This invention provides a battery with a nonaqueous electrolyte that has excellent pulse discharge characteristics and has prolonged discharge duration days. In this battery with a nonaqueous electrolyte, lithium or a lithium alloy is used in a negative electrode (2), and an oxyhalide, which is liquid at room temperature, is used as a positive electrode acting substance. A bismuth compound or an indium compound is contained in the battery, whereby an excessive reaction between lithium and an oxyhalide is suppressed and consequently can reduce a voltage delay phenomenon at the time of start of discharge and can improve pulse discharge characteristics to prolong discharge duration days. The bismuth compound or indium compound is preferably incorporated in the battery by dissolving or dispersing the bismuth compound or indium compound in a positive electrode acting substance which serves also as an electrolyte.