The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-10-14
Japanese Minister to London
Says Neutral Powers Must
Inevitably Interfere to
End the Far Eastern War
PORT ARTHUR'S FALL
TO BE THE SIGNAL
Struggle Between Oyama
and KurOpatkin, the Dip
lOmat Asserts, Will Be Bar
rem of Decisive Results

-H
LONDON, Oct. 13.-News of the bat
tie between the Russians and Japanese
was eagerly awaited here throughout
the day at the Japanese legation. Many
inquiries were made there by British
| officials, but the Japanese authorities
were even less informed than the
newspapers. The suspense was not
untinged with anxiety, which was
more noticeable than during any pre-
vious phase of the war. Baron Hay
ASH, the Japanese Minister, said:
THE reports of our success, welcome
as they are, must not be construed as
being forerunner of any decisive
blow. 1t is practically impossible for
Marshal Oyama to envelop and utterly
crush General Kuropatkin, just as it is
practically impossible for Kuropatkin
to envelop Oyama. A victory in the
battle now raging means to us that
kuropatkin must confess defeat, which
is important, but not decisive. He can
put forward no strategical excuses, as
at 1faoyang. Any retreat on the part
OF the Russian forces now is an open
confession to the world that they have
suffered a serious reverse
OYAMA'S STRONG POSITION.
Heretofore it has been an open ques-
ton in some quarters whether Kuro-
patkin's strategy was not more re-
sponsible for the Russian retirement
than Japanese aggression. Kuropat-
kin has chosen to brush aside all that
doubt and make plain issue. Let it
be 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 de-
lenses and base-namely, Liaoyang-
where all preparations in the way Of
Notifications and ammunition have
been made for a prolonged stand, in
case of necessity. That Oyama has
met Kuropatkin's advance on Yantai
with a counter advance indicates a
greater state of preparedness on the
part of our forces than / expected. But
there is some doubt If Oyama could
fpllow up any advantage gained In
shat is comparatively an open fight.
Oyama's acceptance of a general en-
gagement from his first and weaker
lines implies strength, which makes
the motive of Kuropatkin's attack all
the more puzzling.
PEACE NOT IN SIGHT.
II understand that such attempts as
Kuropatkin made to cut our lines of
communication appear to have been
confined to those connecting us with
Korea. Some other military critics
seem to forget that our main lines of
communication are now with New
chwang and not with the Yalu. This is
an infinitely cheaper and quicker
method of transport. Our second army
lines of communication over the YaIu
to Korea were maintained only with
great difficulty and because we had no
other alternative.
Whatever the result of the present
battle, whether Oyama retire to his po-
sition at Laoyang or whether he force
Kuropatkin back toward Mukden, it
will only have small bearing upon
the decision of the grim issues at
stake"
Until Port Arthur falls" says the
Baron, "a proposal looking to peace
must be futile. Defeat or victory to the
Russian Manchurian armies merely
swells the daily death roll. Kuropat-
kin driven back and utterly defeated
would simply harden Russia's heart.
Kuropatkin temporarily successful
would inspire new enthusiasm. In such
a see-saw there is no hope of peace.
| TALKS OF INTERVENTION.
Port Arthur is different. Should it
be captured those in Russia who are
supposed to favor a reasonable settle
ment would have a sentimental, ma
/, terial factor in favor of their point of
view that no development of the Man
| churian campaign could provide. Japan,
in possession OF Port Arthur, could
| treat for. peace. How much longer Port
Arthur can last / have not the least
idea. Hot weather is an advantage to
the defenders. From the intense heat
and sanitary disadvantages the Japan
csc could not get away. Against the
cold now coming on they can take the
necessary precautions and suffer none
of those epidemics. whereto, if they are
not victim, they are at least exposed.
1T is impossible" concluded Baron
| Hayashi, Ito think that this war can
be allowed to continue indefinitely. In
| tervention in some shape or form must
eventually occur. AT the moment Rus
STA breads any one suggesting it, be-
cause therein is involved.a confession Of