Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-14
NO THOUGHT OF PEACE
FATE OF PORT ARTHUR MUST
FIRST BE DECIDED.
Baron Hayashi Discusses tie Progress
Of Military Operations in
the Far East.

Baron Hayashi, the japanese minister al
London, said to the Associated Press last
night
The reports of our successes. welcome as
they are. must not be construed as being
1orerpnners of any decisive blow 1t Is
practically impossible for Marshal Oyama
to envelop and utterly crush General
Kuropatkin, Just as 1t is equally Impossible
for Kuropatkin to envelop Oyama. VIC
tory in the battle now raging chiefly means
to us that Kuropatkin must confess defeat,
which is important but not decisive He can
put forward no strategcal excuses as at
Liaoyang. Any retreat on the part of the
Russian forces is an open confession to the
whole world that they have suffered a seri-
Gus reverse Hitherto 1t has always been
an open question in some quarters whether
kuropatkin's strategy was not more re-
sponsible for the Russian retirements than
japanese aggression. Kuropatkin for no
reason that l can fathom, has chosen to
brush aside all That doubt and make a plain
issue. Let it he remembered that Oyama
SO far. has only been fighting from his first
line OF defense. Retirement to Oyama
merely means falling back upon his main
defenses and base, namely, Liaoyang, where
all preparations in the way of Notifications
and ammunition have been made for a pro-
longed stand, in case of necessity. That
Oyama has met Kuropatkin's advance on
Yentai with a counter advance indicates a
greater state of preparedness on the part
OF our FORCES than anticipated But there
is some doubt if Oyama could follow up
any advantage gained in what is compare
lively an open fight. Oyama's acceptance
of a general engagement from his first and
weaker lines implies strength, which makes
the motive of kuropatkin's attack all the
more puZZling.
II understand that such attempts as
kuropatkn made to cut lines of COM
munication appear to have been confined
to those connecting us with Korea. Some
OF the military critics seem to forget that
cur main lines of communication are now
with Niuchwang and not with the Yalu.
This is an infinitely cheaper and quicker
method of transport. Our now secondary
lines of communication over the Yalu river
to Korea were only maintained with great
alternative"
Effect Of Present Battle.
Whatever the result of the present bat
tie, whether Oyama retires to his prepared
positions at Liaoyang and on the banks OF
the Taitse river, or whether he forces
Kuropatkin back toward Mukden, Baron
Hayashi believes that 1t will have only a
small bearing upon the eventual decision OF
the grim issue at stake
Until Port Arthur falls" said the baron.
ANY proposal looking to peace must be
futile. Defeat or victory to the Russian
Manchurian army or armies merely swells
the daily death roll. Kuropatkin driven
back and utterly defeated would simply
harden Russias heart. Kuropatkin tenn
rorarily successful would only inspire new
enthusiasm. In such a see-saw there is no
ope of peace. Port Arthur is different.
Should it be captured those in Russia who
are supposed to favor reasonable settle
ment would have a sentimental, material
factor In favor of their point of view that
no development of the Mancburian cam
paign could provide. Japan in possession
of Port Arthur could treat for peace.
Intervention Must Come.
How much longer Port Arthur can out
last have not the least idea Hot weather
is an advantage to the defenders. From
the intense heat and constant sanitary dis
advantages the Japanese could not get
away. Against the cold now coming
they can take the necessary precautions
and suffer none of those epidemics where
to if they are not victims they are at least
exposed. 1t is impossible. = concluded Baron
Hayashi, ito think that this war. unsought
by the population of either of the two
countries involved, can be allowed to con-
tinue Indefinitely. Intervention in some
shape or form must eventually occur. At
the moment Russia breads any one sug-
costing 1t. because therein Is involved a
confession of defeat. Should Port Arthur
fall think 1t would be different"