Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905)

Memorandum from the Office of Naval Intelligence

General Zinoviĭ Petrovich Rennenkampf’s forces retreated northward while attacks were simultaneously made on the Japanese center. Japanese cavalry is currently in Mongolia. General Kageaki Kawamura’s forces are moving on Kirin as an objective. The Russian fleet has been spotted off the Batan Islands, and the British fleet has also increased in eastern waters.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-26

Telegram from Frank West Marble to Office of Naval Intelligence

The Russian fleet was sighted at 6 a.m. between the Goto Islands and Quelpart Island in Korea. A naval engagement has taken place in the neighborhood of Tsushima Island. The result is not known, but there are rumors that the Japanese fleet has gained a victory.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-27

Letter from Kogoro Takahira to William Loeb

Japanese Ambassador Takahira writes in strictest confidence to William Loeb about a cable he had received from Tokyo describing the movement of the Russian Baltic Fleet on May 27, 1904, near Tsushima and the Goto Islands.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-27

Letter from Lloyd Carpenter Griscom to John Hay

There are three types of government in the territory of Manchuria occupied or conquered by the Japanese Army.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-27

Telegram from Frank West Marble to Office of Naval Intelligence

It has been reported, but still needs confirmation, that seven vessels of the Russian fleet have been sunk and the flagship seriously damaged. The battle still continues and official reports have not yet been received.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-28

Note from Jutaro Komura to Kogoro Takahira

This note summarizes a telegram received from Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Komura relating the results of the Battle of Tsushima. Many Russian ships were sunk, while all the Japanese battleships and cruisers are still in action. The note also directs Japanese Ambassador Takahira to inform President Roosevelt of the report, but to keep the information secret until the publication of the official report.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-29

Telephone message from Associated Press

Telegram listing of captured Russian warships.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-29

Opinion of Professor Latkine on peace and war

Translation of an article that appeared in the Russian newspaper Slovo. Professor Latkine shares his opinions concerning the Russo-Japanese War. He discusses in detail the Japanese conditions for peace, concluding that none of the Japanese conditions are acceptable; therefore, Russia should continue to fight. He adds that if the Russian government decides to pursue peace, the final consent to end the war should come through the Russian people, via their representatives.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-10

Letter from Kentarō Kaneko to Theodore Roosevelt

The Baltic fleet was nearly destroyed and the Russian admirals captured by the Japanese. Kentarō Kaneko believes that the naval victory is the greatest in the history of the world. Kaneko is extremely grateful to President Roosevelt for both his friendship to Japan and to Kaneko.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-30

Telegram from Baron Kogoro Takahira

Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Takahira wants to convey to President Roosevelt that the Russian battleship Knyaz Suvorov (also spelled Kniaz Souvoroff) went down. Takahira mentions that four additional Russian battleships have gone down. According to Takahira, the Japanese fleet seized a torpedo-boat destroyer, where they found the wounded Russian Vice Admiral Rozhestvensky (also spelled Rojestoeusky). Takahira urges others to keep this information quiet until publication.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-30

Memorandum from the Office of Naval Intelligence

The Office of Naval Intelligence reports on current geographical considerations as well as troop and warship positions related to the Russo-Japanese War.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-12

Letter from Hermann Speck von Sternburg to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador von Sternburg reports that France has not protested against the actions of the Russian naval fleet in the “Indo-Chinese waters” and Great Britain will not allow herself to “be dragged into” war with France due to her alliance with Japan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-12

Present position of Russian and Japanese forces

The Naval Intelligence Office describes the whereabouts of the Japanese navy and the Russian military forces, noting that both are making efforts to keep this information secret. For example, they are limiting where their military telegrams and mail are sent. The writer also describes several battleships that have been sunk.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-20

Letter from Arthur Paul Nicholas Cassini to Francis B. Loomis

Russian Ambassador Cassini protests a circular from the Japanese government. The Japanese government discussed taking over Korea and moving the Emperor of Korea to Japan. The Russian government protested the usurpation of power in another independent state.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-15

Letter from Francis B. Loomis to William Loeb

Acting Secretary of State Francis B. Loomis forwards a letter and article from the American Minister to Japan. The article discusses the Japanese public’s opinions on peace negotiations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-31

Letter from Cecil Spring Rice to Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt

Cecil Spring Rice writes to Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt on the general state of affairs in Europe, Russia, and the Far East. He discusses the unrest in Russia, where he is acting as British ambassador, which has allowed the Germans to come into greater conflict with the French. The balance of power has been upset, with Germany doing “pretty much what she pleases, unless she is ashamed.” Also of interest is the condition of the Russo-Japanese war, where although the Russians outnumber the Japanese, there is a serious issue of morale. He hopes to hear news from Oyster Bay soon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-26

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft writes to President Roosevelt about the events that will later be called the Moroccan Crisis (1904-1906), which worsened German relations with France and England. At the request of Roosevelt, Taft met separately with the German and British Ambassadors to try to deescalate tensions so that a misunderstanding would not lead to increased hostility. Taft writes also of the Loomis-Bowen affair and of a Japanese minister who spoke of negotiating a peace for the Russo-Japanese War.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-26

Memorandum from the Office of Naval Intelligence

The Office of Naval Intelligence reports on the positions of the opposing armies in Manchuria in the previous week. The Russians advanced to the vicinity of Changtu and Kaiyuen, falling back again to their former position. A delay in repairing the railroad bridge across the Hun River, in addition to the opening of the railroad to traffic, may account for the failure of the Japanese to advance beyond Kaiyuen. Nothing definite has been reported in regard to the absolute whereabouts of either the Russian or Japanese fleet.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-28

Letter from Kentarō Kaneko to Theodore Roosevelt

Kentarō Kaneko promises to relay to President Roosevelt the full details of the Battle of Tsushima as soon as he receives them.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-29

Telegram from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft forwards a message from Japanese Foreign Minister Jutaro Komura thanking President Roosevelt for working to find peace in the Japanese Russian conflict. The Japanese await the president’s return to Washington to contribute to a peace plan. Taft tells Roosevelt that Ambassador Kogoro Takahira seems to believe the Japanese government was being too cautious in their messaging regarding their wish to end the war, about the result of the Battle of Port Arthur, and about Roosevelt’s influence on the peace party. Taft also met with British Ambassador H. Mortimer Durand after Durand spoke to Lord Lansdowne, regarding British and French reaction after the First Moroccan Crisis. Taft also spoke to Durand about his conversation with German Ambassador Hermann Speck von Sternburg.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-02