The Russo-Japanese War is now fully two months old, and already there have been mishaps and successes. The plans for a rapid, fluid advance into the Korean Peninsula has been met with some considerable difficulties. Though the Manchurian Army Front was successful in capturing Hamhung, the 1st Manchurian Army had become stalled at the Kimp’Q Line, a series of trench works protecting the city of Seoul from approaches from the west. Likewise, the 2nd army on the Kuril Islands found their assault on the city of Kuril Islands mired in brutal trench warfare. Despite these setbacks, Kuropatkin still believed that success of the entire campaign was near and began to organize new orders for the continuance of the campaign.
Situational Map As Of Week 1, 1899
1st Manchurian Army Front
With the fall of Hamhung, Kuropatkin saw the need to support the 1st Manchurian Army Front’s attacks on the strongly defended Kimp’Q Line north of Seoul. Early in the month, Kuropatkin ordered the occupation of the trench works just southeast of Hamhung, while the main body of the army front moved south towards Seoul. By 5 January, 1899, Kuropatkin’s troops had reached the outskirts of the city and pushed the front lines south. However, the Kimp’Q Line continued to form a large bulge in the line to the north, as well as continuing to stall the 1st Manchurian Army’s approach on the city itself.
Here, Kurpaykin made a decision. In hopes of re-gaining the momentum of the overall advance, he opted to halt in front of Seoul and turn his attention first to aiding Linevich’s attack. As his troops settled in front of Seoul, Kuropatkin began moving his massive artillery batteries to firing positions to the west to provide artillery support to Linevch’s upcoming attack.
Battle of the Kimp’Q Line - Phase Two
On 13 January, Linevich received new orders to continue his assaults on the enemy positions in front of his position, following a massive artillery bombardment from the east and supported by artillery fire the 1st Manchurian Army as well. The artillery bombardment was scheduled to commence at 4.30 am on 20, January, and end at 10 am. In addition, Kuorpatkin had send reinforcements from Port Arthur to replenish Linevich’s depleted divisions so that, by the eve of the battle, his army was back to full combat strength for the renewed attack.
Map of Battle
At 4.30 am on 20 January, the pre-dawn was shattered by a massive barrage of artillery over the Kimp’Q Line. For over five hours, the Japanese trenched were blanketed by Russian artillery, which shattered trees, obliterated trenches and forced the hapless Japanese troops caught in the trenches with no hope other than dig deeper into the earth to escape the shelling. This time, the brutal preliminary bombardment proved altogether successful, and succeeded to cause considerable casualties among the entrenched Japanese troops.
About 10 am, Linevich gave the order for the opening assaults to begin, and the 1st Manchurian Rifles and the 1st Infantry divisions left their staging areas. Tasked with the opening attacks was Lt-General Skobeloff’s Infantry corps. Forced with no other option, Skobeloff plunged his corps into a headlong assault onto the Yentai Redoubt that, just a month earlier, had withstood aa bloody Russian assault. The infantry battalions attacked in close order with most of the men ordered to fix bayonets. The 1st Manchurian Rifles reached the enemy line first at about 10.23 am but were cut to pieces by Japanese fire within minutes. In less than a half an hour, the division disintegrated and fell back, having lost 4/5th of its total manpower (was red-lined). The 1st Infantry, along the 1st Manchurian Rifles left flank, fared better in their frontal assault. From 10 am and for the next two hours, wave after wave of Russian infantry charged the Japanese trenches around the redoubt, only to be mown down. However, by noon, the Russians had managed to capture a section of trenches along the western flanks of the redoubt. Desperate Japanese counter-attacks tried vainly to restore the line; despite heavy losses (was red-lined) the position was firmly in Russian hands and the Japanese defenders had been killed or routed (the 2/6 hp garrison unit was killed).
While the Water Works were falling into Russian hands, an attack on Hill 402 was developing by the 7th and 4th Infantry divisions at 11 am. Almost at once, it was clear that the attack was not going to plan. Though depleted from the preliminary bombardment, the Japanese troops holding the hill (a 2/5 hp )infantry) were able to mount an effective defense of the position. What followed was confused and bloody. In some places small groups of Russians were able to reach the Japanese trenches surrounding the hill and bitter hand-to-hand fighting broke out, but for the most part, the advancing Russian troops suffered so great of casualties that both divisions ceased to exist (both divisions were killed). By 3 pm, the attack had collapsed and Linevich, fearing to bleed his entire army dry on fruitless assaults, called off any further attacks. For the Japanese, casualties were less than 100 men lost or wounded (the Japanese unit not only took no hp loss but was promoted to 4/7 hp elite!).
Battle of the Kuril Islands - Phase Two
With General Ksolov still bedridden from illness (Arexander was still busy with finals at this point), his 2nd in command, Semenoff, Though his attacks in the previous month had proved costly and in-effective, Semenoff once again ordered a general assault on the city. His one hope laid in the fact the small Japanese garrison was unable to replace it losses except by conscription of the local population the 2nd Army too had suffered losses the month earlier, but still had fully six infantry divisions at full strength.
Map of Battle
Semenoff’s plan consisted of a two-pronged attack on the Japanese line - the northern attack was directed against Hill 203 (held by a 2/6 hp garrison unit), while the southern attack was to capture the Water Works Redoubt (held by a 2/5 infantry, 2/3 conscript home guard and 1/6 hp infantry). Unfortunately, the bottleneck of the approaches to the city to the east created a situation where the advancing Russians were once again forced to advance across open fields for nearly a mile before reaching the Japanese line. The attack was to commence on 19 January.
At 5.40 am, the order was given for the commencement of the assault. To the north, the Russian infantry began to cross the expanse of open terrain in the face of dreadful enemy rifle fire. The 2nd and 22nd Infantry divisions were halted almost immediately, the men refusing to advance further into the storm of enemy bullets that hung in the air like fog. The corps commander rode forward to force his men forward once more, only to be brought down by a bullet just as the attack was beginning anew. For a half an hour, the two divisions attempted to creep forward only to be pushed back. By 6.30 am, the two divisions began falling back in disarray (both units were killed). At 7 am, the 5th Manchurian Rifles renewed the attack with a swift advance. The divisional commander ordered his men to fix bayonets and set off from the woods in a trot. Urging his men to move forward with all possible speed, the 5th Manchurians Rifles were able to cross the open area and reach the Japanese lines in good order. Here, a desperate melee erupted and, despite heavy losses from the accurate enemy fire on the approach, the Russians were able to sweep the forward trenches and occupy the hill ( the 2/6 hp garrison unit was killed, the 5th Manchurian Rifles were red-lined).
To the south, the second part of the assault was underway by 6 am - here the advancing Russian troops were facing fully three Japanese divisions. As the Russian infantry advanced, they withstood the defensive fire of the Japanese defenders much better and were able to approach a minor salient in the enemy line in front of the water works. First to reach the line was the 6th Infantry at about 6.24 am, when they overran the front trenches. For twenty minutes, the position broke out in a furious melee of rifle fire, bayonets and even fists. By 7 am, the trenches were firmly in Russian hands (the 6th Infantry was reduced to 2/5 hp, the defending 2/5 hp infantry killed).
Meanwhile, the 6th Manchurian Rifles faced resistance of variable quality and sporadic defensive fire at first. Most of their casualties came on the long advance over the open ground, but by 6.35 am, the Russians were able to overrun the front-most Japanese positions - many pockets of Japanese troops were surrounded and captured. The defenders that remained did finally organize a counter-attack and fought as best they could to push back the Russians, but this was not enough to hold the position (the 6th Manchurian Rifles was reduced to 2/5 hp, the Japanese 2/3 hp conscript infantry was killed).
By 7.20 am, Semenoff saw the chance that the Japanese resistance was near collapse - most of Hill 203 was firmly in Russian hands, as was most of the Water Works Redoubt. One small pocket of resistance still held out in the last portion of the redoubt still in enemy hands. It was held by the only remaining Japanese division (a 1/6 hp infantry). Unfortunately, only one Russian division was able to be used for the last attack. Semenoff nonetheless ordered the final assault on the enemy line.
At 8.15 am, the 8th Infantry division began to move forward towards the Water Works Redoubt. Almost immediately, the Russian came under heavy rifle fire at about 900 meters. At first, the Russians wavered and fell back, only to surge forward with renewed zeal. Fighting through the heavy fire, the Russian stormed across the enemy position. Within minutes, the Japanese resistance collapsed and the water works fell (the 8th Infantry was red-lined, the Japanese 1/6 hp was killed) and the city was now open to fall. By 9 am, the Japanese surrendered and the city was now in Russian hands.
Battle of the Tatarskiy Strait
Since the opening of the war, the two rival navies had yet to be engaged in any major naval battle. The Russian Far East Fleet was hugging close to the Manchurian Army Front in the Sea of Japan, and the Japanese fleet had yet to show itself.
Since the opening of the war, the cruiser, Diana and the torpedo boat, Grozni, both based out of Chabarovsk, had sat idle in the Tatarskiy Strait, guarding the approaches to the city from Japanese naval forces from nearby Sapporo.
Map of Battle
On 22 January, at about 3.20 am, the Russian ships were surprised by the sighting of two Japanese gunboats, the HJMS Fuso and Hei Yen. The Russian ships were under the cover of the dark shore and the Japanese were careless enough to be approaching with lights on, so that both Japanese ships were unaware of the enemy ships directly in their path. The Diana and Grozni were at once put under steam to cut off the approaching vessels - the Russian vessels were able to quickly able to close to within 800 yards. The Diana began firing on the HJMS Hei Yen at about 3.45 am, striking the Japanese vessel several time with direct hits. The Hei Yen launched a single torpedo that struck the Diana just aft (Diana was reduced to ¾ hp) before turning to starboard in hopes of escaping. However, the Diana altered her course to stay abreast with the Japanese ship continued to pound away at her target. By 4 am, the Hei Yen was reduced to a motionless and silent wreck in the water and was forced to surrender(Hei Yen was sunk).
Meanwhile, the Grozni and HJMS Fuso began exchanging fire from about 500 yards at around 3.50 am. The HJMS Fuso was doomed from the onset and by 4.10 am, one boiler aboard had been damaged and she was listing heavily to port. The doomed Japanese ship vainly tried to continue to return fire, but it was only a matter of time before she began to take on water and the order was given to abandon ship (the Fuso was sunk, the Grozni suffered no damage).
Fall of Seoul
Combined with the continued assaults on the Kimp’Q Line to the north and the advance of the Manchurian Army Front, the Japanese garrison at Seoul found themselves toward the end of January facing two separate Russian forces along two fronts, with only a single narrow strip of land still remaining open to supply the city from the south. As the 1st Manchurian Army continued its bloody but fruitless assault on the Kimp’Q Line to the north, Kuropatkin began readying for the attack on the city itself from the east.
On 19 January, Kuropatkin began his attacks on the city from the east. His first objective was to capture the Seoul hospital which formed a salient on the southern flank of the city defenses. Facing the four Russian divisions were a pair of battered Japanese infantry divisions (3/5 hp and 2/5 hp). Having the army front’s artillery facing the Kimp’Q Line to the north, Kuropatkin’s attacking troops would be without any sort if preliminary artillery bombardment, forcing his men into a possibly bloody frontal assault.
Map of Battle
At 8.05 am, the attack began with the advance on the 14th and 20th Infantry divisions to the north of the hospital. Initially, the 14th Infantry made an advance into the outskirts of the city near the hospital, but the Japanese defenders surrounding the buildings put up a stiff resistance. The divisional commander was killed in fierce hand-to-hand fighting and the 14th Infantry suffered so many losses that the entire division ceased to exist (the 14th was destroyed, but the Japanese unit was reduced to 2/5 hp). At about 9.10 am, the 20th Infantry moved up to continue the attack on the hospital, overrunning the positions attacked by the 14th Infantry. Despite heroic defense, the Japanese soon found their position overrun and surrendered (the 20th Infantry suffered no damage, Japanese unit was destroyed). With half the hospital in Russian hands, another assault was ordered at 10 am, with the 23rd Infantry and 1st Guards Infantry divisions.
Almost immediately, the 23rd Infantry’s advance slowed to a crawl, hampered by distasting defensive fire. The divisional commander was able to get his division moving once again, only to run headlong into the outer defenses held by the Japanese garrisoning the hospital. The Russian infantry briefly won an enemy position before being forced back with crippling casualties (unit was killed). The 1st Guards Infantry then launched an assault on the hospital at 11 am. Forming up as if on the parade ground, the Guards unfurled their regimental banners and, with their officers in front, sabers held high, the 1st Guards advanced forward. Singing, “God Save the Tsar”, the Guard pushed forward with zeal, the command given to fix bayonets. Knowing the entire army was watching them, the Guards broke onto the Japanese positions, which was soon engulfed in a chaotic hand-to-hand fight. Twice, the Guards were pushed out of the hospital, and twice they charged anew. Yet, the Japanese resolve began to crack and by noon, the Japanese still remaining in the hospital surrendered to the last man (the 1st Guards were reduced to 3/5 hp, the 2/5 hp Japanese infantry was destroyed).
The following morning, the Russian attack was resumed, this time to capture the Changdeokgung Grand Palace in the north of the city, where the last of the Japanese defenders had decided to make a last stand. Thick ground fog obscured most of the city in a heavy blanket early in the morning. It turned to a steady freezing rain as the Russian infantry rose from their positions at about 10 am to begin their advance. Once again, the leading units were met with a hail of fire from the palace and the advance slowed to a crawl in most places. The 15th and 3rd Siberian Rifles divisions vainly tried to dislodge a home guard unit from the outer palace buildings (a 2/2 conscript home guard) only to be held at bay, suffering debilitating losses. The home guard held for the next two hours, despite repeated waves of attacks that shattered both divisions (both were destroyed with no losses suffered to the Japanese home guard). At 12.35 pm, the 11th Infantry now charged the same positions held by the Japanese Home Guard. Mounted on his horse, the divisional commander, personally led his men into the assault. Within a half an hour, the 11th Infantry overran the Japanese positions in the outer palace buildings, but at a great cost. The divisional commander was seriously wounded, and most of his staff were killed. Though the enemy position was captured, the division was so shattered that they were unable to do much other than consolidate their position (the 11th Infantry was red-lined, the home guard was killed).
By mid-afternoon, Kuropatkin sensed victory, and redoubled the assault on the palace. At about 3 pm, the 13th Infantry division threw itself into a series of bloody charges for an hour onto the palace itself. Foot by foot, the 13th Infantry inched closer to the palace, while the Japanese defenders put up a terrific fight against overwhelming odds, holding out for another for another three hours before the survivors finally surrendered (the 13th Infantry killed a 2/2 conscript home guard but was reduced to 2/5 hp). Despite the lateness in the hour, the 17th Infantry was ordered to attack at about 6.20 pm on the last remaining defenders within the palace (a single 2/2 conscript home guard). Now, the fighting became room to room, as the 17th Infantry stormed the interior of the palace. Slowly, the Russian infantry cleared the palace (the 17th Infantry was reduced to 3/5 hp but killed the home guard) and by 8 pm, the Russian Imperial flag was flying over the palace.
With no reinforcements available, the Japanese abandoned the city entirely by midnight, leaving the Kimp’Q Line now completely surrounded by Russian forces and Seoul firmly in their control.
You are correct, of course - I should have proof-read that part to be sure. It should have been written different 
Yowch!!!! Can you call up alliances yet? Not a good time to face Great Britain! But will the War Happiness help you balance out a little?
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. I seriously don't want an overseas entanglement with Britain like my last game! That was a serious drain on my forces and economy beyond what I got out of it. 
Just watch your language. 
