The Russo-Japanese War was a military conflict fought between the Russian Empire and the Empire of Japan from 1904 to 1905. Much of the fighting took place in what is now northeastern China. The Russo-Japanese War was also a naval conflict, with ships exchanging fire in the waters surrounding the Korean peninsula. The brutal conflict in the western Pacific changed the balance of power in Asia and set the stage for World War I.

In 1904, the Russian Empire, which was ruled by the autocratic Czar Nicholas II, was one of the largest territorial powers in the world.
However, with the Siberian shipping center of Vladivostok forced to close for much of the winter months, the empire was in need of a warm-water port in the Pacific Ocean, both for purposes of trade as well as a base for its growing navy.
Czar Nicholas set his sights on the Korean and Liaodong peninsulas, the latter located in present-day China. The Russian Empire already leased a port on the Liaodong Peninsula from China—Port Arthur—but it wanted to have a base of operations firmly under its control.
The Japanese, meanwhile, had been concerned about Russian influence in the region since the First Sino-Japanese War of 1895. Russia provided military support to the Qing Empire in China during that conflict, which pitted the two Asian powers against each other.
With the Russians’ history of military aggression, the Japanese initially sought a deal, offering to cede control of Manchuria (northeastern China). Under the terms of the proposal, Japan would have maintained influence over Korea.
However, Russia refused Japan’s offer and demanded that Korea north of the 39th parallel serve as a neutral zone.
As negotiations broke down, the Japanese opted to go to war, staging a surprise attack on the Russian navy at Port Arthur on February 8, 1904.

Russian Vs Japanese Cavalry

banzai long live the emperor

The Night Landing of the Japanese Troops at Chemuplo

With the Russian Army on its March to the Front

Twenty-Third Artillery Brigade About to Leave Gatchina for the Front

Shinto Ceremony Held by the Japanese in Honor of

Bringing Wounded Russians to the Dressing Station at the

Russian Infantry in the Trenches on a Hot Day

Burying Japanese and Russian Dead Together Outside Liao-Yang

Attaches and Correspondents with General Kuroki’s

General Nogi and his Staff, the Conquerors of Port Arthur

In the end, the Russo-Japanese War was a particularly brutal one, foreshadowing the global conflicts that were to follow.
It’s believed that both sides sustained casualties mounting to more than 150,000 combined, and that some 20,000 Chinese civilians were killed as well.
The fighting concluded with the Treaty of Portsmouth, which was mediated by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, during the spring and summer of 1905. Negotiating for Russia was Sergei Witte, a minister in Czar Nicholas’ government. Harvard graduate Baron Komura represented Japan.
Although Japan had won the war decisively, victory had come at a severe cost: the country’s coffers were virtually empty.

Irish Rebellion 1798

The Irish harp
During the Gaelic period, Irish people loved to entertain their guests with harp music. Since then it has been a beloved symbol of Ireland. The harp was written in the documents of Benedictine monks in the 8th century. It was also shown on coins of the 16th century. Furthermore, it was found again on the flags waved at Queen Elizabeth I's funeral. The harp also played an important role in the Irish Rebellion of 1798 and was part of the Irish national flag between the 18th and 19th centuries.