Battle of the Yalu River (1904)
The Battle of the Yalu River (Amnok River) lasted from April 30 to May 1, 1904 and was the first major land battle during the Russo-Japanese War. It was fought near Wiju (modern village of Sinuiju, North Korea) on the lower reaches of the Yalu River, on the border between Korea and China. Also known as the Yalu River Crossing Operation.[2]
This article is about the first battle of the Russo-Japanese War. For the naval battle of the First Sino-Japanese War, see Battle of the Yalu River (1894).Outcome[edit]
The Battle of the Yalu River ended in victory for Japan. The combat had cost the Japanese 1,036 dead and wounded out of the total 1st Army strength of 42,500.[5] The Russian Eastern Detachment suffered some 2,700 casualties overall,[5] including about 500 killed, 1,000 wounded, 600 prisoners and the loss of 21 of 24 field guns.
Significance[edit]
The Battle of the Yalu River was the first major land campaign of the Russo-Japanese War. With nothing preventing the Japanese from entering the poorly defended expanses of Manchuria, Kuroki and other generals involved in the campaign were ordered to launch a large offensive with a goal of crushing the massing Russian reinforcements at Liaoyang. Furthermore, the defeat of the Russian Eastern Detachment removed the perception that the Japanese would be an easy enemy, that the war would be short, and that Russia would be the overwhelming victor.[6]