Could Russia Have Defeated Japan in the Russo-Japanese War?

This essay will try on Russias advantages and disadvantages pre- fight, war and line-war that could pick out changed the course of history and en competentd Russia to defeat japan in the Russo- lacquerese fight. Russia, despite major advantages in resources, army personnel, maritime forces, and strategic depth, missed the Russo- Nipponese War to lacquer, a rising force play whose military strength and power were grossly underestimated. Why? What could Russia have through differently to defeat japan in the war?Summarizing and analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of Russias piteous leadership, lack of strategic cookery a shootst Japan, and logistical differences will help clarify what it did wrong and what it could have d superstar to defeat Japan in 1904. Diplomatic and economic factors before and during the war In 1854, Japan had reopened her doors to the United States, the United Kingdom, and Russian after cc years of isolation from all Western powers, except the Netherlands (Koda 12).Of these powers, Britain and Russia had the strongest impact on the dry landal security policy of the Nipponese government. By the 1890s, given the ontogenesis competition among European force- go forths in Asia, Japan had begun to implement policies to increase the nations military and economic modernization. They recognized that failure to do so would lead to the nations dominance or dismemberment by foreigners (Francis 1). Between 1888 and 1904, the Russian Empires economy was booming.As the fiscal heath of the government improved, it can be expected that the Minister of War would be allowed to share in this bounty. The Ministry was able to fund ii clear-cut rearmament programs the acquisition of magazine rifles and the introduction of the first quick-firing field artillery piece (Fuller 363). Both programs helped enhance and put Russia at an advantage in military readiness and innovation compared to advanced(prenominal) powers within the region. I n 1894, Russia had a naked as a jaybirdTsar in Nicholas II, who was young, dreamy and ambitious and noned by biographers as a weak man and easily led (Fuller 370). Another key figure to Russias government was Count S. Iu. Witte. Witte, the Minister of Finance, 1892-1903, rapidly became one of Nicholass near influential ministers in the early part of his political science as Tsar (Fuller 370). Witte was the prime mover of the Trans-Siberian and Chinese east railroads, which allowed Russia to get a monopoly over resources and markets of Manchuria (Fuller 370).In March 1900, War Minister Kuropatkin delivered a speech in which he summarized the ways in which Russia had used its military power in the past ii hundred years and a series of predictions on upcoming challenges the nation would have to face. He argued that Russia incomplete needed nor desired war with any of the other Great Powers it exclusively had cryptograph to gain by it (Fuller 377). Yet, Russia was not a satisf ied Power and in a re carriage to the Tsar, Kuropatkin had to endorse the act economic exploitation of Manchuria and the expansion of Russia influence in the East (Fuller 378).Moreover, Russia had concluded an alliance with chinaware against Japan and, in the process provided the finance China needed in exchange for railway and industrial monopolies and won rights to extend the Trans-Siberian Railroad crosswise Chinese-held Manchuria to the Russian seaport of Vladivostok, thus gaining control of an important strip of Manchurian territory (Warner 113). Unfortunately, the unfinished state of the Trans-Siberian railroad in 1904, logistical problems, and unvoiced costs meant only close 100,000 Russian troops and supporting units had been deployed to the farthest East.However, this continuous crash collusion over the spheres of influence in Manchuria, port wine Arthur, and finally in 1903 when Russia developed an economic interest in Korea make headway exasperated Japan (Koda 16). Start of the War The Russo- Nipponese War took place from February 1904 to phratry 1905 it was a war that originated out of rival imperial ambitions of the Japanese and Russian Empires over Manchuria, appearance Arthur, and Korea. The Russians had been pursuing a course of steady pugnacity and contrary to what Japan considered her vital interests and national honor (Mahan 172).The Russians had countless chances to gain an advantage and a better diplomatic persuasion over Japan. after on negotiations back and forth concerning spheres of interest between the two nations were not met and in Japanese eyes were ignored due to the arrogance of the Tsar Japan sever diplomatic relations on 6 February 1904 (Answer. com). Late at night on the 8th of February, a force of Japanese pigboat boats entered into Port Arthur. Through the dense fog, they launched a surprise attack that not only affect the Russian ocean squadron, but also surprised the world.Only one ship, the Novik, was not caught entirely napping and was able to give hang back (Warner 17). Three of Russias biggest ships took fearsome hits the cruiser Pallada, Retvizan and Tsarevitch (Warner 17). Russia was shocked and definitely not alert Although gunfire stirred some in the evening, many knew nothing of the attack until the next morning. Some had heard and assumed that the clear had been carrying out exercises and few people expected that the first attack by Japanese- or any attack at all- would take place in Port Arthur (Warner 17).Crafting a War Plan The Commander of Russias Far Eastern Armies, General Kuropatkin was tasked with developing Russias war plan his idea was to traverse Japan an early victory by alternating tenacious retentiveness actions and strategic withdrawals in request to gain the time needed to receive thousands of additional troops from European Russia (Fuller 379). Inso far as possible, he wrote, our forces essential reverse decisive engagements in order to escape bein g thwarted in detail prior to concentration of forces sufficient for the defeat of the Japanese (Fuller 400).He expected the Japanese to invade Manchuria, they did he anticipated that the Japanese would attack Port Arthur, they did so, his plan was absolutely accurate and unquestionably foreboded the events that were about to unfold in this Russian nightmare. But no matter how offsetal or administratively talented Kuropatkin may have been, he move the gravest of errors by underestimating his enemy. The Japanese army was highly motivated and trained and pitch to implement their war plan. In an attempt to avoid war, Japan indueed Russia with a treaty that would be relatively fair to both sides.Russia, to the surprise of no one, declined the terms and Japan was leftfield with no choice other than to admit war. In July 1903 at pre-war negotiations, the Japanese Minister in St. Petersburg as instructed to present Russian Minister, Roman Rosen, with his countrys views and desires . After the proposal, Russia provide a counter-proposal and Japan provided another proposal by which Manchuria would be outside the Japanese sphere of influence and, reciprocally, Korea outside Russias (Answers. com).One month later on 4 February when no formal reply had been received, Japan severed ties and went about achieving everything that they asked for at the pre-negotiations. According to Karl von Clausewitz, a renowned theorist of war, two parties need to want peace for a war to be terminate and both sides must be able to overcome internal and outer oppositions to end the war. Because of Russian leaders incompetence, arrogance, and inability to respond promptly and agree negotiations, Japans pre-war requests and Kuropatkins predictions of Japans war dodge were developing in what would be known in history as the Russo-Japanese War.Elements of the Land Campaign At the outbreak of the war, Russia had the worlds largest standing army, but most of it was in Europe. The Japane se knew that Russia could not fully concentrate its army in the Far East because it had to keep some forces in western Russia as a counter to Turkish, German, and Austrian forces (Koda 22). Russia was not ready for the war with Japan, and the Japanese knew it. in all Japan had to do was concentrate its forces in Manchuria and match the strength of Russian forces there.For the Japanese to establish master copyity, they had to overcome their handicaps shortage of strategic reserves, an substandard stockpile of ammunition, and poor field heavy artillery (Koda 23). In order to overcome these handicaps, Japan had a well thought out operating(a) plan and effective tactics on the battlefield, which yielded perfectly to the warfare of Manchurian plain. In my opinion, all Russia had to do was delay Japanese forces while they built up their strength in the west and bring forces south from the Chinese Eastern railway.Without the Trans-Siberian Railway to assist in reinforcing Russian force s, Russia would be left without a real plan of campaign (Warner 319). Therefore, the longer the war went on, the more(prenominal) likely an eventual Russian victory would have been in a battle of industrial attrition due to the continuing flow of reinforcements along the railway. Synchronizing ground and naval efforts Japan had to deliver a severe blow before Russia had time to prepare and execute whatever war plan that they may have established.In the words of Admiral atomic number 29 Halsey, Japan needed to Hit hard, hit fast and hit often. In March the Japanese landed an army in Korea that quickly overran that country. In May another Japanese army landed on the Liaotung Peninsula, and on May 26 it cut off the Port Arthur garrison from the main(prenominal) body of Russian forces in Manchuria. Russia needed to stop playing on the defense and start being on the offensive. With the help of reinforcements received via the Trans-Siberian Railroad, Russia go along attacks, but it p roved indecisive owing to poor military leadership.An character of the Russians impotence in leadership occurred at the beleaguering of Port Arthur. After believing that the purpose of defending the city was woolly-headed due to the defeat of the emit, Major General Stessel decided to surrender his post without consulting the other military staff present, or the Tsar and the military command. All disagreed with his decision because the garrison was still well stocked and had months of food and ammunition. In 1908, Stessel was convicted by a court-martial and sentenced to death, though later pardoned for his offenses (Answer. om). More rough naval power The Japanese unite Fleet was slightly superior to the Russian Pacific Fleet (Koda 22). Japan was at an advantage to Russia, because Russias fleet had to be divided in two forces, one at Port Arthur and the other at Vladivostok (Koda 22). The fleets at Port Arthur and Vladivostok were also littler and less ready, which left Russia s land and naval forces outnumbered at the start of the war. Japans strategy was to engage each force separately and oppose any Russian reinforcements.Japans Combined Fleet had to exterminate the Pacific Fleet before the arrival of reinforcements and it was necessary for Admiral Togo to protect his strength, to ensure that he had a fleet capable of destroying the reinforcements when they arrived (Koda 23). The Russian fleet in Port Arthur presented a menace to the sea lines of communication for Japan and was a determining factor of the war. The attack, although successful, was not executed as planned.It continued long enough to afford Russia the opportunity to bring into play her other naval forces from the west and if other circumstance would not have accorded, may have caused Japan their victory. For example, the Baltic Fleet was on its last leg of its 18,000 nautical mile journey to Vladivostok, when they were spotted by the Japanese Combined Fleet. The Baltic Fleet had been s uccessfully traveling at night to avoid discovery. Unfortunately, one of her hospital ships exposed a light, which was sighted by a Japanese ship.The ship reported the sighting to Admiral Togo, who was able to position his fleet and engage in the battle of Tsushima. The Russian fleet was eliminate at Tsushima. If the Russian fleet would have positioned their cruisers, designed for speed and endurance, at Vladivostok, Russia would have had a better chance at counter-attacking Japans fleet. Unlike Port Arthur with only one way in and out, Vladivostok had two exits, to the Japan Sea and to the east coast of the islands by way of the Tsugaru Straits.The Japanese vessels out numbered the Russian vessels and they probably would have still picked off the Russian vessels one by one, but positioning the cruisers at another port would have allowed for continued freedom of commerce. Although this is an indirect effect to the war, it directly affect the already unstable economy and a growing r ebellious stipulation to war efforts in Russia. One of the most important things to remember is not just the multiple locations of the Russia fleets, but that they were divided into fractions individually smaller than those of a possible enemy.If the Russian divisions at Port Arthur, Vladivostok, and in the European ports of Russia would have been united, they would have outweighed the Japanese fleet hence causing the Japanese fleet to re-evaluate their plan and possibly changing the course of the war. Additionally, Admiral Makarov, Commander of the Baltic Fleet, suggested that more ships should assist the Port Arthur and Vladivostok, but with his death a gathering of the Higher Naval Board with the Tsar presiding was needed.For the next three months, the new commander, Admiral Rozhdestvenski, struggled with the inevitable tangle of Russian red tape and prepared his fleet for the long journey and they set sail in October of 1904 (Warner 402). The Baltic fleet should have been sent east the instant the Japanese stated war and would have arrived in ample time to assist and been able to provide much needed reinforcements and a more aggressive naval power. ConclusionDespite Russias major advantages in resources, military personnel, naval forces, and strategic depth, they lost to an up and coming power, Japan. Furthermore, they could have negotiated out of starting time a war, and never have been put in a smudge that caused undue hardship on their ill-prepared naval and land forces. If it wasnt for poor leadership, lack of strategic planning, and logistical differences, Russia could have defeated Japan in the Russo-Japanese War.