From the Yalu to Port Arthur

By Sir William Maxwell

Book Overview

War is measured here not only in battles, but in roads, bridges, intelligence and the movement of men and guns. Written from an embedded correspondent's perspective during the Russo-Japanese War, this first-hand account follows Japan's campaign alongside General Kuroki's First Army, bringing the reader close to the decisions and practical calculations that shaped operations across Korea and beyond. The campaign emerges through precise observation of military planning, leadership and battlefield movement. Commanders assess terrain, reconnaissance informs action, artillery is positioned, and supply lines must keep pace with an advancing army. One substantial episode examines the organisation of Japanese transport and provisions; another records the construction of bridges and pontoon works around the Yalu River. Such details reveal how engineering and logistics could determine what strategy made possible, especially when flooded roads and morasses obstructed movement. Rather than treating the conflict as a distant sequence of engagements, the narrative shows an army functioning under pressure. Its war reportage is strengthened by strategic analysis, connecting what the correspondent witnessed with the wider design of the campaign. Attention shifts between headquarters decisions and the physical realities of transport, river crossings and deployment, creating a closely observed military history in which preparation matters as much as combat. This book was out of print for decades and is now republished by Alpha Editions. It has been restored for today's and future generations. This edition is not just a reprint - it's a collector's item and a cultural treasure.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9309338849
• ISBN13: 9789309338847
• Release Date: March 2027
• Publisher: Alpha Edition
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.72 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"