The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-29
Oyama's Unreliable Face.

Surrounded by all the complexities
and luxuries which the Russians require
in order to tolerate the burden Of life,
we met the marshal, the 'only simple
figure in the entire setting. He had
been holding council of war while we
hum Of voices that came to us from tho
cool shadows Of the room beyond the
veranda ceased and with a shuttle Of
colonies and majors-Hled out across
the veranda and left the compound.
Behind them, simplest Of them all, came
the commander in chief himself. With
out hat, clad in common khaki, with no
insignia save the three stars and three
stripes of a general on his sleeve and
the golden spurs on his boots, the mar
shall came out into the yard to meet
us, his face beaming with cordiality as
he extended his hand.
We followed him back into the depths
of his cool retreat, where the dozen
empty chairs and piles Of cigarette butts
en- up. Like him, and at his command,
we sat ourselves in easy chairs. A
noiseless "toban' Orderly soldier)
slipped about us with cigars and cigar
cts. While Captain Hanake, aide-de.:
camp, was translating the marquis
kindly welcome to us, we had an oppor-
tunity to study more closely the face. Of
the man of whom the world is talking
so much. .-.-.- :,
It was genial, full of humor and hui
namely lovable That was the first i'm
preston. Imperturbability, inscrutabil-
ity and iron determination were the
qualities which next suggested them
selves in that face which of all faces
Japanese that I have ever seen told
| less to the observer of what lies be-
yond. III
For half an hour we chatted with the
marshal of anything and everything
save that which interested us most Of all
THE question of war or peace. All lines
that threatened vaguely to drift into
political channels were cleverly turned
into unimportant veins. Marshal Oyama
has been to America, and spoke enthu
siastically Of the United States ant
asked many questions as to the growth
| of Chicago.
| "'It was a fine city when was there
wears ago. he said. "That was be.
fore your great fire. How I should like
to visit it again but am getting to to DC be
an old man -noW and shall not Aea "
Japan again after the war. Ht
laughed at the sigh with which he sale
this, for he is only 60, and we told hin
|
States senator, ten years his senior, a.
old or venerable, our prestige and ben
efits from that quarter would terminate
on the spot. He laughed heartily, TO
of all things he loves a joke most of all
His officers tell us that he is always thu
same No situation, however perplex
ing or filed with danger, moves him
hair s breadth.
"You think Captain Tanake ,sai,
to us, after we had left the room
"that the marshal is in an UNUSUAL.
iovial mood today, but he is always SC
Had we been in the throes Of secon
, battle of Mukden you would not hav
been able to trace the slightest differ
ence in his manner. / have been thr
three great battles with him. .Liaoyans
the Shaho and Mukden, and never a
any time have been able to detect tn
. smallest sign Of anxiety or excitemen
!. in his face. He surprises even tn
: japanese; We call him the inperturbs
!, bic mountain, and such he is in yer
!. fact. All thru Mukden he was in til
( most genial mood, serious, of cours
!. while making decisions and at the coul
I ellis, but cracking jokes and laughing
J. that same Wholesouled way that yo