Russo-Japanese War brought recognition to Japan as a major world power. Russia’s poor showing in the war sharpened the dissatisfaction of its people with the Russian government. This discontent helped shape the course of the Russian Revolution of 1905. The Russo-Japanese War began on Feb. 8, 1904, when Japan attacked Lüshun (also called Port Arthur) in Manchuria. It ended on Sept. 5, 1905, with the signing of the Treaty of Portsmouth.
Underlying causes
of the war were the conflicting ambitions of Russia and Japan. Russia had been expanding its holdings and its interests in the Far East throughout the late 1800’s. In 1891, Russia began to build the Trans-Siberian Railroad connecting Moscow and Vladivostok. In 1896, a treaty between Russia and China allowed Russia to build the Chinese Eastern Railway across Manchuria. In 1898, Russia leased the Liaodong Peninsula from China and built there the naval base of Lüshun and the commercial port of Dalian. As a result of the Boxer Rebellion in China (1900-1901), Russia increased its influence in Manchuria (see Boxer Rebellion). Russia also expanded its influence in Korea during these years.
These actions disturbed Japan, which also wanted to extend its power at the expense of China. After Japan defeated China in a war (1894-1895), it tried to seize the Liaodong Peninsula. But Russia, Germany, and France prevented that move. Japan became angry when Russia leased Liaodong. The two nations were also rivals in Korea, whose location was important to them both. Japan wanted to control Korean trade and industry. It already owned the Korean railroads and had sent thousands of Japanese settlers to Korea.
Japan sought a settlement with Russia over their rival interests in Manchuria and Korea. But Russia rejected Japan’s offers. The Japanese therefore made an alliance with Britain in 1902 and began to prepare for war.
Attack on Lüshun.
Japan broke off diplomatic relations with Russia on Feb. 6, 1904. On February 8, Vice Admiral Heihachiro Togo’s fleet attacked Russian ships at Lüshun without warning. Japan declared war against Russia on February 10. Russia seemed so much more powerful than Japan that most people expected Russia to win the war easily. But Russia had only 80,000 troops in the Far East when the war began. More soldiers and all supplies for the army had to be shipped over 5,000 miles (8,000 kilometers) from western Russia on the uncompleted Trans-Siberian Railroad. Also, Russia was weakened by social and political problems that would lead to a revolution in 1905.
Final battles.
Japan had 200,000 troops in North China, and another large army nearby. Japan lay closer to the scene of the fighting, and its people supported the government. Japanese warships and mines soon bottled up in Lüshun most of Russia’s Pacific squadron. The Japanese destroyed most of the Russian ships that tried to escape. They also defeated the Russians at Vladivostok in the Battle of the Sea of Japan. Russia then ordered its Baltic Fleet to the Far East. This fleet steamed from the Baltic Sea around Africa, across the Indian Ocean, and into the Korean Strait. But the Japanese nearly annihilated it in the Battle of Tsushima Straits.
The land war went just as badly for the Russians. The Russians were handicapped by poor leadership and a lack of troops and supplies. The Japanese were trained and well-organized and had modern equipment. Japanese forces gradually drove the Russian forces back into Manchuria and defeated them at the Battle of Mukden in 1905. After a two-month siege, Lüshun surrendered to Japan. By then, both countries were ready to stop the war. The Japanese were running out of war funds. The Russian government wanted to end an unpopular war because revolution had broken out at home.
Treaty at Portsmouth.
In 1905, at the secret suggestion of Japan, President Theodore Roosevelt of the United States arranged a peace conference at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The Treaty of Portsmouth gave southern Sakhalin Island to Japan and forced Russia to remove its troops from Manchuria. Russia had to give Lüshun and Dalian to Japan and also leave Korea for the Japanese. But Russia kept control of the Chinese Eastern Railway.
See also Togo, Heihachiro.
