Opening of Hostilities.— No sooner was Russia informed of the severance of friendly relations than Japan prepared for hostilities. In order to assume the offensive attitude, it was necessary for Japan to hold the command of the sea, With that object in view, the naval authorities organized a combined fleet consist ing of four divisions.
Vice-Admiral Togo, who shortly before had been appointed commander-in-chief of the com bined squadrons, left Sasebo on board his flag ship Mikasa on 6 February with the entire fleet. Russia's Pacific squadron consisted at that time of 57 vessels, whose aggregate tonnage was about 190,000 tons, while Japan possessed 76 warships with an aggregate tonnage of about 270,000. The main strength of the Russian fleet was then concentrated at Port Arthur, only two vessels being stationed at Chemulpho and three others at Vladivostocic. The main strength of the Japanese fleet went to attack the enemy's squadron at Port Arthur. It was found that most of the Russian war ships were at anchor on roadstead outside the harbor of Port Arthur. During the night of .8 February, 18 Japanese• destroyers ap proached those warships and by torpedoing greatly damaged the Retvizan and two other vessels. On the following day the fleet again opened fire on the Russian ships, and after an indecisive engagement, withdrew to its base in the Korean Sea. Previous to this, the Fourth Division of the fleet, commanded by Rear Admiral Uryu, went to Chemulpho and by sum moning out the Russian gunboat Coreets and the cruiser Varyeg engaged them in battle in the neighborhood of the island of Phalmi on the 9th and greatly damaged them. After 35 minutes' action the Russian ships were com pelled to return to Chemnlpho, where shortly alter the two ships blew up.
By these two naval actions Japan secured the supremacy of the sea, so that henceforth her troops' could be sent free of danger to any place in Korea and Manchuria. On the 10th the war was formally declared by the emperors of both powers and on the 12th Japan estab lished military and naval headquarters in the Imperial Palace at Tokio.
Operations of the Manchurian Under the escort of a squadron commanded by Rear-Admiral Uryu, the advance-guards of the Japanese army, which consisted of four bat talions, landed at Chemulpho on 8 February, and passing through Seoul rapidly advanced north ward and occupied Phyng-yang, which is a town of the greatest strategical importance be tween Seoul and Wiju, a town on the left bank of the Yalu. By that time some Russian troops
had been advancing southward and made their appearance on 28 February at a point about five miles north of Tsi-sing-wan, one of the gates of Phyng-yang. A skirmish with the Japanese outposts took place, in which the Russians were repulsed. This was the first land engagement of the war. The Japanese troops, now greatly augmented by contingents which constantly ar rived, marched northward, and having occupied Wiju on 3 April concentrated on the left bank of the Yalu. These constituted the First Army, being made up of three divisions, with General Kuroki as the commander-in-chief. The Rus sians, who had occupied the right bank of the river, concentrated their main strength at Kiu liencheng and tried to prevent the Japanese from i crossing the river. In face of incessant and heavy firing of the enemy, however, the troops suc ceeded in constructing a bridge across the river and by means of this bridge carried out the general attack of the enemy's position at Kiu liencheng on 1 May. Severe fighting, lasting for more than two hours, took place, resulting in the complete victory of the attackers. The Russians, who were greatly outnumbered, fled, hotly pursued by the Japanese, who captured Feng-hwan-cheng on 6 May and continued to advance in the direction of Liaoyang. Hsihoyen, to the east of Liaoyang, was the key to the defense of that city. The Russians had sta tioned three brigades there and defended the place with the greatest tenacity. But Japanese troops belonging to the Twelfth Division made a most fierce attack and compelled the Russians to evacuate the place on 18 July. Thus by the beginning of August the Japanese were already menacing Liaoyang. Previous to this, the In dependent Tenth Division, commanded by Lieu tenant-General Kawamura, which had the mis sion of connecting different armies assigned to it, landed at Takushan on 19 May, and co operating with a detachment of the First Army occupied Sinyen on 8 June. By this time the organization of the Fourth Army was com pleted, with General Nozu as commander. It landed at Nauchienao and joined the Tenth Di vision at Sinyen. The combined army now advanced by way of Fenshuiling, and after oc cupying Tohmucheng, turned northward and pressed on toward Liaoyang.