Telissu: The First Russian Offensive

Telissu

The First Russian Offensive
1904

By Major Jeff Leser

An excellent example of a typical Russo-Japanese action was the Battle of Telissu (or Wan-Fang-Gou) fought on 14-15 June, 1904. This battle is interesting as it marked Russia's first offensive during the war.

Until Telissu, the Russians were out numbered and unsure of Japanese operational intentions. The predominant Russian strategy was to delay the Japanese armies until sufficient forces had been massed to gain the initiative. At Telissu, the Russians attempted to seize the operational initiative from the Japanese. This battle saw the first use of Russian European troops, and was fought on the Manchurian central plain rather than in the mountains to the east.

The Russian commanders disagreed on the necessity for the offense. Admiral Alexeiev, the Viceroy of the Maritime Province, demanded that General Kuropatkin march south to raise the siege of Port Arthur. The Japanese were threatening to capture the port and the naval squadron within the harbor, thereby securing total command of the sea. Alexeiev demanded that the army re-open the land communications to Port Arthur. Kuropat-kin disagreed with the concept of the Russian offense and preferred to remain on the defense. He wished to build the strength of Russian army and fight the decisive battle around Liaoyang.

He saw Port Arthur as a distraction, one he hoped would draw Japanese, not Russian, troops away from the decisive action. Kuropatkin realized that a Russian victory at Liaoyang would make continuing the siege impossible for the Japanese. As the two leaders could not agree, the question of the offense was put before the Czar. Nicholas II supported his Viceroy, so Kuropatkin was ordered south to raise the siege of Fort Arthur.

Plan

General Kuropatkin understood that he didn't have the strength to simultaneously fight both the Japanese 1st Army in the east, and the 2nd Army to the south. His original plan was to execute an economy of force against the Japanese 1st Army with his Eastern Detachment, allowing him to mass two army corps in the south against the Japanese 2nd Army. However, the strategic situation forced Kuropatkin to modify the forces available for the offense.

The Japanese still possessed the uncommitted 3rd Army in Japan. With their control of the sea, this army could land to the rear of the advancing Russian forces as they marched south to Port Arthur. The Russian inability to control the seas forced Kuropatkin to commit troops to protect the flanks of his advance, thereby weakening the Russian offensive.

Alexeiev created another problem for Kuropatkin. After pushing for this offense over Kuropatkin's objections, Alexeiev demanded that a central reserve be established in Haicheng. This reserve was to serve two purposes. The first was to block the passes that led into the Manchurian plains from the southeast. The second was to prepare a defensive position where the Russians could defeat the Japanese Armies as they attempted to concentrate.

This defensive mentality would plague every Russian offense during the war. As Kuropatkin was scrambling to find troops for his offense, he was forced to commit troops to a defensive battle that might never be fought. The result of these two distractions was that the Russian offense against the Japanese 2nd Army was considerably weaker than the original plan.

The Southern Detachment was formed around Lieutenant General Stakelberg's 1st Siberian Corps. Normally consisting of the 1st and 9th East Siberian Rifle Divisions, the corps commander found only the 1st East Siberian Division under his immediate command. The 9th was in Kaiping, protecting the army's flank from the uncommitted Japanese 3rd Army. The 2nd Brigade, 35th Division, was assigned to the offense, but it was still deploying south from Liaoyang. Part of the Siberian Cavalry Division, comprising three Regiments, completed the forces committed to the offense.

As Stakelberg marched his weak corps south, the Japanese also were on the move. Lieutenant General Baron Oku, commander of the Japanese 2nd Army, was completing preparations to resume the offense. His initial mission, now completed, was to isolate Port Arthur and cover the landing of the 3rd Army. Oku would, in conjunction with the 1st Army, advance north to fight the decisive battle either at Haicheng or Liaoyang. 3rd Army would besiege PortArthur, completing the destruction of Russian power in the Ear East.

Japanese intelligence warned Oku of the Russian offense. He wished to move north immediately, but the lack of supplies kept him in the vicinity of Pulantien until the 12th of June. While awaiting his supplies, Oku used the 1st Cavalry Brigade to watch the enemy's movements and protect the 2nd Army. LTG Oku feared that the Russians would attack before the 2nd Army was ready.

Slow Advance

LTG Oku had little to worry about. Instead of a rapid march to catch the Japanese unprepared, LTG Stakelberg's advance was slow, moving from one prepared defensive position to another. On 5 June, the main body of the 1st Siberian Corps arrived at Telissu. LTG Stakelberg ordered the construction of a defense position south of the town, after which the corps would resume the advance. The 9th East Siberian Rifle Division was finally released to LTG Stakelberg's command and started to arrive by train on 13 June. The 1st Siberian Army Corps settled in around Telissu, and at Telissu is where LTG Oku decided to attack the Russians.

Scenario

We fought this scenario using my rules to simulate divisional/corps level combat during the war. The basic units in the game are infantry and cavalry regiments and artillery batteries. Each infantry and cavalry stand represents a company or squadron, with regiments being formed by using the correct number of stands. Each artillery stand represents one artillery battery. Although smaller units than regiments can be used, they have no offensive ability and can only defend. Morale affects movement and firing. The major difference between the two armies is in movement. Units must roll to move, with the Japanese possessing the better chance of rapid movement.

The order of battle for the two forces was as follows:

RUSSIANS

1ST SIBERIAN CORPS

1st East Siberian Rifle Division (1st E.S.RD.)
1st Brigade: 1st E.S.R. Regiment (3 Bns), 2nd E.S.R. Regiment (3 Bns)
2nd Brigade: 3rd E.S.R. Regiment (3 Bns) 4th E.S.R. Regiment (3 Bns)
1st E.S.R. Artillery Brigade (4 Batteries)

9th East Siberian Rifle Division (9th E.S.RD.)
1st Brigade: 33rd E.S.R. Regiment (2 Bns) 34th E.S.R. Regiment (3 Bns)(arr. evening of 14 June)
2nd Brigade: 35th E.S.R. Regiment (3 Bns)(arr. evening of 14June) 36th E.S.R. Regiment (3 Bns)
9th E.S.R. Artillery Brigade (3 Batteries)
1st E.S. Sapper Bn.
One E.S. Machine gun Company

Ussuri Cavalry Brigade
Primorsk Dragoon Regiment (6 Sqdns)
Frontier Guard Regiment (2 Sotnias)
2nd Transbaikal Cossack Battery
Frontier Guard Battery (4 Old Chinese mountain guns)

Siberian Cossack Division
4th Siberian Cossack Regiment (4 sotnias)
5th Siberian Cossack Regiment (4 sotnias)
8th Siberian Cossack Regiment (6 sotnias)
3rd Transbaikal Cossack Battery

2nd Brigade, 35th Infantry Division (35th LD.)
139th Infantry Regiment (4 Bns)
140th Infantry Regiment (4 Bns)
3 Batteries, 35th Artillery Brigade

9th Siberian Infantry Regiment (4 Bns)(arr. noon of 15 June)

JAPANESE

2ND ARMY

3rd Infantry Division (3rd LD.)
7th Brigade: 6th Regiment (3 Bns), 33rd Regiment (3 Bns)
17th Brigade: 18th Regiment (3 Bns) 34th Regiment (3 Bns)
3rd Cavalry regiment (3 Sqdns)
3rd Artillery Regiment (6 Batteries)
3rd Pioneer Battalion

4th Infantry Division (4th LD.)
7th Brigade: 8th Regiment (3 Bns), 37th Regiment (3 Bns)
19th Brigade: 9th Regiment (3 Bns), 38th Regiment (3 Bns)
4th Cavalry Regiment (3 Sqdns)
4th Artillery Regiment (6 Batteries)
4th Pioneer Battalion

5th Infantry Division (5th LD.)
9th Brigade: 11th Regiment (3 Bns), 41st Regiment (3 Bns)
21st Brigade: 21st regiment (3 Bns), 42nd Regiment (3 Bns)
5th Cavalry Regiment (3 Sqdns)
5th Artillery Regiment (6 Mountain Batteries)
5th Pioneer Battalion

1st Cavalry Brigade
13th Cavalry Regiment (4 Sqdns)
14th Cavalry Regiment (4 Sqdns)

1st Field Artillery Brigade
13th Field Artillery Regiment (6 Batteries)
14th Field Artillery Regiment (6 Batteries)
15th Field Artillery Regiment (6 Batteries)

Set Up

The Russian commander used the historical set-up, with the 9th E.S.R.D. defending in the west; the 1st E.S.R.D. in the east the Siberian Cossack Division screening to the front and west of the 9th E.S.R.D.; the Ussuri Cossack Brigade in the mountains to the east of the 1st E.S.R. Division; and the 2nd Bde., 35th I.D., held in reserve behind the 9th E.S.R.D.

The Japanese plan was to attack in the east with the 3rd and 4th I.D.s supported by two field artillery regiments. The 5th I.D. 1st Cavalry Brigade, and the remaining field artillery regiment would conduct pinning attacks in the west. The Japanese player felt that the difficult terrain in the east would hinder the slower moving Russian forces, allowing the Japanese attack to gain momenturn and penetrate the Russian left flank before the Russian reserves could react.

map 1 Larger Map 1 (slow download: 82K)

The battle began at 1500 hours on the 14th, with the 5th I.D. bombarding the 9th E.S.R.D. as the 1st Cavalry Brigade worked around the Russian's western flank. Two regiments of the Siberian Cossack Div. moved forward and attacked the Japanese cavalry. The Cossacks hit the Japanese hard, forcing the brigade back. The Japanese cavalry finally decided to dismount, and supported by four batteries of the 15th Field Artillery Regiment, stopped the Russian advance. The Cossacks, support only by the 3rd Transbaikal Horse Battery, fell back to the flank of the 9th E.S.R.D.

In the east, the timing of the Japanese attack fell apart. Though the 3rd I.D. was in by 1700 hours, the 4th I.D. was trying to move over a single trail and was suffering from poor movement rolls. As the 13th Field Artillery Regiment followed the division, twelve batteries were unable to fire. Although the 1st E.S.R.D. only had four batteries in support, they were all quick firers and in prepared positions.

Rather than risk a piecemeal attack, the Japanese player decided to wait until the 4th was in position, which was not accomplished until after sunset. Although the rules allow night attacks, the Japanese commander decided that it was better to wait until morning to better use his artillery advan-tage. The two remaining E.S.R. regiments arrived during the night to complete the 9th E.S.R.D. Seeing the Japanese plan on the 14th, the Russian commander decided to move the 2nd Bde., 35th I.D. behind the 1st E.S.R.D. to meet the expected attack.

map 2 Larger Map 2 (slow download: 80K)

The Japanese commander realized that he had tipped his hand the day before, so he decided to attack with the 5th and the 3rd I.D.s against the western Russian division, hoping to surprise the enemy. As the 3rd was well positioned to attack in either direction, the Japanese player only needed to reposition one field artillery regiment during the night.

At 0600 hours, twelve batteries of the two field artillery regiments began to pound the 1st Brigade, 9th E.S.R.D., while the 3rd Artillery Regiment provided counter battery fire and protected the right flank of the attack. The 5th Artillery Regiment also provided counter battery and shelled the 2nd Brigade, 9th E.S.RD. The 4th I.D. artillery and the 14th Field Artillery Regiment attacked the Russian artillery in the east preventing them from assisting the 9th E.S.R.D.

The three Russian batteries in the west fought well, but every time they fired from a new position, the Japanese artillery suppressed them (the normal result of counter battery fire is suppression, unless the target battery doesn't move). The 33rd and 34th E.S.R. Regiments fought off two attacks, but by 1100 hours, the brigade was exhausted and the Japanese infantry penetrated the position. The second echelon battalions counter attacked, but the attacks were too late and the Japanese consolidated their gains (the rules have an automatic counter attack provision, but players must roll to see if the attack is timely).

Japanese Attacks

Soon as the Russian commander saw the Japanese dispositions, he ordered the 2nd Brigade, 35th I.D. west to help the 9th E.S.R.D. The brigade only made it as far as the railway before the Japanese penetrated the defense. Rather than reinforce defeat, the 2nd Bde. established a position just north of Telissu to cover the withdrawal of the division. The problem now was to extricate the 1st E.S.R.D. from the mountains before the 3rd I.D. swung east behind the division's open flank. Forturnately, the three batteries of the 35th Artillery Brigade were in a position to enfilade any deep advance behind the 1st E.S.R.D.

The difficulty facing the Japanese commander was how to exploit the penetration. The East Siberian defense took longer to pierce than he planned, allowing the Russian reserve to establish a new defensive line. Additionally, his attack had out run the range of his artillery, requiring it to reposition. Though it was tempting to try and destroy the 1st E.S.R.D., the Japanese commander decided that he would have better success against the remaining brigade of the 9th E.S.R.D. The Russian artillery was out of position to support the brigade, and the Cossacks could be fended off with an infantry regiment.

The 2nd Bde., 9th E.S.R.D. found itself in deep trouble. Pinned by the 5th I.D. and flanked by the 3rd, the Japanese attack caught the two rifle regiments trying to withdrawal. Lacking any type of artillery support, the two regiments were over-whelmed by five Japanese regiments. The Cossacks tried to intervene, but were quickly pushed back by the Japanese infantry. All the Russian commander could do was watch the destruction of the brigade and deploy the newly arrived 9th Siberian Regiment with the 2nd Brigade, 35th I.D. Using these twelve battalions, the Russians covered the withdrawal of the 1st E.S.R.D. Once the division was back in the new line, the Russian commander disengaged his corps and started the long march back to Liaoyang.

Honors must go to the Japanese commander. His decision to change his main effort from the east to the west caught the Russians reserve out of position. Because the Japanese needed only to reposition one artillery regiment (artillery on reverse slopes remain hidden until they open fire), the Russian commander didn't realize the change in the Japanese plan until it was too late.

The inability of the Japanese to turn the penetration into a decisive success was due to the short range of the Japanese artillery and the stubborn resistance of the 33th and 34th E.S.R.R.s. The Japanese commander also deserves credit for choosing the lesser but obtainable victory over the remainder of the 9th E.S.R.D., rather than the tempting move against the 1st E.S.R.D. Though some damage could have been done on the 1st E.S.R.D. the Russian artillery was well positioned to inflict serious causalities on the 3rd I.D.

The Russians had a difficult battle to fight. Outnumbered, the only way they could win was to create depth in the position without allowing the Japanese to turn his flanks. Unfortunately the Japanese difficulties on the 14th caused him to misjudge the attack on the 15th, placing his reserves in the east. Once he saw that the reserve was misplaced, the inability to quickly move units prevented the Russian commander from reinforcing the frontline at the point of attack. But the basic problem facing the Russian commander was that a weaker force was sent to attack a stronger force. The 1st Siberian Corps lacked the combat power to defeat the Japanese 2nd Army.

Historical Battle

Historically, the battle ended with the same results. Kuropatkin's offense died when the first spade started digging at Telissu. Stakelberg's only chance for victory was to strike quick and hard at the Japanese 2nd Army. Unfortunately, the qualities and skills necessary to fight that type of battle were lacking in the Czarist army.

Gen. Kuropatkin understood this, but was not allowed to compensate for this flaw by building up the strength of the Russian Manchurian Army in preparation for the decisive battle. Instead, Kuropatkin was forced to fight many unnecessary battles that slowly bled the strength of the Russian Manchurian Army prior to the Battle of Liaoyang.

For the Japanese, the battle demonstrated the advantages of their offensive doctrine over the Russian defensive mentality. LTG Oku's victory further reinforced the Japanese army's morale and eliminated a strategic threat to their western flank. But the battle displayed some weaknesses in the Japanese war machine. The Russian artillery had been well fought and demonstrated its superiority over the Japanese guns. The Russian infantry's use of trenches and machine guns, supported by wire obstacles, increased the difficulty of attacking a defending force. But the battle displayed a major weakness of the Japanese Army, a weakness that would plaque them throughout the war and deny them the decisive victory they needed; the inability of the Japanese to pursues defeated enemy.