Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-06
JAPANESE STRATEGY TRIUMPHs
Russians Thought Liaoyang Impreg-
nable-What the Victory Means.

From the New York Times
With the fall of Liaoyang Japanese STRAIT
eev has crumbled to pieces the elaborate
Man for the defense of Manchuria tnat was
adopted by the Russian commanders almost
a year ago, when they were preparing iof
war with Japan.
Millions of dollars worth of stores, posi-
lions that the best engineers of Russia nave
MANNED and that have cost many months
toll and fortunes to build, and finally con-
troll of the great valley of the Lao, are the
prizes that the Japanese have gained and
the Russians have lost by the brilliant
thanking movement that has carried Gen.
Kuroki's ever-victorious army over a river
and into position to threaten the destruc-
ton of Gen Kuropatkin'S entire FORCE
According to the scheme adopted by Vice.
roy Alexieff and his advisers at the pegil-
ming, Liaoyang was to be the great cltaoei,
where if the worst came the armies OF the
car could take a stand and beat Off the
forces of the mikado. 1t was here that
Cen Kuropatkin had laid his trap,
where the Japanese were TO De crusheo
after they had been drawn far into the In
terror so far that their communications
could be cut by the Cossacks while the
Russian infantry crushed them In front.
Great storehouses had been built and
packed full of corn, wheat rice and timed
foods of all sorts fit for the army. Great
stores of ammunition were also gathered
in arsenals. Elaborate forts with covered
ways had strengthened the defense of the
great walls of the city, and 1t was beneveo
that a Russian army could take refuge
there and that nothing except slow pro-
cess of starvation could defeat 1t. AT any
rate, it's defeat was regarded as beyond the
power of the Japanese.
Field Marshal Oyamas strategy in the
taking of Liaoyang has been of the kind
that has carried the Japanese armies al
ways to victory over the troops Of the cZar
1t has been what one European critic called
lica IF n
gain of valuable positions by the least ap-
plication of strength and the least loss or
power.
in the battle of the Yalu on May /. Its
chief principles lay in concealment of the
strength of the attacking army and flank
ing the enemy Correspondents with Gen.
Kuroki then have told how he had deceived
the Russians as to the force he had gath
cred ip front of An-Tung, on the Korean
shore.
Whole roads along which the army
marched were hidden by artificial groves
erected by the Japanese engineers. Big
parks of artillery were hidden in the same
way. When the time came to strike ap-
parently the Japanese force was concen-
trated against the Russian right and center
| down the Yalu These forces the Russians
| fought with might and main, only to find
| two Japanese divisions suddenly across the
Yalu and striking at their left flank.
1t was the same at the battle of Vafan-
gow when Stakelberg first met Oku, on
| June Is. The Russians believed the Japan
csc had not more than 10000 men near
| Port Arthur. and Stakelberg's army of
| 200 was sent to relieve the fortress.
| When 1t finally came into conflict with the
| Japanese Stakelberg suddenly found that
| he had about 1900 men opposed to him,
| and that an overwhelming force was strik-
| ing at his right flank. Only quick retreat
| saved him.
| Kai-Chow fell into the hands of Oku be-
\ cause Nodzu's army from the east sud-
| denly appeared on Stakelburg's left flank
/ as Oku advanced from the south. 1t was
! the same .story at Tashi-Chao when the
Japanese at last gained control of Much
| wang and its port.
| same fashion. Anshanshan. the last Rus
| Liaoyang, was given up almost without a
| fight because Kuroki again drove in on the
| flank and to tarry would have meant de-
| struction.
| That the Japanese first army was making
| a movement on the Russian flank seemed
| certain from the opening of the great bat
| tie of Liaoyang. For weeks it had been re-
| ported that the Japanese were advancing
| along the Tai-Tse river, and 1t is probable
/ that force of 100000 men has taken part
| In the thanking movement. 1t is now seen
| that the desperate attacks which the Rus
slams reported with so much pride that they
had repulsed were practically monumental
feints. Oku and Nodzu doubtless received
orders to hammer the Russians with al
| their strength while Kuroki carried out the
strategy which has resulted in victory.