Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-14

| to succeed General Kuroki, but the actual
| command of the army has been intrusted to
General Nodzu who is reviewing opera
lions.
Dispatches from Mukden dated Septem-
Der stated that reports were current there
| that General kuroki had been killed and
| that two other Japanese generals had been
made prisoners, but no one seemed to know
\ whence the reports originated and no con-
| f1rmation was obtainable. In July it was
| also reported that General Kuroki was suf-
! fering from malaria, and in June there wei
| similar rumors of his being captured by the
4 Russians and that he had been suffering
from mild attack of typhus fever.
| Though none of the rumors were SUBJ
Stimulated or confirmed by later informa-
| ton, more or less of mystery has envel-
oped General Kuroki since the japanese ap-
| preached Liaoyang, fought their great bat
| tie for that city, and made their further
| advance toward Mukden.
Kuroki's Gallant Career.
| Kuroki was one of the hereditary fight
| ers of Japan. He was sixty-two years Of
age, and when chosen for the command Of
! the first army was still vigorous, mentally
and physically, and enjoying the COM
| piete confidence Of the emperor and his
| fellow-countrymen. In the war with China,
| ten years ago, he was selected by Field
| Marshal Count Oyama to command the
| right column of the army for the advance
| on Wei-hai-wei. 1aL
In the final assault Baron Kuroki retained
| the command of a division and after other
columns had carried out the task fntrusted
to them he received orders to advance
against the forts which offered the chief re-
sistance. He justified magnificently the
trust of the commander-in-chief and the
forts were captured, leading to the capture
of the fortress the following day. Kuroki
became popular hero in Japan and his ap-
pointment to lead the army in Korea and
Manchuria was applauded by public opinion.
of
Marshal Oyama before Liaoyang, the
commander-in-chief in Manchuria, he be-
came famous for his alertness, skill and
wonderful expertness in experimenting the
first debarkation of his troops, the quick
| ness OF the forward movement into Korea.
| his infantry marching passing cavalry
| force at the Yalu, where he overwhelmed
| the cars artillery by the astonishing &C
curacy of his gun fire, outwitting his foes
| by a fast series of skillfully hidden move
| ments which enabled him to pave the way
| for tremendous Russian defeat; his own
| men, encouraged by his presence, wading
| the river under fire OF deadly shot. dash
| ing up and over breastWorks to annihilate
| the fleeing enemy-these achievements made
him the idol Of his army and his nation.
News of the death Of General Kuroki
was received in Washington with great in
| terest last night. In view of the fierceness
| Of the fighting in the campaign in Man
churia little surprise was expressed that
SO distinguished and important an officer
had been lost.
The consensus of opinion here seems to be
| that General Kuroki was a thoroughly able
captain, but no estimates of his strategy
| can be obtained, because army officers are
prevented from expressing their views about
any phase of this war by the Presidents Or
der.
Lieutenant General Chaffee, chief of staff
| U. s. A, said: Il knew nothing Of the work
Of General Kuroki except in this war. On
| that account it is difficult to express an
N ha n TON, no hoe
| shown himself to be an able and efficient
| officer. Further than this do not care to
express an opinion
Quartermaster General Humphrey said:
Il think you will find that most officers in
| Washington regard General Kuroki as an
officer of marked ability and attainments
| Further than that it Is difficult to say much
| on account of the uncompleted stage of the
| campaign.