The Last Tsar - Chapter Four The War Against Japan

Chapter Four
The War Against Japan

In 1895 Japan occupied the great warm water port and fortress of Port Arthur. Six days after the invasion of Port Arthur, Russia intervened. Japan was forced to disgorge Port Arthur to imperial China. Russia, three years later, extracted a ninety-nine year lease on the port from the helpless Chinese government. In 1900 Russia occupied Manchuria and advanced towards Korea. Japan regarded Korea vital to her security. Witte, the Finance Minister, opposed Russia's expansion policy. In 1903 Witte resigned. The Russian advance into Korea made war with Japan inevitable.

On the evening of 6th February 1904, Japanese destroyers made a sudden attack on Port Arthur. At the battle of Tsushima, in January 1905, the Russian navy was defeated. She lost all her battleships, twelve cruisers and six of her nine destroyers.

The spectacular victory of the Japanese navy surprised the world. Kaiser William was alarmed, got worried about the 'yellow peril'. America came forward, wanted to help both parties involved as mediator. The Tsar asked Serge Witte to go to America to finalise the peace treaty with Japan. Witte grumbled - 'When a sewer has to be cleaned, Witte is asked.' Witte was the most capable, efficient and intelligent statesman in Russia.

At Portsmouth in New Hampshire, the peace treaty between Russia and Japan was signed. It was Witte's intelligence and profound diplomacy that saved Russia. In spite of a disastrous defeat, Witte succeeded in achieving favourable peace terms for Russia.

The war ended in 1905, but peace did not come to Russia. After the war Russia's economic condition deteriorated. The internal turmoil began which swept over Russia from one end to the other. Millions of workers went on strike. The railway came to a stand still. Violence broke out and spread everywhere. The sailors on board the 'Potemkin' revolted and threw their officers overboard. The country was suffering from a scarcity of food. The revolutionaries came out and started killing ministers, governors and police officers.

The Grand Duke Sergei, Governor of Moscow, uncle and brother-in-law of the Tsar, was murdered. The Interior Minister was blow to pieces by an assassin's bomb. When Russia was on the verge of collapse, a priest called 'Father Gapon' took the leadership of the disturbed, unhappy people.

He personally led a mass march (which was peaceful and non-violent) to the Winter Palace, where he would hand to Nicholas a petition on behalf of the Russian people. On Sunday 22nd January the march took place but, unfortunately, the Tsar was not in the capital. The demonstrators, including some women and children, proceeded towards the Palace. The procession, before reaching the Palace square, faced the firing of the Palace guards. The demonstrators, being panic-stricken, were forced to retreat when many women and children fell under the heavy feet of men. More than two hundred men, women and children were killed.

Gapon attacked the Tsar and cabinet bitterly. He denounced the government and Palace guards for firing on innocent men, women and children. He declared himself the bitterest enemy of the Tsar - 'From now we have no Tsar.' The day, which became known as 'Bloody Sunday' was a turning point in Russian history. It shattered the old, legendary belief that the Tsar and the people were one. He asked the people to fight to the end and bring the downfall of the monarchy. When the government issued a warrant against him he fled to Finland. There he was missing for some time. Later, in April 1906, his body was found hanging in an abandoned hut. The Social Revolutionary Party accused him of being a double agent and sentenced him to death.