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| 1902, Jan. 30 |
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| The ANGLO-JAPANESE ALLIANCE was signed following negotiations in London. | 1 |
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| 1904 |
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| Continued Russian penetration of northern Korea and failure to withdraw from Manchuria, together with the breakdown of Russo-Japanese negotiations, led to the Japanese severance of diplomatic relations (Feb. 6). | 2 |
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| 1904–5 |
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| THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR BEGAN (See 1904, Feb. 8). | 3 |
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| Feb. 8 |
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| In a surprise attack, Japan attacked Lüshun (Ryojun in Japanese, known as Port Arthur in the West), bottling up the Russian fleet. | 4 |
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| Feb. 10 |
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| War was declared. | 5 |
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| Feb. 23 |
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| A treaty was forcibly signed between Japan and Korea, by which Korea became a virtual protectorate of Japan in return for guarantees of integrity. | 6 |
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| May 1 |
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| Russian forces were defeated at the Yalu River by Japan. | 7 |
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| May 30 |
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| Japanese forces occupied Dalian (Dairen in Japanese, Dalny in Russian). Gen. Nogi Maresuke (1849–1912) began the siege of Lüshun, while other Japanese forces moved northward. | 8 |
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| Aug. 25–Sept. 4 |
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| Japanese troops defeated Russian forces at Liaoyang. The latter withdrew to Mukden (Fengtian in Chinese). | 9 |
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