Far East. Russo-Japanese War: an extremely bloody conflict, also called WW0 (World War Zero), stemming from the rival imperialist ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japan in Manchuria and Korea. The war was fought primarily for possession of the city of Port Arthur (also known as Lushun and Ryojun) and the Liaodong Peninsula, as well as the railway connecting Port Arthur to Harbin. Although Russia had a larger army and navy than Japan, virtually all victories were Japanese. Russian generals pushed for a continuation of hostilities, even at the cost of leaving Europe relatively undefended; in fact, thanks to the Trans-Siberian Railway, enormous masses of soldiers were transported to the front line, and their numbers soared in the final months of the war, reaching a ratio of 3 to 1 compared to the Japanese. The Japanese government was at risk of bankruptcy, and its army, though consistently victorious, was exhausted from two years of war and the harsh winter conditions in Manchuria. Furthermore, in minor battles, Russian cavalry had always proven significantly superior to the Japanese (also because it was supported by horse artillery regiments, which the Japanese practically did not possess), and the western flank of the Japanese army was well suited to a cavalry offensive. During 1905, Russia was shaken by the 1905 Revolution, which severely challenged the stability of the government. Russia preferred to negotiate a peace that would allow them to focus on internal issues. American President Theodore Roosevelt’s offer of mediation led to the Treaty of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on September 5, 1905. Russian casualties were 47,000 dead, 146,032 wounded, and 12,128 deaths from disease. Japanese casualties were 106,300 dead, 173,425 wounded, and 27,192 deaths from disease.
