Battle of Shaho

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Shaho
partof=the Russo-Japanese War


caption=ukiyoe "In the Battle of the Sha River, a Company of Our Forces Drives a Strong Enemy Force to the Left Bank of the Taizi River" by Yoshikuni, November 1904"
date=October 5 to October 17, 1904
place=South of Mukden on the Sha River, Manchuria
result=Indecisive; Russian retreat
combatant1=flag|Empire of Japan
combatant2=flagicon|Russia Imperial Russia
commander1=Oyama Iwao
commander2=Alexei Kuropatkin
strength1=150,000
strength2=210,000
casualties1=3,951 killed
16,394 wounded
casualties2=10,959 killed
30,392 woundedThe Battle of Shaho was a land battle of the Russo-Japanese War fought along a 37-mile front centered at the Sha River on the Mukden–Port Arthur spur of the China Far East Railway just north of Liaoyang, Manchuria.

Background

As the situation for the Russian forces in the Far East after the defeat at the Battle of Liaoyang became increasing unfavorable, the Tsar became determined to save both Port Arthur and, more importantly, face for the Russian Empire. He directed General Alexei Kuropatkin, the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian armies in Manchuria to reverse the tide of the war. Kuropatkin was reinforced by fresh troops brought in by the newly completed Trans-Siberian Railroad and counter-attacked the Japanese armies, commanded by Field Marshall Marquis Oyama Iwao at Sha-ho River.

The Battle

On 5 October, 1904, the Russian armies, totaling 210,000 men attacked in a general offensive opens north of Liaoyang, with the main advance through the mountains to the east. The Russian attacks on the left flank slowly gain ground as Russian forces wrested the initiative from the Japanese.

The Japanese forces consisted of the 1st Army commanded by General Kuroki Tametomo, the 2nd Army by General Oku Yasukata, and the 4th Army by General Nozu Michitsura, totaling 170,000 men. On the evening of 10 October 1904, General Oyama ordered a major Japanese counter-offensive to strike the Russian right. By October 13, the Japanese halted the Russian advance in the mountains to the northeast of Liaoyang, and threatened the Russian center south of the Sha River.

Combat continued for the next four days, with both sides unwilling to back down. It was not until 17 October 1904 that General Kuropatkin called off the costly attacks, and withdrew his forces north towards Mukden.

Results

After two weeks of fighting, the battle ended inconclusively. The main Japanese Army's weaknesses had been evident since the Battle of Liaoyang: poor logistics and insufficient reserves; however, despite opportunities created with the opening of the Trans-Siberian Railway, Kuropatkin was unwilling to carry on regardless of casualties, and pulled back towards Mukden just when the Japanese were too exhausted to fight any more. The battle ended in a draw, as the Japanese were unable to take advantage of the pause in the action.

Total Russian casualties totaled 44,351 killed, wounded, captured or missing in action. Japanese casualties totaled 20,345 killed, wounded, captured or missing. As a result, the Japanese advance on Mukden was paused, but not halted, and both sides dug in to prepare for the next round at the Battle of Sandepu (Heikoutai).

References

*Connaughton, Richard (2003). "Rising Sun and Tumbling Bear". Cassell. ISBN 0-304-36657-9
*Kowner, Rotem (2006). "Historical Dictionary of the Russo-Japanese War". Scarecrow. ISBN 0-8108-4927-5
*Nish, Ian (1985). "The Origins of the Russo-Japanese War". Longman. ISBN 0-582-49114-2
*Sedwick, F.R. (1909). "The Russo-Japanese War". Macmillan.