Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-02
ANOTHER BAT TIE SOON
Japanese to Fight for the
Sungari River.
MOVING AGAINST KIRIN
KAWAMURA'S ARMY ADVANCING
FROM KOREA.
Report That Oyama Predicts the Occu-
patton Of Harbin by April To-
Silent Regarding Plans.

Another duel between the opposing armies
in Manchuria may be fought in a few
days. Marshal Oyama is preparing to move
his main army northward from Tie Pass
to the Sungari river. When he finds him
self in touch with Gen. Linevitch, who is
expected to make a stand along the line
| running from Changchun to Kirin. the
western and eastern advance columns, re-
spectively commanded by Gen. Nogi and
Gen. Kuroki, will be able to cooperate by
| assailing the Russian TANKS.
The Russians, according to recent adj
vices, have been strongly fortifying their
! positions at Sipnghai. against which the
Japanese reported to be gathering In
force. The reported Russian retirement
from Sipinghai to Chaoumiaodz was In
correct. due to a Geographic error in the
confusion of similar Chinese names. Chaou-
miaodzi with Shuamnyaotszi, south of Sip
inghai. whence the Russian advanced force
retired to the fortified line at Sipinghai.
The Japanese followed but a border of
twenty miles of debatable ground remains
between the two armies, over which the
Japanese probably will not advance until
they are ready to attack.
Chinese report that Field Marshal Oyama
has issued procamatons fixing the date
for the occupation of Hardin as April 10,
but this statement is not given general
credence.
1t will be recalled that a report was re-
Gently printed to the effect that Marshal
Oyama had informed the Chinese governor
of kirin-which is a strategic. cofgn of
| vantage lying midway between the two rail-
ways running from Hardin, the one to
Vladivostok and the other to Mukden-
that April 10 the Japanese would enter that
city.
The Movement Against Kirin.
A column of Japanese is moving against
Krin, perhaps with the intention of turn
ing the position eastward and striking at
| the Vladivostok line of communication, with
the double purpose of isolating the fortress
and separating Gen Linevitch's army from
a valuable base of supplies. Whether Gen.
Kuroki can manage by April 10 to capture
Kirin depends, it is believed, on the strength
of the garrison. and whether the army
under Gen. Kawamura. which Is marching
from Korea, can arrive in time to take
part in the attack. Kirin once occupied, it
is claimed, it would be easy to isolate
Vladivostok by cutting off its means of
communication by rail with Hardin.
How many Russians are at Kirin is I'M
known, but according to non-ofncial re-
port, army corps has been assigned to
the defense of Vladvostok; there Is one di-
vision between Vladivostok and the Ko-
rean border, and division and "a half near
Hardin.
According to the st. Petersburg corre-
Gen. Linevitch has at the front no more
than 10000 electives. If the figure is
approximately correct. the whole Russian
force in Manchuria ready for duty-in-
Guiding outlying detachmentS and the Vlad-
ivostok garrison-must fall considerably
short of 100000
1t is regarded as likely that the island
of Saghalein, in which only a. very weak
Russian garrison is stationed, will be oc-
cupied by the Japanese as soon as the
adjoining waters are free from ice. Vlad-
ivostok will be invested by sea and land,
and although the resistance may be pro-
Ionged this stronghold must ultimately
share Port Arthurs fate. With the cap
ture of Vladivostok the Japanese will ac-
quire the whole of the riparian province
lying east of the Ussur river and south
of the Amur, which China ceded to Russia
many years ago.
The Man Who Directs All.
Field Marshal Oyama who recently &C
corded an interview to the correspondent of
the New York Herald, declined to discuss
the future movements or plans of the jap
anese army. He intimated that he was
ready to continue the war as long nee
essary.
II am only a soldier" he said, mot a
politician. The Japanese government will
arrange terms Of peace when the time
comes. We were forced to fight this war in
the interests of international peace and for
the safety of our country.
personally have high regard for Rus
slams They are soldiers. The officers and
men are brave and able and have fought
well. During the war between China and
Japan l was the commander of the army
which captured Port Arthur. With di-
vision and a half of troops we took the
city in five hours. The result this time
shows the wonderful difference between the
Russians and the Chinese with whom we
had previous experience. But our army,
both soldiers and officers, performed their
duty as Japan knew they would.
Every Hope Fulfilled.
II was minister of war for Japan for six
teen years, during which time CONSUMPTION
laws were passed. l have closely watched
the making of the Japanese army, which
has proved what 1 say. that the officers and
the men have fulfilled every hope. as 1 be-
lieved they would in the older days, when
the Japanese army was composed of the
samurai, professional fighting men. The
modern army was drafted from all classes,
yet all our hopes have been fully realized
by the work this army has done in actual
war;
1t will soon be exactly ten years since
Count Oyama, interviewed after his return
to Tokyo from the Chinese campaign
conquerer of Port Arthur and Wei-Hai-
Wei by the New York Herald correspondent
Col. John A. Cockerill, gave some personal
impressions of the war just finished. Oya-
ma s expectation of spending three years in
peace and then of more fighting was full
filled, but with prolongation of the time
of preparation for the fresh campaign. In
other respects his confidence in his army
has been amply fulfilled. In his modest
but matter of fact way he told Col. Cock
GRILL:
81 think that everything has been written
and said about the war that needs be said.
1t was not much to boast of. If there had
been a real enemy 1t might be different.
About all we had to do was to make plans
and carry them into execution"