In the opening months of the Russo-Japanese War, the Japanese have succeeded in neutralizing

the Russian Pacific Fleet, mostly, and have landed large numbers of Japanese soldiers

on the Asian mainland. By August 1904, the Third Army is besieging Port Arthur, while the first, second, and now the newly

arrived 4th Army, are all marching straight for the town of Liaoyang, headquarters of the

Russian forces in Manchuria.

Welcome to the history of the 20th century.

Music to the history of the 20th century. Episode 33, The Mountain Where Your Souls Lie.

We are now three episodes into the Russo-Japanese War, so I'd like to start today by recapping where we stand,

because I don't want to lose anyone along the way.

It is now August 1904. The war has been going on for six months.

The most important actions of the land war so far have been on the Liaodong Peninsula. At the tip of the Liaodong Peninsula is Port Arthur, home to the Russian Pacific Squadron,

and now under siege by the Japanese Third Army.

Running north from Port Arthur along the length of the peninsula is the Chinese Southern Railway, which despite

its name was built by Russians. The Chinese Southern Railway runs north into Manchuria

all the way to the city of Harbin, where it joins the Chinese Eastern Railway, also Russian

constructed, which is a shortcut between Vladivostok and points west.

The Japanese have landed troops partway up the peninsula and have captured the port

city that the Chinese call Dalian and the Russians call Dalni, which they are now using to supply

their forces.

The Japanese third army has landed at Dalney

and has fought its way south to where it is now laying siege to Port Arthur.

The Japanese second and fourth armies,

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