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In 1904, Russia's Baltic Fleet was sailing to join the Lushun Fleet at Port Arthur — a combined force Japan's navy couldn't defeat.In 1904, Russia's Baltic Fleet was sailing to join the Lushun Fleet at Port Arthur — a combined force Japan's navy couldn't defeat. Admiral Togo held a council of war . Saneyuki proposed seizing Hill 203 as an observation point to shell the Lushun Fleet, but Army commander Kodama rejected this, insisting on capturing the fortress itself. Provoked by Japanese shelling, the Lushun Fleet sortied in August, fighting the combined fleet over the Yellow Sea without a decisive outcome. Meanwhile, Kodama ordered Akiyama to form a special squad. The first general assault — a frontal attack — failed catastrophically . The Lushun Fortress was reinforced with modern concrete, and Japan suffered 16,000 casualties, confronting the horror of modern warfare for the first time. A second assault also failed. By October, Russia's Baltic Fleet had finally departed for Japan.