A Handbook of Modern Japan

by Ernest W. Clement

Feb.	5, 1904. Severance of diplomatic relations.
	8-9. Japanese naval victories at Fort Arthur and Chemulpo.
	9.	Russian declaration of war.
	10.	Japanese declaration of war.
	23.	Treaty of Japan with Korea.
	24.	First attempt to block Port Arthur.
March	13.	Marquis Ito starts on special mission to Korea.
	27.	Imperial Diet passed War Budget. Second attempt to block Port Arthur.
	31.	Fiftieth anniversary of Perry’s treaty with Japan.
April	13.	“Petropavlovsk” sunk by Japanese mine.
	25.	Transport “Kinshiu Maru” sunk by Russians.
May	1.	Battle of the Yalu River.
	3.	Third attempt to block Port Arthur.
	15.	“Hatsuse” and “Yoshino” sunk.
	16.	Pan-Religion Mass Meeting, Tōkyō.
	25, 26. Battle of Nanshan.
	27.	Occupation of Dalny.
June	15.	“Hitachi Maru” (transport) sunk. Battle of Telissu.
	23.	Naval battle off Port Arthur.
	27.	Japanese capture Ta, Motien, and Fenshui Passes.
July	6-9. Battle of Kaiping.
	21-30. Vladivostok Squadron in Pacific Ocean.
	24.	Battle of Tashikiao.
	31.	Japanese capture Simucheng.
Aug.	10.	Russian fleet made unsuccessful sortie from Fort Arthur.
	14.	Vladivostok fleet defeated.
	20.	“Novik” sunk in Korsakoff Harbor.
Aug.	23-Sept. 4. Battle of Liaoyang.
Oct.	10-15. Battle of the Shaho River.
	30.	General assault on Port Arthur.
Nov.	30.	Japanese capture 203-metre Hill, P. A.
Dec.	3-11. Destruction Port Arthur Squadron.
	30.	Togo and Kamimura reach Tōkyō.
Jan.	1, 1905. Surrender of Port Arthur.
	25-29. Battle of Heikeutai.
Feb.	24-March 10. Battle of Mukden.
Feb.	24.	Japanese occupied Ching-ho-cheng.
March	9.	Japanese occupied Fushun.
	10.	Japanese occupied Mukden.
	16.	Japanese occupied Tiehling.
	19.	Japanese occupied Kaiyuan.
	20.	Japanese occupied Fakuman.
	21.	Japanese occupied Changtu.
May	27, 28. Battle of the Japan Sea.
June	2.	President Roosevelt broached subject of peace.
	16.	Japanese occupied Kangping.
	18.	Japanese occupied Liaoyangwopeng.
July	8.	Sakhalin in hands of Japanese.
	18.	Vladivostok isolated.
Aug.	9.	Peace envoys convene at Portsmouth, N. H.
	29.	Terms of treaty of peace settled.

Summary

A brief summary of the war shows that at the close of the 570 days which it lasted Russia had 629,614 men in the field in Manchuria, to which Japan was able to oppose 912,730, with 1116 Russian cannon to 1030 Japanese. The Japanese captured 67,701 Russians, losing only 646 prisoners themselves. The total casualty list on land shows 294,779 Russians killed and wounded to 113,086 Japanese. The total loss to Russia in ships is estimated at $155,560,000, including twelve battleships, five armored cruisers, one coast defense vessel, six cruisers, fourteen converted cruisers, and nineteen destroyers sunk, and two battleships, two coast defense vessels, one converted cruiser, and two destroyers captured, nineteen other naval vessels being driven into internment. Japan’s naval loss includes two battleships, four cruisers, as many converted cruisers, and two torpedo boat destroyers sunk, which were valued at $24,720,000, none being captured or interned. On the sea Russia lost 8100 in killed and wounded to Japan’s 3670. The total cost of war is figured at $2,000,000,000, of which Russia spent $1,200,000,000, borrowing $870,000,000, and Japan spent $800,000,000, borrowing $650,000,000.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

George Kennan’s articles in “The Outlook” are superior. Of the books which have been issued, the best are “With Kuroki in Manchuria,” by Frederick Palmer, and “From Tōkyō through Manchuria with the Japanese,” by Major Louis L. Seaman. A very thorough, scholarly, and quite impartial presentation of the causes and issues of the war is found in “The Russo-Japanese Conflict” (Asakawa), from which one can understand completely the situation in the Far East. “The White Peril in the Far East” (Gulick) is also valuable in this connection; and “The Awakening of Japan” (Okakura) throws light on Japan’s aims and ideals. “As the Hague Ordains” (Miss Scidmore) throws a great deal of light upon the ideas of many of the chief actors in the bloody drama. “Human Bullets” (Sakurai) relates most simply but vividly the experiences of a Japanese officer, especially at the terrible siege of Port Arthur. “The Tragedy of Russia” (McCormick) is most valuable.

GREATER JAPAN

H. I. M. THE EMPEROR

THE Treaty of Portsmouth, which closed the Russo-Japanese War, made Japan one of the great powers of the world; therefore, this chapter is entitled “Greater Japan.” This is not so much because Japan became larger, although she added half of Sakhalin, obtained Russia’s lease of part of Manchuria, and has annexed Korea, but it is because she has become truly greater in many senses of the word. This will appear more evident as one reads carefully the following record of the principal events of the past seven years (1905-1912).

It is, perhaps, not strange that the Japanese nation was, on the whole, disappointed with the terms of the Treaty of Portsmouth. They had borne heavy financial burdens, and had confidently anticipated at least a partial compensation in the shape of an indemnity and the re-acquisition of Sakhalin, of which they considered themselves cheated by Russia, in 1875. To get only half of Sakhalin was not so much of a loss, because it was the better half; but to get not a single sen of indemnity was the bitterest kind of a pill, without even a coat of sugar. And, although most of the Japanese people, as is usual, quickly swallowed their disappointment, it is not strange that agitators utilized the occasion to stir up the rowdy element to break out in riots in Tōkyō early in September, 1905. And, after the destruction of considerable property, the city was placed under martial law until the excitement subsided.