This will likely be the first review I’ll do of books available for free at Google that focus on a specific period in Korean history — this time the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905.

The Russo-Japanese War Vol I

This book probably won’t interest a wide general audience.

This is more of a special interest book.

It is written by professional soldiers for professional soldiers.

But, since I know some career military people frequently read GI Korea’s blog, I thought it might interest some of them – and they will probably get more out of the book than I did, because I am not military.

The book might also interest some who really get into history…

It is a book in 2 volumes for the British War Department written by British officers sent to observe the situation in the Far East during the period of struggle between the Russian and Japanese Empires over Korea and Manchuria.

One great things about Google Books is that you can do some research easily at home. You can pick a time period or subject – like the period around 1905 when Japan finally gained unchallenged domination over Korea – and read up on it.

Here is the index of a search at Google Books on the subject: The Russo-Japanese War

This is the first book from that time period I’ll review.

(The book also provides some useful background for those who take part in any of the annual Taft-Katsura “Treaty” discussions that go on in the Korea blogsphere and in South Korean society)

The Russo-Japanese War book is basically a professional diary of dispatches written by British officers attached as observers to the Japanese army during the war – most of which took place on Korean soil.

If I remember correctly, it has supplemental material by individuals attached to other orgs in the area – I think the Russian army and maybe the Korean government. I don’t remember clearly.

The book comes in 2 volumes with a third for the maps. It goes into great detail about the battles fought in the war.

It also goes into great detail about the nature of the two forces fighting against each other.

It is written by professional soldiers for professional soldiers.

It is the British military sizing up the new upstart power Japan – and its military machine – and judging how that military will fair against what had long been considered a European powerhouse — The Russian Empire….

Japan shocked the world when it speedily defeated the Russians in the Far East – and this book chronicles that war — in great, precise, military detail…