The Russo-Japanese War was a conflict between the Empire of Russia and the Empire of Japan. It was mostly a fight over land, particularly Manchuria and Korea. It started on February 8, 1904, with the Japanese invasion of Russian Port Arthur, a naval base in China. The Russian fleet was obliterated. The Russians underestimated the power of a non-western foe, and were defeated by multiple decisive victories for the Japanese, though it was not all good for Japan. The Japanese army took heavy losses and beatings, but neither side wanted to concede. It was at this point that American president Theodore Roosevelt approached them to try and make peace.