Special Sub-Topic: Great Battles of the World - Port Arthur Click Here To Play: Great Battles of the World - Port Arthur

Although the Battle of Port Arthur was fought inside Chinease territory, China did not partake in the fighting. Which two countries did?

Russia and Japan. The Battle was part of the Russo-Japanease war of 1904.

Why did the Japanese want to take Port Arthur?

To command the entrance to the Gulf of Chihli. The Russian Baltic fleet was steaming from the other side of the world to reinforce the Russians in the Far East.

In which province of China is Port Arthur?

Manchuria. Ten years previously in the Sino-Japanease war, Japan had conquered Manchuria but had been defeated by a joint force of Russian, French and German troops. They wanted to retake Manchuria in order to regain some of their prestige.

Japanease forces needed a clear line of sight into the habour for their artillery spotters to report the positions of the Russian battleships. They chose a hill on the outer Russian defence line. What was it called?

203 metre hill. 203 Metre Hill offered unobstructed views of the harbour. This meant that Japanease spotters would be able to relay the co-ordinates of the Russian ships in the harbour. Akasaki-Yama was forfified ridge, also in the Russian outer defence line.

In the first stages of the battle, the Japanease attempted classic full-frontal attacks, which resulted in heavy losses. How many of these attacks did the Japanease launch before adopting new tactics?

3. On the last attack alone, 10,000 Japanease were left dead or wounded in only 15 hours of fighting.

After the failed frontal attacks, the Japanease changed their tactics. They focused all there attention on just 203 metre hill. Japanease sappers dug approach trenches but which recently much improved weapon was used in the attacks?

Hand grenades. The attacks on 203 Metre Hill came thick and fast, the Japanease used hand grenades to clear out the Russian trenches. After nearly two weeks of fighting, newly arrived Japanease troops finally drove the Russians off the summit.

General Stoessel was the commander of the Russian forces in Port Arthur. What course of action did he take after losing 203 Metre hill?

Surrendered Port Arthur. General Stoessel decided to end the fighting. On January 2nd he surrendered Port Arthur. A counter-attack against the hill would have been hopeless. He had seen the losses the Japanease had taken while trying to take it.

How many men were killed at Port Arthur?

30,000 Russians and 60,000 Japanese. Port Arthur was one of the most costly battles pre-WW1. The battle effectivly ended hostilities between Russia and Japanese. With the loss of Port Arthur and most of its navy, Russia was forced to sue for peace.

What became of the Russian commander Stoessel?

He was court-martialled. Stoessel was court-martialled on account of unjustified capitulation and sentenced to death. Although this was then commuted to life inprisonment and although he was set free, he lived the rest of his life in disgrace.

Under the peace treaty, what did Russia lose?

Port Arthur and Manchuria. Under the peace treaty, Russia was forced to surrender their sphere of influence in Manchuria and Port Arthur. Korea became part of Japan's sphere of influence and Russia was excluded from entering any area of eastern mainland of China.