The sun., 1897-11-18
GERMANS LAND IN CHINA.
ADMIRAL DIED ERICHS TAKES Pos
SESSION OF KIhoOHoU BAT.
Elc orders tho Chinese 20 Evncuate the Three
Rorts-The Garrison skednddic Over the
liiils. ana the aerman FInE Is noisted ON
the Forts-what win china no Ahout II ?


Horts-The Garrison shedAddio Over the
Hills, ana the German FInE Is Hoisted on
the Forts-what VIII China no About uP
Spscta, Gable Despatch to TnE suS.
SHANGHAI. Nov. l7.-Admital Dlederichs, com.
marding tho German Asiatic Squadron, upon
arriving in Kioochou Bay, on the shantung
coast, whittier he had been ordered for the pur-
pose Of obtaining satisfaction for the recent
murder Of two German missionaries, found three
forts occupied by Chinese troops. He arranged
his ships opposite the forts and trained his guns
upon them. Then he sent an ultimatum to the
Chinese commander calling upon him TO evacu.
ate the forts in three hours, after which he land
ed 600 men, with six guns. who marched toward
the forts.
The Chinese watched the sailors and marines
for few moments until they became convinced
that the foreign devils" were advancing in
earnest, and then the three garrisons boted
across the hills behind the forts. The Germans
quickly occupied the positions and hoisted their
flag, which was saluted by the warshlps. The
Chinese General and his family alone did not
| fee. and It is said that they received German
| protection.
Official Chinese here consider that Germany,
| by landing an armed force and capturing the
forts. has committed an act Of war, but they do
not believe that the Pekin Government will
treat It as such.
British and American warships have been or.
dered to proceed to Kiaochou Bay to watch
| Developments there. 1t is said that the region
one Of the best the whole coast. 1t is believed
that the Germans intend to stay there.
Shantung is one Of the largest coast provinces
| Of China and about third of it forms very
large peninsula jutting out into the Yellow Sea
| This peninsula gives ShantunR an unusual pro
| portion Of sea coast The Great Canal from
Pekin to Hangchow passes through the prov
inco. there are numerous streams that AFFORD
passage for thousands Of iunks in the freight
trade, and "China's Sorrow" the Hoang Ho
| has its entire lower course In Shantung who's,
| people wish 1t was somewhere else, for theJ
| have suffered terribly from its destructiv,
foods.
Though thirteen of tho eighteen provinces o
China proper are larger than Shantung there II
only one province that surpasses 1t in popula
ton. Shantung has half as many people as liv,
in the United States. With tho exception O
Fukicn it is the most densely peopled provinc
| Of China. The cereals. including wheat ant
corn, thrive, and the inhabitants are industri
Gus and contentcd when the Hoang Ho does no
drown their farms.
During the war with japan we heard grea
deal Of the north coast OF Shantung, for 1t wa
the scene Of the operations of the Japanes
navy at Wei.hhi-wei and Chefu on that coast
Butwe heard nothing Of the great Bay OF Kiac
chou, for 1t Is on tho south coast and the jar
anese did not disturb that part Of China's terri
tory. The bay is almost landlocked. It is on
of the largest bays in China. md the shipping
| of the world could ride there on even keel Will
typhoon was blowing outside the harbor.
II Germany were permitted to possess hersel
permanently Of a harbor in China. she coul,
hardly make a better selection. Steamers Ii
Kiaochou Bay a'e hardly more than q days sal
from Tientsin, the port OF Pekin on the north
or from Shanghai on the south. 1t is true tha
Shantung abounds with minerals, but little ha
yet been done to develop the mining interest.