Battle of Yalu River
The Battle of Yalu River, fought on May 1, 1904, marked a significant early engagement in the Russo-Japanese War. As the Japanese First Army sought to advance into Manchuria, the Yalu River served as a critical barrier that the Russian forces aimed to defend. General M. I. Zasulich of Russia planned to surprise the advancing Japanese troops, but his defensive positions were poorly concealed, making them vulnerable to Japanese scouts. In a strategic maneuver, Japanese forces, led by General Tamemoto Kuroki, crossed the river under the cover of night and launched a surprise attack on the Russians. Despite incurring significant casualties—over 1,000 soldiers—the Japanese inflicted heavier losses on the Russian side, with approximately 2,500 Russian soldiers killed or injured. This decisive victory not only boosted Japanese morale but also allowed them to gain the momentum necessary for further operations in Manchuria. Overall, the Battle of Yalu River is recognized as a pivotal moment in Japan’s military history, symbolizing its first triumph over a Western power.
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Battle of Yalu River
Type of action: Ground battle in the Russo-Japanese War
Date: April 30-May 1, 1904
Location: Yalu River on the Korean-Chinese border
Combatants: 40,000 Japanese vs. 7,000 Russians
Principal commanders:Japanese, General Tamemoto Kuroki; Russian, General M. I. Zasulich
Result: Japanese break through Russian defensive positions and march into Manchuria
At the onset of the Russo-Japanese War, the Yalu River was a major obstacle to the Japanese First Army’s advance into Manchuria. The Russian general M. I. Zasulich, under orders to stall the Japanese advance, chose the Yalu as a site for a defensive action in which he hoped to surprise the advancing Japanese. However, the Russian positions on the far bank of the Yalu were poorly concealed and were easily spotted by Japanese scouts. The Japanese troops—three divisions under General Tamemoto Kuroki—were able to cross the river in secret on the night of April 30, 1904, and surprised the Russians on the morning of May 1. The Russian forces were outnumbered, and they quickly retreated. The Japanese assault was costly and more than 1,000 of Kuroki’s soldiers were casualties, but 2,500 Russian soldiers were killed or injured, and the Japanese forces were able to proceed into Manchuria.
Significance
The Battle of the Yalu River was one of the most important engagements of the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905). The Russian rout proved detrimental to the morale of their forces in the Far East. This battle was also the first victory of the Imperial Japanese Army over a Western force, and it gave the Japanese the momentum that they needed to attack the Russians in Manchuria.
Bibliography
Harries, Meirion, and Susie Harries. Soldiers of the Sun: The Rise and Fall of the Imperial Japanese Army. New York: Random House, 1991.
Menning, Bruce. Bullets Before Bayonets: The Imperial Russian Army, 1861–1914. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1992.
Wells, David, and Sandra Wilson, eds. The Russo-Japanese War in Cultural Perspective, 1904–1905. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1999.