May 1, 1904 · Korea Theater
May 1, 1904
The first significant land battle of the war saw General Kuroki Tamemoto's Japanese First Army cross the Yalu River under fire and defeat Russian forces defending the Korean-Manchurian border. Kuroki used the island of Kiuriendao as a staging point, constructed bridges under darkness, and launched coordinated assaults that overwhelmed Russian defensive positions at Chiu-lien-ch'eng. The Russian Eastern Detachment, outnumbered and outmaneuvered, suffered a stinging defeat and was forced to withdraw northward into Manchuria.
Commanders