The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-14
DECISIVE BLOW NOT YET STRUCK Baron Hayashi Comments on
 Present Battle PEACE IS NOT IN SIGHT Says Port Arthur Must Fall Before Peace Proposals of Any Kind
 Will Even Be Con
 sidered.
PEACE IS NOT IN SIGHT

London, October 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 authorities were even less informed than the newspapers The sus- pense was not untinged with anxiety which was more noticeable than at any previous phase of the war. Baron Haya- shi the Japanese minister, said to the associated press:
 s.The reports of our successes welcome as they are must not be construed as being forerunners of any decisive blow. It is practically impossible for Marshal Oyama to envelop and utterly crush Gen eral Kuropatkin, just as it is equally impossible for Kuropatkin to envelop Oyama. A victory in the battle now raging chiefly means to us that kuro- patkin must confess defeat, which is im- portant but not decisive.
 No Strategcal Excuses.
 He can put forward no strategical excuses as at Liao Yang. Any retreat of the Russian forces now, is an open confession to the whole world that they have suffered serious reverse. Hith- erto it has always been an open ques- tion in some quarters whether Kuropat- kins strategy was more responsible Tor Russian retirements than Japanese az gression Kuropatkin for no reason can fathom, has chosen to brush aside all that doubt and make it a plain issue
 Ut must be remembered that Oyama has so far been fighting with his first lines of defenses and base, namely, Lao Yang, where all preparations in the way of Notifications and ammunition nave been made for a prolonged stand In case of necessity That Oysna has met huro- patkins advance on Yentai with coun- ter advance, indicates d greater state of preparedness on the part of our forces than l anticipated.
 Could Oyama Follow It Up?
 But there is some doubt if Oyama could follow up any advantage gained in what is comparatively an open hght' Oyamas acceptance of a general engage ment from his first and weaker lines, implies a strength which makes the mo- tive of Kuropatkins attacks all the more puzzling. I understand that such at tempts as Kuropatkin made to cut our lines of communication are now al New Chwang and not at the 1alu. Ihls 's an infinitely cheaper and quicker neahs of transportation. Our now secondary lines of communication over the laiu river to Korea were only maintained with great difficulty, and because we had no other alternative
 Whatever the result of the present bat file whether Oyama retires to his pre- pared positions at Liao Yang and on the banks of the Taitse river, or whether ne forces Kuropatkin back towards MuKdeIl Baron Hayashf believes that 1t will only have a small bearing upon the eVentuai decision of the grim issue at stake
 Peace Proposals Would Be Futile
 "IJntu Port Arthur falls" said the baron 'any proposal looking to peace must be futile. Defeat or victory to the Russian Manchurian army or armies merely swells the daily death roll Nu- ropatIxin driven back, and utterly deleat- ed, would simply harden Russia near. n,, Kuropatkin temporarily successful would only inspire new enthusiasm. In such see-saw there is no hope Of peace.
 .Port Arthur is different. Should It pc capt,red, those in Russia who are sup posed to favor reasonable setuenene W would have a sentimental material Iactor in favor of their point of view that ho % ue- Velopment of the Manchurlah caiiip@e @ :. could provide. Japan in possession or Fot' Arthur could treat for peace How mueh longer Port Arthur can hold out l nave not the least idea. Hot weather IS an advantage to the defenders. ffom .he intense heat and consequent sanitary uls- advantages the Japanese could not sel away. Against the cold now coming on they can take the necessary precautions and suffer none of those epidemlcs "here- to if they are not victims they are a' least exposed.
 Cannot Continue Indefinitely.
 'It is impossible" continued Baron Hayashi ito think that this war uh- sought for by the population of either 9i the two countries involved, can be al- lowed to continue indefinitely. lnterVeh- ton in some shape or form must event ually occur. At the moment Russia dreaas any one suggesting it, because theIelil is involved confession of defeat. Snoulo Port Arthur fall I think 1t would pc different
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