By the end of August, 1891, Gen. Sadao Okada had completely destroyed a hastily gathered Russian reserve force of 6,000 at Ugolnoye, and had defeated, though not so severely, another Russian army of 12,000 on the Kamchatka Peninsula (at Petropavlovsk).
Both, blockade warships and troop-laden transports, were underway to the Arabian Peninsula to harry, and ideally capture, the Russian colonies there.
By mid-September, Japan had defeated yet another Russian army, of equal size, at Susuman in the extreme Siberian north, inflicting a 6:1 casualty ratio (+.5 Warscore), and had successfully landed troops along the entire Siberian coast, besides penetrating north from bases in Manchuria.
On Sakhalin Island – the primary target for which this war had been declared – Gen. Gentaro Nire, regarded by many at a tactical genius, was pitted against a Russian force 3 times his size. Nevertheless, he was still inflicting higher casualties upon the enemy.
It seemed like this might be the opportunity, for certain, to retake this island, which was rightfully Japan’s. But, alas, once more, it seemed like the Russians had a supernatural ability to stand fast in the face of tremendous casualties, while Nire’s army was faltering. The trick would be to inflict so much damage upon the enemy to make up for the Japanese’ relative lack of military discipline. There, the battle would hinge.
By the end of October, Japanese warships had engaged Russian shipping in the Straits of Hormuz, and were also landing a sizeable force which would take control of Dubai and Abu Dhabi from the Russians.
Other small battles in eastern Siberia had been won, and it was time to make clear that the Kuril Islands were also Japan’s and she intended to have them back.
Gen. Nire, as expected, had to give way in the Sakhalin Islands – to pull back to regroup and recover. But the enemy had suffered badly, and when he returned, the chances of the Japanese would be better.
Research continued, and the first machine parts factories were put into production. And, at the end of November, 1891, Okhotsk fell to Japanese armies, and became a base of operations.
Multiple battles to the east had been won, and a so-far uneventful battle at Chernomin, to the southwest, was underway. This war seemed to be going better than Japan’s first two wars with Russia had.
Gen. Hiroshi Ichinohe was able to conduct an advantageous flanking maneuver upon the Russians at Chernomin on the 27th of November, and began punishing them badly. He now outnumbered the Russians, and it seemed they might ultimately be defeated, despite the famous Russian discipline.
By the 28th, Gen. Nire had arrived to take over leadership of the battle at Utchan, where leadership had previously been lacking. Now, a precarious battle was turned on its head, and Nire’s artillery, especially, began to be used to great effect.
Gen. Nire’s leadership, even on the defense (he was renowned for his prowess on the attack), was telling. He took a battle on home turf which could have turned out badly, and reversed the situation, killing or wounding more than 8,000 Russian soldiers, and taking the surrender of another 10,000 – an entire Russian invasion force utterly destroyed.
And, yet, that battle would not be remembered as one of the more significant of the 3rd Russo-Japanese War. Immediately after his success, he was called upon to repeat his miracle – he was given orders to advance to Magdagachi, where 43,000 Russians were known to be advancing against only 10,000 Japanese.
Nire had only 7,000 cavalry – badly spent and hardly battle-ready, to carry him into battle. His leadership was needed, far more than the cavalry. Other reinforcements would follow. Indeed, it was Magdagachi which would be recorded in the history books as one of the epic struggles of this war.
On Dec. 10, Gen. Ichinohe won the battle of Chernomin, inflicting serious casualties against the enemy. But Ichinohe was not allowed to rest. He, too, would have to soon receive another wave of Russian soldiers.
Fully 76,000 of the Tsar’s troops were marching, in December, across the frozen wastes of Siberia toward the Japanese positions. This would set up the decisive battles – the astonishing killing grounds – of this war.
Engagements occurred at both Chernomin and Magdagchi in the middle of December – the Japanese troops at Magdagchi being poorly led before Nire’s arrival, but giving a decent account of themselves anyway. The question, as always, was whether they could hold out for long, with or without Gen. Nire. More troops were underway from Japan, but these battlefields were inland – any reinforcements would have to travel overland.
But by the end of the year it was clear Japan’s hand was strong. Japan already held 9 Russian provinces, many of them in eastern Siberia, which allowed the forwarding of most of those troops (there was still a rogue Russian army wandering the eastern wastes) toward the west.
The big question, which hung heavy on every mind, was whether China would choose this time to intervene – to attack once more, and try to wrest Korea from Japan’s grasp by sending awesome waves of soldiers against those mountain fortresses, and against Manchuria.
It was against that backdrop that the Japanese nobles met to confer about government matters at home. The people did not have a vote… and yet they did. If the people wanted reforms, it was important that they either be put down, or be granted their desires. Rebellions would not be easy to deal with, as so many of Japan’s soldiers were overseas. Korean nationalists bellowed, and Jacobins and Anarchists grumbled.
But, alas, there was no great demand for reform among the people. They, like the nobles, were both joyous at the news of the war in Russia, and apprehensive that the Chinese might start trouble again. As usual, nothing changed in the living conditions of the people. It was a hard life, but the Japanese knew no other way. At least they could be proud of the accomplishments of their Emperor, and his great nation.
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