Casemate 76

Rising Sun and Tumbling Bear; Russia's War with Japan:

Richard Connaughton. HB, 366pp. 16pp b/w plates, 15maps. ISBN 0.304.36184.4. £20.
Published by Cassel, revised edition, 2003.

'The definitive history of the Russo-Japanese War' claims the Staff College, Camberley, on the back cover. Well, perhaps.... 'A remarkably lively and enjoyable account' asserts The Economist; yes definitely. This book is a very good read indeed.

As fortification devotees, FSG members will be well aware of the siege of Port Arthur in 1904. But this was only part of the conflict, and this tome takes us through all aspects of the war, from the basic causes, through the land and sea battles, to the final peace settlement.

The basic casus belli was the growing Russian influence in Korea and Manchuria, which were vital to Japanese economic and strategic interests. The Japanese had already had a war in the mid 1890s to assert their influence in Korea over that of China, but felt they had been robbed of the spoils of victory by the European powers which awarded Russia a lease on Port Arthur and Manchuria. This gave Russia what it had long wanted: an ice free base for its Pacific Fleet; Vladivostok was iced up for 3 months of the year. They wasted no time in building a ring of forts about their newly gained naval base.

Port Arthur under Japanese attack. (Rising Sun & Tumbling Bear)

The war began with a surprise naval attack on the Russian Fleet at Port Arthur, ensuring that the Russian Fleet was out of the way and allowing the Japanese to land troops on the Western Korean coast. The Japanese marched steadily through Korea, forcing the relatively light Russian forces north and away from Port Arthur. In May 1904, the 2nd Japanese Army landed unopposed further down the Kwantung peninsula, at the tip of which lay Port Arthur and forced the Russians to drop back on the port's defences. The siege of Port Arthur proved unexpectedly bloody to the Japanese. Barbed wire, machine guns, trenches, shrapnel, and determined Russian defence caused very heavy Japanese casualties. It was only when 11-in siege howitzers eventually arrived (the first shipment had been sunk by the Russians whilst at sea, one of their few pieces of good fortune) and the Japanese adopted a sap method of attack that progress began to be made. But it was to be the new year of 1905 before Port Arthur surrendered, and even then the Japanese were surprised by how many stores the Russians still had.

To the North, the Japanese pressed on. Despite excellent defensive positions, the Russians repeatedly withdrew, having often inflicted heavy losses on the Japanese, who never had the strength to pursue, often using up all their reserves, so the Russians were never fully defeated.

Fort Chikuan at Port Arthur. (Rising Sun & Tumbling Bear)

This is a traditionally produced hardback, with sixteen pages of contemporary plates, and as many simple but explicit maps as are required. These latter are most useful, and the plates interesting.
In this book, Richard Connaughton provides us with a good deal of information, and informative insights into the role of the Port-Arthur fortress in the campaign. Highly recommended.

Paul Holford.