Hello and welcome to the History of Japan podcast.

Episode 171, The Mailstrom, Part 9.

In September 1904, Tsar Nicholas II gave an order to the Russian Baltic fleet.

The Tsar of all the Russians ordered his largest fleet to Asia, with orders to either rescue,

if possible, or avenge, if necessary, the Russian

Pacific Fleet, and to smash the fledgling Imperial Japanese Navy.

Without the Japanese Navy to protect the waters between the Japanese islands and the Asian

mainland, the Japanese army in Manchuria would be cut off from reinforcements and fresh supplies,

and would slowly be strangled to death. With its army and navy annihilated, the Japanese would

have to sue for peace, and Russia's territory could be further expanded. Perhaps even Korea

could be reclaimed. No doubt pleased at his strategic brilliance,

Zarnicky then doubtless went off to go swim in a pool made of rubies

or whatever the hell autocratic royals do with their spare time.

Now, the Russian political leadership had been involving itself in the war for quite some time.

The level of central direction didn't quite match what would happen ten years later when a frustrated Nicholas II

would take personal command of Russia's armies during World War I and proceed to demonstrate

in enormous detail the shortcomings of absolute monarchy.

However, political interference from St. Petersburg had been a constant feature of the war,

even if it never reached the same heights it would in the future.

Commanders were constantly being recalled for their failures. Remember that Port Arthur was deprived of its senior commander

right before the Japanese began their landings because he'd been ordered to return to Russia

to answer for the failure to prepare for a Japanese surprise attack. Then, of course, there was

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