The First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895) represented a pivotal moment in modern Japanese military history, as it tested the nation’s ability to project power and sustain military operations overseas. This paper investigates the challenges faced by the Japanese military in establishing a functional military logistics system to support its forces during the war, particularly focusing on the construction and operation of the supply line between the strategic locations of Hanseong (now Seoul) and Incheon.
Despite the absence of prior large-scale foreign warfare experience, the Japanese military swiftly established a logistics system facilitated by a network of supply stations. This study delves into the operational dynamics of this system by examining the records of key logistics personnel, such as the quartermaster general(兵站監) and quartermaster commanders(兵站司令官), who were instrumental in the supply line’s management.
The primary focus is on the military supply line’s role in facilitating the movement of troops and materiel from Incheon to Hanseong, a line that served as a critical component of the broader military logistics system. This paper introduces the concept of a “relay” supply line to describe its function, distinguishing it from traditional supply lines that are in direct support of combat operations.
The research findings underscore the importance of the “columns” (縱列), the basic units of the logistics system composed of soldiers and pack animals, in determining the efficiency of the supply line. The inconsistency in the performance of these columns reflects the Japanese high command’s underestimation of logistics, which in turn affected the overall effectiveness of the military’s logistical efforts.
By providing a detailed analysis of the Japanese military logistics during a critical period in its history, this paper enhances our understanding of the strategic importance of supply line operations in the success of military campaigns. It also offers new perspectives on the role of logistics in shaping military outcomes during the First Sino-Japanese War.