The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1904-10-20
RUSSO JAPANESE WAR
William E. Curtis Says Japan
Stop Near Mukden.

William E. Curtis writes as
follows to the Record Herald:
The battle now raging around
Mukden is probably the last OF
the season and will close the
campaign of 1904. In few weeks
the weather and the heavy SHOWS
will make the movement of troops
impossible, and both armies will
be compelled to go into winter
quarters. Whep Port Arthur
falls, as it must fall sooner or
later, the Japanese will have ac-
complished their purpose as it
was explained to me in Toxic last
summer by General Baron Ko-
dana, chief of the general staff.
who is now serving as chief of
staff of Field Marshall Oyama, in
command of the Japanese forces
| in Manchuria. Kodama has
been the genius of the war.
While the plan of the campaign
was not in any sense the work
of a single indiyidual. but the re-
suit of continuous conferences
and suggestions from many
sources, he has been the central
figure, the man who has worked
over suggestions, harmonized
them and put them in practical
shape.
Japan has accomplished all
that she expected to do the first
year of the war and probably
more, although Port Arthur has
held out much longer than any
body believed would be possible.
General Kodama told me in the
most matter-of- fact way that
they had decided to carry it by
assault instead of by siege, and
that they were prepared to sac
rifice 25. 600 lives in that effort.
He spoke as coolIy as if he were
talking about the lives of insects
instead of the lives of men. AT
that time the Japanese expected
to capture the citadel about the
4th of July, and he suggested
that the people of the United
States might consider it a com
pIiment ifthe Japanese celebrated
our national anniversary in that
manner. =
Military experts are convinced
that many more than % 900 brave
japanese soldiers already have
been sacrificed in the siege, and
probably nearly as many Rus
slams. But the latter cannot hold
out much longer. The most re.
liable reports represent them to
be short of both food and ammu-
milton, and the desperate efforts
of the Russian authorities and
sympathizers to break through
the blockade indicate that the
situation of the garrison is criti-
cal. 1t has received a great
deal OF supplies from Chinese
junks which have managed to
elude the vigilance of the block
aiding feet, but they are no long
er getting through, and the end
is near. When Port Arthur falls
the Japanese will control the en-
tire Liaotung Peninsula and the
Korean Empire.
The Japanese plan has been to
drive the Russian army through
the Tialingpass in the mountains
north IF Mukden and then fortify
their position SO that they may
be able to hold it against any
force the Russians hereafter may
bring. They cannot very well
go beyond the pass. If they
cross the mountains their posi-.
tion would be insecure and hard
to defend and the cost and diff
Guilty of Transporting supplies
would be doubled.
The mountains are a natural
boundary and the pass easily
can be fortified and defended.
They would not be more than
half way to Harbin, which is the
| junction of the Marchurian branch
with the main line of the Gres
Siberian Railroad. That is at
least 200 miles north from Muk-
den. and Mukden is at least 400
miles south from the Russian
frontier. 1t would be impossible
for the Japanese to drive the
Russian army that distance, and
the Desert of Mongona lies be-
tween Mukden and the Siberian
frontier.
The winter will be spent by
tie Russians in massing troops
and supplies at Harbin. The
Siberian Railroad can be kept
open almost continuously during
the winter. and even handle an
average of 5000 men a week un-
der the most favorable circum-
stances. But it is not to be ex-
pected that this maximum can be
kept up during the winter months
| in that climate. If they are able
to transport 2, 500, or even 2, 900,
men q week the Russians will be
very fortunate.