The Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905: Causes and Results

One of the biggest confrontations is the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. The reasons for it will be discussed in the article. As a result of the conflict, guns of armadillos, long-range artillery, and destroyers were used.

The essence of this war was which of the two belligerent empires would dominate the Far East. The Emperor of Russia Nikolay II considered it his first priority to strengthen the influence of his power in East Asia. At the same time, the Emperor of Japan Meiji sought to gain full control over Korea. The war became inevitable.

Background of the conflict

It is clear that the Russian-Japanese war of 1904-1905 (the causes are connected with the Far East) did not begin immediately. She had her own premises.

Russia advanced in Central Asia to the border with Afghanistan and Persia, which affected the interests of Britain. Unable to expand in this direction, the empire switched to the East. There was China, which, due to complete exhaustion in the opium wars and the Taiping uprising, was forced to transfer part of the territory to Russia. So it got under its control Primorye (the territory of modern Vladivostok), the Kurile Islands, in part the island of Sakhalin. To connect the distant borders, the Trans-Siberian Railway was established, which along the railway line provided a link between Chelyabinsk and Vladivostok. In addition to the railway, Russia planned to trade on the nonfreezing Yellow Sea through Port Arthur.

In Japan at the same time, their transformations took place. Having come to power, the Emperor Meiji ceased the policy of self-isolation and began the modernization of the state. All his reforms were so successful that a quarter of a century after their inception, the empire was able to seriously think about military expansion to other states. Its first goals were China and Korea. Japan's victory over China allowed it to obtain in 1895 the rights to Korea, Taiwan and other lands.

The conflict between two powerful empires for domination in East Asia was brewing. The result was the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. The causes of the conflict should be considered in more detail.

The main causes of the war

It was extremely important for both powers to show their combat achievements, so the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 unfolded. The reasons for this confrontation lie not only in claims to the territory of China, but also in domestic political situations, which by that time were formed in both empires. Successful campaign in the war not only gives the winner economic benefits, but also raises its status in the world arena and makes the opponents of the power existing in it become silent. What did the two countries count on in this conflict? What were the main reasons for the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905? The table below shows the answers to these questions.

Precisely because both powers strove for an armed resolution of the conflict, all diplomatic negotiations did not bring results.

Ratio of forces on land

The causes of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 were both economic and political. The 23rd Artillery Brigade was sent from Russia to the Eastern Front. As for the numerical advantage of the armies, the leadership belonged to Russia. However, in the East the army was limited to 150 thousand people. At the same time, they were scattered over a vast territory.

• Vladivostok - 45000 people.
• Manchuria - 28,000 people.
• Port Arthur - 22000 people.
• Protection of the CER - 35000 people.
• Artillery, engineering troops - up to 8000 people.

The greatest problem of the Russian army was the remoteness from the European part. Communication was carried out by telegraph, and delivery - by the line of the Chinese Eastern Railway. However, a limited number of cargoes could be delivered by rail. In addition, the leadership did not have accurate maps of the terrain, which adversely affected the course of the war.

Japan before the war had an army of 375,000 people. They have studied the terrain well, have had accurate maps. The army was modernized by British specialists, and soldiers are devoted to their emperor to death.

Relations of forces on water

In addition to land, battles took place on the water (the Yellow Sea). Supervised the fleet of Japan, Admiral Heyhachiro Togo. His task was to block the enemy squadron near Port Arthur. In another sea (Japanese) squadron of the Land of the Rising Sun opposed the Vladivostok group of cruisers.

Realizing the reasons for the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, the Meiji Power prepared itself for the fighting on the water thoroughly. The most important ships of her United Fleet were manufactured in England, France, Germany and greatly exceeded Russian vessels.

Main Events of the War

When in February 1904 the Japanese forces began to transfer to Korea, the Russian command did not attach any importance to this, although they understood the reasons for the Russo-Japanese war of 1904-1905.

Briefly about the main events.

• 02/09/1904. The historic battle of the cruiser Varyag against the Japanese squadron near Chemulpo.
• 02/27/1904. The Japanese fleet attacked the Russian military base Port Arthur without declaring war. The Japanese first used torpedoes and disabled 90% of the Pacific Fleet.
• April 1904. The clash of armies on land, which showed Russia's unpreparedness for war (inconsistency of form, lack of military maps, inability to fence). Because of the presence of Russian officers with white tunics, Japanese soldiers easily calculated and killed them.
• May 1904. The capture of the Japanese by the port of Dalny.
• August 1904. Successful defense of the Russians by Port Arthur.
• January 1905. The surrender of Port Arthur by Stessel.
• May 1905. The sea battle near Tsushima destroyed the Russian squadron (one ship returned to Vladivostok), while no Japanese ship was damaged.
• July 1905. The invasion of Japanese troops on Sakhalin.

The Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, the reasons for which were of an economic nature, led to exhaustion of both powers. Japan began to look for ways to resolve the conflict. She resorted to help the United Kingdom and the United States.

Battle of Chemulpo

A famous battle took place on 09.02.1904 near the coast of Korea (the town of Chemulpo). Two Russian ships were commanded by Captain Vsevolod Rudnev. They were the cruiser Varyag and the Korean boat. The squadron of Japan under the command of Sotokiti Uriu consisted of 2 battleships, 4 cruisers, 8 destroyers. They blocked Russian ships and forced them to join the battle.

In the morning in clear weather, the Varyag and the Koreans anchored and tried to get out of the bay. In honor of the exit from the port music played for them, but after only five minutes on the deck they sounded the alarm. The battle flag was raised.

The Japanese did not expect such actions and expected to destroy Russian ships in the port. The enemy squadron in haste raised anchors, combat flags and began to prepare for battle. The battle began with a shot from Asama. Then came the battle with the use of armor-piercing and high-explosive shells from both sides.

In unequal forces, the Varyag was severely damaged, and Rudnev decided to turn back to the anchorage. There, the Japanese could not continue shelling because of the danger of damaging the ships of other states.

Lowering the anchor, the team "Varyag" began to study the state of the ship. Rudnev, meanwhile, went for permission to destroy the cruiser and transfer his crew to neutral ships. Not all officers supported Rudnev's decision, but after two hours the team was evacuated. "Varyag" decided to sink, opening its floodgates. The bodies of the dead sailors were left on the cruiser.

It was decided to blow up the boat "Korean", evacuating the team before it. All things were left on the ship, and the secret documents were burnt.

The sailors were taken by French, English and Italian ships. After carrying out all the necessary procedures they were delivered to Odessa and Sevastopol, where they were disbanded by the fleet. By agreement, they could not continue to participate in the Russo-Japanese conflict, so they were not allowed to the Pacific Fleet.

Results of the war

Japan agreed to sign a peace treaty with the complete surrender of Russia, in which the revolution has already begun. According to the Portsmun Peace Treaty (August 23, 1905), Russia was obliged to fulfill the following items:

1. Refuse the claims to Manchuria.
2. Refuse in favor of Japan from the Kuril Islands and half of Sakhalin Island.
3. Recognize Japan's right to Korea.
4. Transfer to Japan the right to rent Port Arthur.
5. To pay Japan an indemnity for "keeping prisoners".

In addition, the defeat in the war had negative economic consequences for Russia. Stagnation began in some industries, as their lending by foreign banks declined. Life in the country has appreciably risen in price. Industrialists insisted on the speedy conclusion of peace.

Even those countries that initially supported Japan (the United Kingdom and the United States) realized how difficult the situation is in Russia. The war had to be stopped in order to direct all the forces to fight the revolution, which the world states equally feared.

Mass movements among workers and servicemen began. A vivid example is the rebellion on the battleship Potemkin.

The causes and results of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 are understandable. It remains to find out what were the losses in the human equivalent. Russia lost 270 thousand, of which 50 thousand were killed. Japan lost the same number of soldiers, but more than 80 thousand were killed.

Evaluation judgments

The Russian-Japanese war of 1904-1905, the reasons for which were of an economic and political nature, showed serious problems within the Russian Empire. The same was written about by General Kuropatkin. The war revealed the problems in the army, its armament, command, and misses in diplomacy.

Japan was not fully satisfied with the outcome of the talks. The state has lost too much in the fight against the European adversary. She expected to get more territory, but the US did not support her in this. Inside the country, discontent began to ripen, and Japan continued the path of militarization.

Interesting Facts

The Russian-Japanese war of 1904-1905, the reasons for which were considered, brought many military tricks:

• Use of searchlights;
• The use of wire barriers under high-voltage current;
• Field kitchen;
• Radiotelegraph allowed for the first time to control ships at a distance;
• Transition to petroleum fuel, which does not produce smoke and makes the ships less visible;
• The appearance of ships - minelayers, which began to be produced with the spread of mines;
• Flamethrowers.

One of the heroic battles of the war with Japan is the battle of the cruiser Varyag at Chemulpo (1904). Together with the ship "Korean" they resisted a whole squadron of the enemy. The battle was obviously lost, but the sailors still made an attempt to break through. She was unsuccessful, and not to surrender, the crew, led by Rudnev, sank their ship. For courage and heroism, they were awarded the praise of Nicholas II. The Japanese were so impressed by the character and stamina of Rudnev and his sailors that in 1907 they awarded him the Order of the Rising Sun. The captain of the sunken cruiser accepted the award, but never put it on.

There is a version according to which Stessel handed over to the Japanese Port Arthur for a reward. As far as this version is correct, it is already impossible to verify. Whatever it was, because of his actions, the campaign was doomed to failure. For this, the general was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in the fortress, but he was pardoned a year after imprisonment. He was deprived of all ranks and awards, while leaving a pension.