La guerra russo-giapponese (1904-1905) attraverso le testimonianze dei corrispondenti della stampa e degli addetti militari italiani

The work focuses on the Russo-Japanese war, and intends to attempt to achieve a synthesis between the technical military aspects and those concerning with the political, economic, administrative and social reality-in the period between the late ‘800 and early new century-of Russia and Japan as those directly involved in the conflict, and China, as holder of the territorial and colonial interests of contention. This study is, therefore, an attempt at innovation, as it wants to propose an organic reading of two integrated and inextricably linked realities yet treated, almost always, separately. Overall, the examination of archival documents and literature (also derived from other scientific fields than military historiography, such as the history of photography, of narrative, or of mass communication) has confirmed the initial assumptions. The admission into the search for “enrichments” relating to different conflicts and disciplinary areas, has been the subject of long consideration, not wanting to slip into digressions that lead the development of the work away from the initial intent. It is therefore conducted in a supervised way, strictly maintained in the channel of the topic and, ultimately, subordinate to purposes of functionality. In the selection and analysis of primary sources, the report on the Anglo Boer War of Major Domenico Gentilini has proved to be of particular interest. It was therefore decided to place it in cross-sectional connection with the almost contemporary Russo- Japanese war. Despite the profound differences of structure, of context, techniques and of conduct of military operations, the substantial comparative insights help to highlight peculiar aspects and critical issues of the conflict protagonist of this study. With regard, however, sources and literature “borrowed” from the history of photography, from narrative and from social sciences, they complete the reference framework of research and, in some cases, provide data to submit to analysis (think of the visual and literary materials, both for official propaganda, and for personal use, related to the Russo-Japanese War). The general structure imposed to the work, is structured into four chapters. The first, after an introductory part, addresses the historical and political background of the conflict. In the first three paragraphs (on China, on Russia and on Japan) we set out to I I outline the historical, political, economic and social situation of the countries under review, in order to provide the necessary elements to understand the causes that led to conflict. These last are examined in more detail in the fourth paragraph. The technical military aspects are developed in the fifth, sixth and seventh paragraph, which examines: the location, the number and types of forces in the field; the weapons, the strategies and the tactics used during the conflict; the strategic planning on conduct of the military operations by the General Staffs of the belligerent powers. The eighth paragraph, finally, is dedicated to a brief excursus at the visual and literary materials used for propaganda purposes. I considered that, in examining all aspects of the conflict, it was necessary one, although brief, verification on what I have called the war of images, since representations of other nations produced by a Country are largely instrumental in mobilizing the public opinion, and take on such importance that cannot be neglected in considering the system of the balances of international relations. The second chapter focuses exclusively on military operations, both ground and maritime. According to the chronological order of the conflict. In the first analysis the ground one, to pass then to the maritime one through the major battles that have characterized it and with particular attention to the strategic and tactical aspects and to the use of new technologies of war. The third chapter examines the activities of the Italian press officer (Luigi Barzini), the Italian military officers (Filippo Camperio and Enrico Caviglia), and the military officer at the Italian Embassy at St. Petersburg (Paolo Ruggeri Laderchi), in order to better understand the important political implications, through the War reports, the memoranda, or the military-diplomatic correspondence with the Italian General Staff. Those documents have been reported, selected in their most intense and significant parts, compared and discussed. The fourth chapter contains the conclusions.