Sign In

This detailed British military map, produced by the Ordnance Survey Office in 1909, depicts the troop dispositions around Liao-Yang (Liaoyang), Manchuria, on the 29th and 30th of August, 1904, during a critical stage of the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905).

The map offers a concise picture of the Russian and Japanese military positions leading up to the Battle of Liaoyang—one of the earliest and largest land battles of the war. The map was likely compiled from official reports and foreign observers' accounts, intended for British military and diplomatic analysis.

The Battle of Liaoyang was the first major land engagement between Russian and Japanese forces after months of maneuvering in southern Manchuria. Fought between August 24 and September 4, 1904, the battle marked Japan’s attempt to dislodge entrenched Russian forces from their stronghold in Liaoyang, a critical railway and logistical hub along the South Manchurian Railway. The map reflects the situation during the climactic days of August 29–30, when Japanese forces had begun a general offensive against Russian fortifications.

The map uses a tricolor scheme to differentiate between the two combatants and the various phases of deployment. Russian troop positions, active on both days, are shown in green, with key formations such as the Siberian Army Corps and various brigades labeled clearly. Japanese troop positions for August 29 are in outlined red, while their adjusted or advanced positions on August 30 are marked in solid red. The defensive works around the walled city of Liao-Yang—forts, redoubts, and entrenchments—are depicted in a thinner green line and annotated as “Liao-yang Defences.”

Relief is indicated by hachuring and contour lines, particularly dense in the southern and eastern parts of the map, highlighting the mountainous terrain through which Japanese forces advanced. Rivers and streams, such as the Tai-Tzu (Taizi) River, are drawn in blue, and settlements, railways, and roads are rendered in fine black ink. Place names are given in romanized Chinese transliterations consistent with contemporary British military conventions.

The map reflects the strategic complexity of the Liaoyang campaign, with Japanese forces from the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Armies advancing from the south and southeast, converging on Russian defensive lines. The labeling of Japanese divisions—e.g., 2nd Division, 10th Division, Guard Brigade—underscores the coordinated, multi-pronged nature of the offensive. Russian formations appear more concentrated in and around the defense of Liao-Yang itself.

Although the Russians managed to hold their lines for several days, their eventual withdrawal under pressure marked a turning point in the campaign, exposing weaknesses in command and mobility. This outcome is foreshadowed in the disposition of forces here—compressed Russian formations facing encircling Japanese advances. 

Produced five years after the battle, this British map likely served educational and strategic functions within imperial and military circles. The British government, though officially neutral in the Russo-Japanese War, maintained close observational interest, especially given its 1902 alliance with Japan.