Oyama, Commander-in-Chief of—the Japanese forces in Manchuria, General Baron Kodama, Major-Ceneral Fukushima, K.C.B., and others by a special train from Shimbashi on Wednesday forenoon was a most splendid and enthusiastic send-off; representatives of the Emperor, Empress, and the Crown Prince being present. The whole town was in gala (ires. Bands were in attendance at the station. The streets were lined with spectators between the General Stal Board and Shimbashi station. station was besieged by a vast concours of people, including the Chief Executi Officers and Ministers of the Crown to bid the brilliant party farewell. Many British subjects were also there, including Sir Claude and Lady Macdonald, and American citizens were equally consi ous, The Field-Marshal and uss were all dressed in khaki uniforms and looked thoroughly businesslike. Ithas not been announced where the Commander-in-Chief's Headquarters are to be located, but presumably they will not be far from one of the naval bases in Lisotung.
The: departure, of the, headquarters staff for Manchuria scorns not. only. a notable mark of past achievement but an augury for future progress,. All the leading Tokio journals wrote in grave terms on Wednesday. morning about the departure., Among others, the " Kokumin" by the way speaks. with pride and. confidence of the four Generals to whom the direct leadership of the Japanese forces in the field has been entrusted,—General Kuroki, General Oku, General. Nogi, and General Nozu. All these are tried men. They have been before the country, in the capacity of able. leaders for the: past thirty years, and-the Japanese nation trusts, them absolutely. at this crisis of its destiny.. As for Field-Marshal. Oyama, the Tokio paper remarks, that though the sphere' of his duty is confined to Manchuria, his every movement affects international relations, and he is caus tioned not to be satisfied with the mere success of defeating the enemy or taking prisoner its commander: Mar: quis Oyama has experience and popularity and is one of the most' civilised soldiers of Japan, General Kodama his strategic genius and the faculty of rapid decision. It is needless' to' say that thi cir staff' consists of picked elficers, but Japan is not left deficient in military talent. The Manchurian Headquarters stof is composed of half the main brain of the Japanese army.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.