I.J.A. Engineering Corps, c. 1905.

I.J.A. Engineering Corps, c. 1905. In the Imperial Japanese Army, each divisional bridging train was composed of 32 pontoons and 16 trestles.

“The plan for forcing the passage of the Yalu, as originally arranged in Japan on lines similar to the operations in the Sino-Japanese War, was therefore changed.

“… The bridging train of the Japanese was, however, far too small for the numerous bridges that were intended to be constructed. The Japanese Engineer Battalions, which consisted of three companies, were provided with a divisional bridging train, and an Engineer escort of forty men.

“Kuroki’s Army was thus provided with only 432 metres (480 yards) of bridge to get over this river barrier. Therefore, as soon as Asada’s Detachment had arrived, it began to collect junks, boats, and all kinds of timber. It was of great advantage to the Japanese that they found large stores of timber in the Russian settlement of Yonampo. But even these were not enough by a long way for all the bridges that were intended to be constructed. Most of the raw material that was required had therefore to be shipped from Japan.

“At Yonampo and Witschu the requisite material, such as boats, trestles, roadways, anchors, iron dogs for eleven large or small bridges in all, was then prepared by Engineers and by carpenters from the Army and Navy, who were working strenuously day and night.”

– The Russo-Japanese War: Prepared in the Historical Section of the German General Staff, translated by Karl Von Donat, 1908