Russo-Japanese War

Viewing this war from a militarily strategy perspective, the cause of war between Japan and Russialie in the strategically important locations on the world map. If you take a look at any map, the eastern most part of Russian coast line that touches the Pacific, you will notice that within the sea of Japan and also the Kamchatka peninsula, there are countless places where prominent trade ports and military stations can be established to dominate northern Pacific ocean and all the surrounding areas. The problem is that the several of the ports on the Kamchatka peninsula are summer ports, whereas the providence of Manchuria has warm ports. Basically, the entire coast line from Kamchatka peninsula, including the Korean peninsula and the eastern cost of China were the areas of interest and they were also the locations where the actual war was fought.

Brief History about the Russo-Japanese War

Though the actual war between Russia and Japan was fought between 8 February 1904 to 5 September 1905, there are several different events that led up the conflict. The Meiji Restoration in Japan not just changed the society but also brought out the Empire of Japan from isolation. The Japanese state began to progress rapidly technological and military advancements, put Japan on the map of the Imperial race. In the Russian sphere, the Empire of Russia was spreading its influence, politically, militarily and economically eastward and the Russian port of Vladivostok which is adjoined to Manchuria was fast becoming a strategic location. The Russians even built the Trans-Siberian rail line to connect this far off port to west of Russia.

The second important factor that was seen as a probable cause was the Treaty of Shimonoseki which concluded the 1894-1895 Sino-Japanese conflict. In this treaty China ceded Korean suzerainty, Taiwan, Pescadores and Liaodong Peninsula to the Japan. These territories which were in proximity to Russian east coast caused the Tsar to sweat. In clever move of international diplomacy, the Russians staged a 'Triple Intervention' with the help of Germany and France, where in return of financial interests the Japanese withdrew from Liaodong Peninsula. Following this in a totally unexpected move, Port Arthur which lies on this peninsula, Talienwan and the surrounding waters were leased by Russia. A further expansion of trade interest by Russia in the Korean lands, put Japan on a considerably hot bed. Further more when the Boxer revolution took place several European nations staged peace interventions, including Russia. Russian troops took up Manchuria and 177,000 troops settled in the province, and did not evacuate even by the end of 1903.

Unsuccessful pre-war negotiations took place in St. Petersburg and due to distortion of policies in the Tsar Nicolas II and his advisors, the negotiations were never concluded. The Japanese government severed ties with the Russian Empire and issued a Declaration of War on 8 February 1904. The Russian Far East Fleet and Port Arthur, were immediately attacked by the Japanese navy. Russia declared war 8 days later, and things were set into motion, the war began.

Summary of the War

The war lasted for about a year, beginning with the Battle of Port Arthur. Admiral Togo Heihachiro, led the Japanese into the bloody battle of Port Arthur, which was left un-concluded. Now the Japanese used the factor of distance very wisely, the Russians troops were not able to travel down to Korea or Northern Manchuria in short time. Hence, in a fast momentum, the Japanese, under the cover of the Port Arthur battle landed in Port Incheon of Korea and quickly occupied Seoul. Under the command of Kuroki Itei, they invaded the Russia occupied Manchuria by crossing the Yalu river.

Now the strategic position of Russia was very different from what was expected. The number of troops was limited and reinforcements were miles away, on the Trans-Siberian line. The Russians adopted a very clever move by using fighting, delaying defensive tactics and just holding ground by not launching offensive strategies. This was done to buy time till support arrived. This proved to be a success to some extent as the Battle of Yalu River turned out to be a very bloody battle and similarly the Japanese suffered some intense casualties in the immediate following Battle of Nanshan.

Port Arthur in the mean time by blocked by Japanese navy ships. Vice Admiral Makarov of the Russian imperial navy took command but his short lived campaign resulted into his death and also the loss of one battleship. In a retaliatory move, the Russians laid out several sea mines which managed to sink a Japanese battleship. The loss of the entire Russian fleet to the Japanese and some strategic locations led to the down fall of Port Arthur and also opened up the campaign of 1905. Though the campaign was slow due to the harsh winter, in a very, very daring move General Oskar Grippenberg, attacked a vulnerable Japanese flank, which proved to be successful. Unfortunately he ordered to halt, leaving the Battle of Sandepu un-concluded. This was followed by another bloody land battle to Mukden and the sea battle of Tsushima, which saw the conflict in Russian Second Pacific Squadron and Japanese Combined Fleet.

The battle was concluded as a Japanese victory and peace was made at the Treaty of Portsmouth, under the mandate of United States President Theodore Roosevelt. The Japanese won over Korea and the Russians has to sign over Port Arthur and evacuate Manchuria.

So, what was so unique about the war between Japan and Russia? Firstly, it is regarded to be the first modern age war where an Asian nation defeated a European power and secondly, and most importantly, it led to the 1905 Russian Revolution. The extent of the revolution was so huge that to curb uprisings in Polish Russia, an army of 250,000 to 300,000 troops had to be stationed. This further resulted into one of the greatest Revolution and establishment of First Congress of Russian Social Democratic Labor Party (RSDLP) and further Socialist ideas of the "People's Rule" in Russia.