The Rise Of Australasia - Chapter 202

Chapter 202: Chapter 193: End of the Russo-Japanese War_4

However, the outcome of the war greatly disappointed both nations. Although both suffered heavy casualties, the situation remained in a delicate balance.

Although the Russian army was outnumbered, the newly arrived reinforcements were from the elite forces in Europe and were no weaker than the Island Nation Army.

Bolstered by a vast array of new weapons, they were able to maintain a stalemate with the Island Nation Army.

After more than three months of this, the Russian Empire was the first to reach breaking point.

However, the government of the Island Nation was also at a loss. The war had already cost them over six hundred million Yen and resulted in casualties of nearly six hundred thousand soldiers.

If the Russian Empire hadn’t withdrawn first, the Island Nation likely wouldn’t have lasted much longer either.

Following the Russian Empire’s withdrawal, the world powers who had previously remained in the shadows now stepped forward and attempted to mediate the conflict.

That being said, these world powers largely maintained their previous stances, with Britain and the United States supporting the Island Nation and Germany and France backing the Russian Empire.

Although the Austro-Hungarian Empire was allied with Germany, they maintained a neutral position in this war due to territorial disputes and hatred toward the Russian Empire.

Unlike in history, the Russian Empire, despite its current disadvantage on land, held an advantage at sea and reached a relative balance with the Island Nation Army.

This resulted in the Russian Empire admitting defeat but with great confidence.

If the final peace negotiations did not meet the Russian Empire’s expectations, resuming the war would be inevitable.

During the negotiations, Russia and the Island Nation remained at war, with battles still raging in the Far East.

Due to the lack of a breakthrough in the conflict, the Island Nation was eventually forced to compromise with the Russian Empire, and both parties reluctantly agreed to a contract they could each tolerate.

In the presence of representatives from Britain, the United States, Germany, France, and Australia, the diplomats of the Russian and Island Nations each signed their names, thereby enacting the Treaty of Portsmouth.

Unlike history, this treaty did not significantly weaken Russia.

Firstly, just like the historical Treaty of Portsmouth, the Russian Empire refused to pay any compensation.

Secondly, the Russian Empire would not cede any colonies or territories to the Island Nation. They could only accept relinquishing a portion of their interests in the Qing Empire’s region.

While the Island Nation was dissatisfied with this outcome, the goal of Britain and the United States to weaken the Russian Empire’s clout in the Far East had been achieved, and even if the Island Nation wanted to continue the war, the two nations’ support would decrease.

Furthermore, it was not impossible for the Russian Empire to win. The navy, a branch of the military which cannot be quickly expanded within a short period of time, played a vital role in determining dominance in the Far East.

Regrettably, with the arrival of the Russian Second Pacific Fleet in the Far East, the Island Nation had lost the chance to surpass the Russian Far East Fleet in terms of naval strength.

Combined with the Russian army’s stringent defense strategies, continuing the war would only result in further depletion for the Island Nation.

Whether it was the massive financial expenditure or the increasing number of military casualties, the current Island Nation government simply couldn’t bear it.

So, gaining some interests in the Far East was a result the Island Nation government could reluctantly accept.

After all, the Island Nation was well aware that continuing down this path would inevitably incur the larger wrath of the Russian Empire.

If Russia, risking alienating its allies, decided to transfer the majority of its forces from Europe to the Far East, then the scales of war could very well tip in favor of the Russian Empire.

Despite the fact that the Island Nation was at war with the Russian Empire, they were only facing a portion of the Russian Empire’s military force.

The Island Nation clearly knew, even before they initiated the war, that they completely defeating the full force of the Russian Empire was an impossible feat.

In April of 1905, the Russo-Japanese War, which had lasted for one year and two months, finally ended. It was one of the largest-scale wars in modern history. Both nations had mobilized over two million troops, resulting in more than three hundred thousand deaths and over four hundred thousand injuries.

The Island Nation gained some interests in the Far East and exclusive rights in Korea, which was some form of compensation amidst the misfortune.

At least after this war, the European and American nations began to regard the Island Nation as a powerful country, one with potential to compete for superpower status.