Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1904-11-01
WA|IpORT ARIHURFAIl.
BARON HAYASHI DISCUSSES
SITUATION IN The ORIENT
NO PROSPECT FOR PEACE AS RE.
suit OF FIGHTING At MUk-
DEN-DiFFERENT WHEN
PORT ARTHUR FALLS.

London. Oct. 13.--News Of the battle
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 AL
thorities we're even less informed than
the newspapers. The suspense vas not
untinged with anxiety. which Vas more
noticeable than during any previous
phase of the war.
Baron Hayashi, the japanese Min
lister, said: THE report Of our sue.
cesses. welcome as they are, must not
be construed as being forerunncr Of
eny decisive blow. II Is practically i'm.
possible for Marshal Oyama to envelope
and utterly crush General Kuropatliu,
just as It is practically impossible for
Kuropatkin to envelope Oyama. A vie.
tory in the battle now raging chiefly
means to us that KurOpatEu must con.
fess defeat. which Is important, but not
decisive. lie can put forward no stra.
tcgical excuses as at liaoyang, Any
retreat on the part OF the Russian
forces now Is an open confession to the
world that they have suffered a serious
reverse.
Heretofore II has been an open
question in some quarters whether KU.
ropatldns strategy was not more re-
sponsiblc for the Russian retirement
tEan japanese aggression. Kurupat.
I'm has chosen to brush aside all that
doubt and make a plain Issue. let It
be remembered that Oyama 70 far has
only been fighting from his first line
OF defense. Retirement to Oyama
| merely means falling back upon his
main dcfenses and base, namely, Lao.
yang. where all preparations in the
way of Notifications and ammunition
have been made for prolonged stand
in case of necessity.
THAT Oyama has met KurOpatkins
advance on Yentai with a counter ad.
vance indicates q greater state Of pre-
\ paredness on the part of our forces
than ! anticipated. But there Is some
doubt II Oyama could follow M any
advantage gained In what Is compar.
atively an open fight. Oyama's accept
ance of general engagement from his
first and weaker lines implies strength.
which makes the motive Of Kuropat.
kins attack all the more pulling.
Il understand that such attempts as
Kuropatkin made to cut our lines OF
=, ..,n mi. ,,f. tn
confined to those connecting us with
Korea. Some OF the military critics
seem to forget that our main lines OF
E. communication are now with New
. lhwang and not with the Ialu. This
Is an infinitely cheaper and quicker
method of transport. our second army
lines Of communication over the Yalu
to Korea were only maintained with
great difficulty and because we had ne
| other alternative.
!, Whatever the result of the present
battle, whether Oyama retires to his
position at LiaOyang or whether h,
forces Kuropatkin back toward Muli
den, II will only have small bearing
upon the decision OF the grim issue al
stake.
Until Port Arthur falls" said Tho
Baron, ANY proposal looking to peac,
must he futile. Defeat or victory t.
, the Russian Manchurian armies mere
~ swells the daily death roll. Kuro
> patkin driven back and utterly defeat
cd would simply harden Russias heart
kuropatkin temporarily successful
would only inspire new enthusiasm
In such seesaw there Is no hope o
peace. Port Arthur is different
Should IL be captured, those In Russii
: who are supposed to favor a reason
/. able settlement would have sent
mental and material factor In favor o
9 their point of view that no develop
9 ment OF the Manchurian campaign
: could provide. Japan In possession o
Port Arthur could treat for peace.
How much longer Port Arthur ca,
last have not the least idea. Ho
Z weather Is an advantage TO the defend
/. crs. From the intense heat and sar
Il itary disadvantages the japanese coul
i not get away. Against the cold no,
coming on they can take the necessar
= precautions and suffer none of thos
y cpidemics whereto, II they are not vi,
a Tins they are at least exposed.
j 1T is impossible concluded Baro
II Hayashi, ITO think that this war ga
d H. allowed to continue indefinitely. II
l. Prevention in some shape or form mus
&C eventually occur. At the moment Ru
y STA breads anyone suggesting it, b
y cause therein is involved "A confessio
- OF defeat. Should Port Arthur fall.
4, think II would be different"