This Day In History

February 8th 1904: Battle of Port Arthur

On this day in 1904, the Russo-Japanese War begins with the Battle of Port Arthur. The battle began with a surprise Japanese torpedo attack on the Russian fleet at Port Arthur, Manchuria (China). The battle lasted for two days, and ended inconclusively, with a supposed Russian tactical victory but strategic Japanese victory. The poorly organised and undeveloped Russians went on to lose the war to the Japanese, which contributed to the attempted Russian Revolution of 1905.