The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1905-03-16
!APAk'S ARMY GENIUS.
Record of Baron Kodama, Chief
of Staff to Oyama.
SCION OF GOOD FIGHTING STOCK.

William L. Curtis Says Field Mar
shall Oyama Considers His Assistant
One of the Worlds shrewdest STRAIT
eKists-His Arrangement Fer Locat-
Ing Japanese and Russian Forces.
Everybody agrees that the genius Of
the Russo-Japanese war Is General
Baron KOdama, recently assistant
chief OF the general staff, and now
chief Of staff.to Field Marshal Oyama.
commander in chief Of the japanese
army in the field, says William E.
Curtis, the Chicago Record Herald's
correspondent writing from Tokyo.
Kodama was formerly assistant min
terror, and is now governor general
Of FOrmOSa, on leave Of absence, hav-
Ing been called to Tokyo at the out
set OF the war because. while assistant
minister OF war some years ago, he
planned the campaign which the Japa-
nese armies are conducting in Nah
churia. After serving in Tokyo for six
months and carrying out his plans con-
corning the mobilization and transpor-
tatlon OF troops. he was sent to the
front about the FIST Of July.
General Baron l.Odama is about fifty
years old, and descendant Of a sa-
mural or knight Of :'eudal times He is
therefore of good lighting stock, and he
has made a brilliant record as a SOL
al hoo I'll ~
ceived i'll Korea some years ago, where
lie was shot through both shoulders.
For months he lay ia plaster Of paris
mold, unable to move Il muscle Of the
upper portion of his body. His patience
and courage have been talked about
ever since. His left arm Is helpless.
Otherwise lie is in perfect health and
Is the hardest worked man in Japan.
He has spent from sixteen to eighteen
hours day at the general staff build
Ing. He has read every report that
las been received and every dispatch
that has been sent from Tokyo con-
corning the army in the field, and has
dictated most Of the orders from the
war department at Tokyo to the COM
manders in the field. Although Field
Marshal Oyama Is in good health and
his mental vigor is unimpaired, he re-
fers everything to his assistant be-
cause he recognizes his superior abi-
ity and considers him the shrewdest or
one Of the shrewdest strategists In the
world today.
Baron Kodama looks more like q
Frenchman than Japanese. Except
his diminutive size, he is entirely I'M
japanese In appearance. He is small |
and slight, weighing not more than
40 pounds. His scanty hair is iron
gray. His mustache and goatee, which |
he wears In the French style, are al |
most white. His skin Is tanned like
leather from great exposure and has
the weatherbeaten appearance notice |
able In sailors and old campaigners.
His eyes are keen, but kindly, and |
their color Is blue. He has o quick, |
nervous manner and a hearty laugh.
He speaks no English or French, but |
reads the latter language imperfectly.
Lieutenant Tanaka. an aid-de-camp,
who speaks both English and French |
fuently, is always Mt his side to in
terpret conversations. No reports are |
given out without the approval Of Ko-
DANA. In fact, he is Japan as far as
the army is concerned.
He has an assistant Of his own kind
in Major General Fukushima, q man of |
great ability. energy and learning,
whom many consider the equal Of his
chief. Fukushima has ridden from one
end of Manchuria to the other. He
Knows every road and stream, every
mountain and valley. every town and
hamlet and can make a chart of the
country with hts eyes shut.
Fukushiii,a and Kodama work "a
one and are entirely In sympathy.
Among other duties Fukushima looks
after curious chart which hangs In
hodama's office. The headquarters of
the general staff are in a two story
villa, Suilt for the residence of a for
eigne- about twenty years ago, lust
outside the walls that inclose the mark
OF the imperial palace. Within every
thlng is severely simple
hodama's room is the plainest Of all.