Both Armies Under Tense Nervous Strain. GEN. OKU'S HEADQUARTERS ON THE SCHILI RIVER, "Wednesday. October Octo-ber 20, 4 p. m. (Delayed). The great armies of Field Marshal Oyama and Gen. Kuropatkln still llo lacing one another, after a week virtually devoid of action. Tho trenches along tho entire line avor-ngo avor-ngo only 500 yards apart. Men are In tho trenches night and day exchanging shots. Neither sldo dare3 ralae a head above tho parapet, it would be suicidal to do so. Tho artillery searches the lines during tho day and at night. Tho lines arc so closo that outposts arc Impossible. At ulght the pickets of both sldC3 crcop out a few yards to glvo warning of a sudden attack and retire beforo dawn. The nervous tension Is reaching tho breaking point and a great battle may bo precipitated at night by a single man losing los-ing his mind under the strain Tho casualties caused by tho nightly artillery ar-tillery attacks aro small, but tho moral effect Is strong. Tho Russians are using searchlights to sweep tho plain between tho trenches at night. This is tho first time that they havo been used In Held operations in the present war. Gen. Kuropatkln has been largely reinforced rein-forced sir..-.- the battle of Llao Yang. It Is bel"' " lhat many new troops havo arrived from Europe. Tho Japaneso aro bringing up now men and a move Is expected ex-pected soon. Tho Japanese, denplto the hard fighting and nervous strain, aro In excellent physical condition. It Is believed be-lieved that tho next move will precipitate the greatest battle of this war. Neither sldo proposed to move until It Is ready for the struggle on which depends de-pends tho occupation of Mukden.