The two strategies of Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905: E.I. Alexeyev and A.N. Kuropatkin
The article analyses the conflict of two concepts of strategy in Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905: aggressive posture offered by Admiral E.I. Alexeyev, Commander-in-Chief, and defensive strategy, offered by Commanding General of Manchu Army A.N. Kuropatkin. The origin of the conflict goes back to pre-war policy, when A.N. Kuropatkin supported the idea of boarders fortification in Western area of Russian Empire, and E.I. Alexeyev took a stand in favour of strengthening armed forces on the Far East. Departmental disunity between irrespectively directed army and navy, traditional for Russian governmental system priority of personal relationship over duty connections as well as ineffectual deployment of posts, marked a negative imprint on relationship between the two commanders. During the war A.N. Kuropatkin being guided by pre-war plans, tended to consolidate the troops for striking at concentrated opponent forces. E.I. Alexeyev relied on the current moment needs and required to strike at the opponent whose troops were dislocated within the battle ground. He considered delivering some separate destructions as a way to contribute to total success in war. So, Commander-in-Chief tended to intercept a strategic initiative, and Commanding General tended to delay this date for indefinite period of time. Rightness of E.I. Alexeyev's strategy was proved by the events of May-June 1904, when actions of navy and inland troops forced the opponent to essentially correct its strategic plans. But this remained unknown for Russian commanding authority and didn't allow to come to a success. As a whole, military events showed an extreme inactivity and dogmatism of A.N. Kuropatkin's strategy, against the background of which E.I. Alexeyev's strategy appeared to show its volume and dynamism. However, a complex conflict of Commander-in-Chief and Commander of Manchu army didn't allow to realize long-rage strategic complex of E.I. Alexeyev within the theatre of military actions.