Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1904-04-22
DIVIDING CHINESE EMPIRE.
European Powers in Succession Reach
Out After Desirable Asian
Territory.

The persistent efforts of Russia to OBJ
tain on the Pacific an ice-free harbor for
the terminus of the Trans-Siberian
railway have led to a general grab" OF
Chinese territory, says the Toronto
Globe. The Germans, who obtained set
Elements in Tientsin and Canton in Oc-
tober, 1895, had for years sought coal
ing station as base of support for po-
litical influences. The murder of two
German Roman Catholic missionaries
about November l, 1897, afforded a pre-
text for action, as 1t was shown that the
crime was committed with the compile
ity of the authorities. Admiral Dieder-
ichs siezed Kiauchau on November "a,
1897, as he said, by way OF retribution,
but this port was selected because the
rich coal fields of Shantung are easy OF
access and railways can be built at little
cost to the great coal fields of central
China and north to Peking. 1t was when
Prince Henry of Prussia sailed with re-
Inducements that his brother, the en-
peror, boosted Of what would be done
by the mailed fist" After long discus
sion the Chinese tsung-li-yamen, on
March 6, 1898, agreed to lease to Ger
many for 80 years the Bay Of Kiachau
and strip OF territory, the sovereignty
to continue to vest in China. Later val
liable commercial and Industrial con-
cessions and monopolies were given to
Germany. covering the peninsula of
Shantung.
1t was thought that the efforts of Rus
STA to obtain an ice-free port had been
frustrated when the British seized Port
Hamilton In 1885 and under threat OF
war compelled Russia to evacuate Port
Laezereff and give pledge that they
would not occupy any Korean territory.
But after the cession of Kiachau to Ger
many Russia made a peremptory de-
mand for the cession OF Port Arthur and
Talienwan on the same terms. one of
the reasons advanced being to protect
Manchuria against the aggressions of
other powers. On March 81, 1898, the
lease. of Port Arthur and Talienwan was
signed. providing that these places shall
be as naval ports for the sole use of Rus
sian and Chinese men-of-war
The British government thereupon
made formal demand for the lease OF
Weihaiwei on its evacuation by the Jap
anese. who had taken 1t during the war
On April the tsung-li-yamen consented
to lease Weihaiwei on the same terms
on which Port Arthur was leased to Rus
STA, the lease to continue until Russia
shouldcease to occupy the Liaotung PEN
Ursula. The place was handed over on
May "a, 1898. The territory comprises
Linking and the other islands of the
bay and strip of territory ten miles
broad along its entire coast line. a.
couple OF years ago, however, the Brit
ish government, on the advice of naval
officers, decided to abandon the attempt
to make Weihaiwei a naval station.
In compensation for the advantages
secured by Russia and other powers
France on April 13, 1898. obtained the
lease of Kwanchu, In the Leichau PEN
insula, as naval port, and other con-
cessions in the south Of China. The
lease was Of the same Kind as that OF
Kiauchau to Germany. Then, to coun-
terbalance the French occupation OF
Kwangchu as a coaling station. Great
Britain demanded and obtained the ex-
tension Of territory at Kanlung, oppo-
site Honkong, which military experts
udu lOuS uTSSu Dis necessary 10 tue
safety of the British arsenal and mill
tary, harbor from the land side. All
these nations have since obtained val
liable trading concessions.
Port Arthur during the past 40 years
has had a curious history. Up to 1868
the place was known as Lushunkow and
was occupied by few hundred Chinese
coolies. In that year several ships Of
the British navy reached there on sur
veying expedition. One of these was
gunboat Algerine, commanded by Lieut.
William Arthur, who ran his vessel in
between the cliffs that guards the har-
and thereupon the place was called after
him. Then the Chinese chose Port Ar
thur as the chief depot for their new
navy and French engineers and con-
tractors did the work of construction
for them. It was handed over ready for
occupancy as naval station in 1891.
Three years later 1t was captured by the
Japs, who were compelled by the powers
to give 1t back to China in 1896. In 1898
was made the lease to Russia. to which
reference has already been made.
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