CENTURIES of isolation of Japan was broken in 1854 when a treaty of friendship was signed with the USA under the shadows of the guns of Commodore Perry’s ships. This treaty allowed the USA the use of Japanese ports of Hakodate and Schimoda. Soon thereafter, other European nations also got similar rights from Japan.
These treaties, which bestowed extra-territorial rights on Western nations, created such a resentment amongst the isolationist Japanese nation that they rose against these measures in 1868. As a result of the reforms which followed, a parliamentary system was introduced.
In the latter half of the 19th century, Tsarist Russia, Japan’s big neighbour, had vastly developed Eastern Siberia. By coercions or playing upon the weaknesses of China, Russia had gained control over China’s territories as big as Europe, reaching up to the Amur River. It had also obtained the surrender of Manchuria from China. Like other colonial powers, Japan also had acquired the use of four Korean cities and ports in 1876, which opened for her the gate to the Asian mainland. Russia followed suit by extracting similar concession for three other Korean ports in 1888. So, a clash of interests between Russia and Japan started building around the use of common turf in the Korean peninsula. In 1897, Russia further secured from China the lease of LioTung Peninsula where it built the harbour of Port Arthur called Dalny (now Lushun).
In the demarcation of their areas of influence, Japan had offered to recognize Russia’s position in China in exchange for recognition of Japan’s position over Korea with equal commercial rights for all nations in these territories. Whilst negotiations for these matters were going on, Russia continued strengthening its garrisons in the Eastern territories. The Japanese ambassador in Moscow was instructed to complete negotiations by Feb 4, 1904, on all issues. When this date arrived, Japan broke off diplomatic relations with Russia. Mobilization of Japanese forces was ordered and by Feb 10, war was declared between the two nations.
Before the Russo-Japanese war was declared, the Japanese navy carried out a preemptive attack on Russian Eastern fleet off Port Arthur on Feb 8, 1904. At that time, the Russian Eastern fleet and the Japanese naval fleet were nearly at par. The Russians, under Admiral Stark, had seven battleships, six cruisers and destroyer flotillas at Port Arthur. The Japanese fleet, under Vice Admiral Heihachiro Togo, consisted of six British-built battleships, 14 cruisers and flotillas of torpedo boats. Togo’s fleet was put to sea on Feb 7, 1904, and the following day it was 60 miles East of Port Arthur.
In the evening, a Torpedo attack was launched, hitting three Russian ships at anchor. The ships were driven to the sanctuary of the harbour. The Japanese were also driven away by Russian shore batteries. Next day, the Russian fleet was put to sea. An engagement of 40 minutes took place with Togo’s ships without definite outcome. The Russians were, however, put on the defensive. The Czar immediately thereafter replaced Admiral Stark with Admiral Markov as CNC of the Port Arthur fleet. The Japanese navy resorted to harbour-blocking and mine-laying.
For the next two months, the Japanese navy had an upper hand in the area. On April 12, the Russian cruiser Petropaulosk hit a mine whilst returning from a mission and was sunk with loss of 632 officers and men including Admiral Markov, the central figure of the Russia fleet at Port Arthur. The Japanese land forces were also gaining ground in the South of the peninsula across the Yule River when the Japanese First Army, under General Kuroki, compelled the Russian forces under General Zosulich to withdraw across the river.
The next step of the Japanese armies was to reduce Port Arthur by land so that its use could be denied to the Russian fleet. To attain this goal, the Japanese Second Army was landed 40 miles North of Port Arthur under General Oku. At this juncture, the Tsar ordered the newly-appointed fleet commander, Admiral Vitgrov (Vitgeft), to break out to sea to join Vladivostok fleet. On Aug 10, he sailed out under the cover of mist with six battleships and eight destroyers. At midday, both the fleets encountered each other at what is called the Battle of Yellow Sea, in which the Russian Admiral was killed on board his flagship, the Tsarevich. In utter confusion, five Russian battleships — one cruiser and three destroyers — returned to Port Arthur. The rest of the fleet ran for the Chinese ports and was later interned. This first naval battle gave the Japanese absolute control over the China Sea and Korean straits, including the Port Arthur anchorage.
After the setbacks to Russian eastern fleet at Port Arthur in 1904, the Russian Baltic fleet had been ordered in July 1904 to sail out to Vladivostok — a journey of 18,000 miles around three continents, without the logistic support of any Russian naval base enroute. There was all-round delay in preparing the fleet. Five new battleships were to form the core of this force with its flagship, Suvaroff, under the command of Admiral Rojdestrensky. The fleet consisted of 45 ships, including supply and logistic crafts. Some were routed though the Suez and the main body sailed round the Cape of Good Hope to rendezvous at Madagascar.
The fleet was in China Sea by May 1905. On May 28, the Japanese cruiser, Siano Moro, by chance rammed a Russian logistic ship. Within two hours of this Togo was at sea. On May 27, at midday, the two main forces were in close contact near the island of Tsushima, by which name this first great battle of the century is known in history.
In the battles of 1904 and 1905 for Port Arthur, anchorage and later battles to seize this harbour, the Russians were inflicted telling defeat at land and sea. For the first time in history an Asian nation completely defeated a semi-European power.
