Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-20
ERRORS OF THE JAPS
CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE RUS
SLAMS CRITICISED.
1t is Claimed That Troops Should Have
Landed in Manchuria Months
Before They Were.

by far the best statement Of conditions
I'm the far east that have SEEN" said The
Star war reporter today, was contained In
a letter from Mukden by II. J. whigham.
Extracts from this letter were csbied from
London and published on Sunday. I give
my enthusiastic approval OF Mr.. Whig-
hams letter because lie confirms what
have been saying TO The Star for about
four months. The writer says that the
Russians themselves acknowledge that Port
Arthur could have been easily captured in
February and he strongly criticises the
Japanese concentration in Korea. 1t may
not be so sure that the fortress could have
been taken in February. but il could GER
tainly have been invested at that time. AL
though a sufficient garrison could have been
thrown In there IT probably would have
been caught without the supplies and am
munition necessary for a long siege Al the
time when kuroki crossed the lalu L called
attention to the previous comments on the
Japanese concentra ton in Korea and sug
gested that all the stragetic advantages
far secured by the japanese. including the
inves .ment of Port Arthur. which was yet
to come, could have been better and more
easily obtained in February. The crossing
of the Yalu took place about three months
after the war began and the investment OF
Port Arthur was about four months. III
the results of these months could have been
reached in the first month of the campaign
We may calculate what the effect
would have been upon the final result. Not
the least of these results would nave been
a saving of the army from the exhaustins
march through Korea.
Effect Of Landing in February.
"A japanese landing at Takushan in the
month Of February would have necessitated
the abandonment by the Russians OF their
position on the lalu. Thus Korea would
have safely fallen into the hands or the
japanese by simple maneuver. Likewise
there seems to be every reason to believe
that the landing at Pitzewo. which finally
accomplished the isolation of Port Arthur.
could have been done in February. In Feb
ruary the roads were frozen hard and the
traffic season of the country was at Its
height Thus il seems that the Japanese
might have been where they are now as
much four or five months ago, before the
Russian reserves had joined their field ar
mics am. while the latter were unprepared
and demoraliZed by the sudden outbreak or
the war. This is a good deal to claim, but
IL appears to lie true.
apparently the Siberian railroad In the
first months of the entirely
cupied with the service of mobilization OF
the Sberians army corps. that the only
re-enforcementS brought from Europe con-
sisted of the reserves of European organi-
cations already in Manchuria. before the
completion of the formation of the 4th ST.
berian army corps. the brea king of the ice
in Lake Baikal and the injury to bridge
caused further delay.
AT this time the Japanese crossed the
falu. Although greatly delayed Mr..
Whigham believes that there was still time
for kuroii to advance against Lao Yang
and even against Mukden by the eastern
soaSSeS.
Energy Of the japanese
Here perhaps the war correspondent is
at fault. The japanese general has certain
ly shown much energy in the mountains
since his crossing of the Yalu Ny own
criticism has been. not that the japanese
have failed to make an energetic advance
from the Yaiu. but that they made a mis-
take in selecting Lao Yang instead OF Hal
Chen as an objective. An advance on this
latter point would have avoided the Difficult
tes IN the mountains north and northeast
OIL feng- Chen. At present the
main objective OF the campaign seems to
| be to capture Yinkow in order to make II a
| base of supplies for the armies north OF
FORT Arthur. An advance of the army of
hurokf on Hafchen would Droba bIy have ac
compshed that object as at that lima
huropatkfn was apparently making all
| preparations TO withdraw toward Mukden.
A Lost Opportunity.
But In the latter part of Nav the ice
cleared in Lake Baikal and the bridge of
Chaiiar was repaired. and the troops which
had been waiting at Irkutsk were rushed
TO Hardin at the rate of more than two
thousand day. with horses and guns The
The ith Siberian Army Corps should now
" a. t,e lIoilt, as wei as the 18th Corps,
while the 10th Corps is arriving and the
LIST Is under way. Reports Of engagernents
of Cral Cossacks also indicate the arrival
OF brigade Of cavalry. All this has en-
abled the Russian general to hold his own
ana 10 postpone retreat which he could
not have avoided if the first efforts of the
japanese had been directed against Man
churia. l would once more call attention to
one OF the wiSest teachings OF Won Moltke
on the art of He said that an error
of concentration committed at the begin
ming OF a campaign cannot ordinarily be
corrected during the progress OF the CAM
pagn."